Artificial Intelligence will be the engine driving Africa's next phase of fintech innovation, according to OPay, the digital payments company. The firm argues that AI goes far beyond automating transactions—it can expand financial inclusion, detect fraud and bring millions of underserved people into the formal financial system.
OPay made the case as headline sponsor of the Digital PayExpo 2026, a two-day conference in Lagos that drew regulators, banks, fintech companies and technology experts to examine the future of digital payments. The platform signals a major shift in how Africa's fintech sector sees its own trajectory.
For the past decade, fintech companies focused on bringing people into digital wallets and mobile payments. Now, industry leaders believe AI will separate the winners from the rest—determining which companies can deliver faster, safer and more personalised financial services at scale.
Dotun Adekunle, OPay's chief operating officer and chief technology officer, delivered a keynote titled "The African Fintech Frontier: Leveraging AI to Unlock a Unified Digital Economy." He argued that Africa has a unique chance to lead global fintech innovation because of its young population and rapidly expanding digital economy.
AI can cut payment delays, strengthen fraud detection, improve regulatory compliance and unlock credit access for millions of individuals and small businesses still locked out of finance, he said. "The first chapter of African fintech was about inclusion.
The next chapter is about integration. AI is the bridge that can connect 1.4 billion people into a single digital economy, and the decisions we make today will determine whether Africa consumes that future or creates it," Adekunle told the audience.
Across Africa, fintech firms are already pouring resources into AI-powered fraud detection, customer service, risk management and credit assessment. They're racing to keep up with surging digital transaction volumes while improving efficiency.
Adekunle pressed regulators, investors and financial institutions to collaborate on building interoperable payment systems, trusted digital identity infrastructure and stronger data governance. He described these as essential foundations for an AI-driven financial ecosystem to work properly.
During a merchant payments session, OPay joined other industry players to discuss how AI and payment data can help businesses understand customers better, streamline operations and expand into new markets. The company also hosted a second-day panel titled "Leadership in the AI Era: Building Responsible and Inclusive Digital Finance," where experts examined how organisations can deploy AI responsibly.
Those discussions centred on protecting customer trust, strengthening governance and making sure financial inclusion doesn't get left behind as firms rely more on intelligent systems. Ethical AI, transparency and accountability emerged as critical concerns.
OPay used its exhibition stand to showcase its digital payment services and connect with businesses and customers exploring its expanding financial ecosystem.
