Senegal’s Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Affairs has partnered with Visa through a two-year agreement aimed at enhancing the nation’s digital payment systems and infrastructure.
The agreement focuses on advancing digital payments, financial innovation, cybersecurity, and regulatory development. The partners will also explore digital payment solutions for transactions between citizens and government services.
Aminata Kane, Visa Western and Central Africa Senior VP and Group Country Manager, said “This partnership will support cooperation on digital payments, financial innovation, cybersecurity and regulatory matters, while enabling the exploration of high-impact use cases that could help modernize public services and expand access to digital financial services.” The entities will identify tangible opportunities to facilitate access to digital services and support the long-term development of the payment’s ecosystem in Senegal.
Mastercard and FCMB Support Nigerian Farmers
Separately, Mastercard and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) have launched AgroPass, a digital platform to help smallholder farmers in Nigeria access funding, market opportunities and critical agricultural services.
AgroPass, also known as Community Pass, connects farmers with suppliers, buyers, lenders, and agribusinesses, helping to expand financial inclusion and boost productivity across Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“Supporting farmers means more than offering credit. It is about building connections to finance, markets, technology, knowledge and opportunity. AgroPass is a platform that empowers farmers to become more productive, resilient and commercially successful. By bridging critical gaps across the value chain, we can help build a more sustainable future for agriculture,” said FCMB Managing Director Yemisi Edun. According to Edun, FCMB provided more than 364.6 billion Nigerian naira (US$271 million) in financing to Nigeria’s agricultural sector last year and supported more than 196,000 smallholder farmers nationwide, with at least half of the beneficiaries being women and youth.
About the AuthorAssociate Editor, Connecting AfricaMatshepo joined Connecting Africa as Associate Editor in May 2022. The South Africa-based journalist has over 10 years’ experience and previously worked as a digital content producer for talk radio 702 and started her career as a community journalist for Caxton.She has been reporting on breaking news for most of her career, however, she has always had a love for tech news.With an Honors degree in Journalism and Media Studies from Wits University, she has aspirations to study further.
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