With fraud no longer a major distraction thanks to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) regulatory interventions, Nigerian fintech companies are poised for massive growth and renewed innovation in 2026, predicts technology entrepreneur Adedeji Olowe.
Speaking to industry observers, Olowe said the rebuilding of consumer trust and the CBN’s enforcement actions—such as fines on Moniepoint and OPay in 2024—have created a more orderly and secure market. This, coupled with rapidly expanding payment infrastructure, means the fintech sector could double in size this year.
“The underlying payment rails are growing fast, and large consumer fintechs have the scale to convert renewed trust into higher engagement, cross-selling, and new product launches,” Olowe noted.
However, he warned that compliance costs, licensing limits, and operational restrictions could slow experimentation. Additionally, major platform outages, scams, or enforcement actions could quickly undermine consumer confidence, particularly in a market where many users are newly banked.
Adedeji Olowe, founder of Lendsqr and Chairman at Paystack, brings extensive experience from Nigeria’s banking and fintech ecosystem, positioning him to provide informed insights into the sector’s trajectory.
As 2026 unfolds, fintechs are expected to leverage restored trust, robust infrastructure, and innovative offerings to drive financial inclusion and market expansion across Nigeria and beyond.
