The Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe, has endorsed the expansion of financial technology solutions in the Southeast following a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Flutterwave, Olugbenga Agboola.

This is contained in a statement by Flutterwave Media Consultant, Mr David Abakoa, on Saturday in Abuja.

Mr Achebe said the Southeast’s long-standing culture of commerce and entrepreneurship positioned the region to benefit significantly from digital financial innovation.

He noted that the Igbo trading system, built on resilience and enterprise, could gain greater momentum when integrated with modern technology.

The monarch said discussions centred on strengthening collaboration between technology companies and grassroots commercial communities, particularly traders operating in major markets across the region.

He stressed that integrating traditional commerce with digital platforms would enhance access to financial services and boost competitiveness in the global economy.

Mr Achebe said youth development featured prominently in the discussions, emphasising the need to combine community-based empowerment initiatives with technology training.

The traditional ruler added that such efforts would enable young Nigerians to transition from job seekers to creators of scalable digital businesses.

He also highlighted the importance of the Onitsha main market, one of West Africa’s largest trading centres, noting that structured technology education could unlock new opportunities for traders increasingly adopting digital payments and e-commerce.

Mr Achebe recalled a previous attempt to establish an information technology training initiative in the market that did not materialise, but said such initiatives remained critical to grassroots digital transformation.

The monarch further underscored the importance of education and skills development in advancing African economies, urging sustained investment in learning and technological capacity.

Mr Achebe, who adopted Mr Agboola as a son, described him as a symbol of Nigerian ingenuity on the global stage, citing his rise from local beginnings to leading one of Africa’s prominent fintech firms.

He also said that he had invited Mr Agboola to address students and stakeholders at Ahmadu Bello University, where he serves as chancellor.

He added that the proposed engagement would provide insights for young Nigerians entering the technology and business sectors. 

(NAN)