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backMoniepoint Inc., Africa’s leading all-in-one financial ecosystem, has been named the Fintech Company of the Year at the 2025 Independent Awards. The prestigious accolade was presented on Saturday night at the Eko Hotels and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos, during a gala ceremony that marked the 25th anniversary (Silver Jubilee) of Independent Newspapers.
The awards, themed "Game Changers: Breaking Barriers, Shaping Tomorrow," recognised organisations and leaders who have fundamentally altered the nation's socio-economic landscape. In the fintech category, Moniepoint emerged as the standout choice for its unprecedented scale and its transformative impact on the Nigerian financial ecosystem.
Founded in 2015 by Tosin Eniolorunda and Felix Ike, Moniepoint has rapidly expanded its footprint across Nigeria. Today, it stands as the nation’s largest merchant acquirer, boasting a massive operational scale that has seen it process a staggering N412 trillion in transaction value across more than 14 billion transactions. The company currently powers approximately 80% of all in-person digital payments nationwide, serving a vast network of over ten million active businesses and individual users.
According to Babatunde Olofin, Managing Director, Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, "This recognition is a resounding and stellar validation of our team's tireless commitment to democratizing access to financial services and powering dreams for millions. It is a celebration of the over ten million active business owners and individuals who trust us to create financial happiness for them every single day. We are deeply honored that Independent Newspapers has recognized the transformative work we are doing to redefine the financial landscape. As we move forward, this award will serve as a catalyst for us to deepen our efforts in financial inclusion, especially for women, ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind."
Beyond payment processing, the award committee highlighted Moniepoint's pivotal role in driving SME growth. In 2025 alone, the financial services powerhouse disbursed over N1 trillion in loans to roughly 70,000 small businesses. By leveraging transaction history and payment patterns rather than traditional, often restrictive collateral, Moniepoint has successfully extended credit to the informal economy. The result has been substantial, with businesses utilizing the platform’s credit facilities recording an average 36% increase in transaction value.
Industry analysts have noted that the rise of fintechs like Moniepoint marks a definitive shift in Nigeria’s financial narrative. Even among critics, there is a consensus that these digital platforms have revolutionized the landscape in a manner reminiscent of the new-generation banks that emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s - a shift that effectively ended the era of "armchair banking."
Moniepoint Inc. has recently solidified its global standing with a series of high-profile accolades that underscore its transformative impact on financial services. The company’s innovative approach to powering businesses and advancing financial inclusion has garnered prestigious recognition from world-leading organizations.
Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Independent Newspapers, Steve Omanufeme highlighted the rigorous process behind selecting the honorees, "the selection of winners was not arbitrary; rather, it was the result of a multi-layered, transparent evaluation process intended to ensure credibility. The winners emerged through a combination of public voting - incorporating the voice and perspective of the general public; jury assessment which involved a rigorous review by a panel of independent jurists and lastly an internal evaluation where a detailed scrutiny by the organization’s board to ensure the chosen recipients truly reflect the Game Changer theme."
Notably, Moniepoint was named to the TIME100 Most Influential Companies list for 2025, a distinction that celebrates its extraordinary global impact and leadership in the fintech sector. Its sustained growth has also earned it consistent acclaim from the Financial Times, which has recognised the company for three consecutive years as one of Africa’s fastest-growing firms.
Moniepoint’s international reach and technical excellence were further validated by CNBC, which honoured the firm as one of the UK’s top fintech companies and ranked it among the world’s top 300 fintechs. Complementing these honours, the company secured dual wins at the IBS Intelligence (IBSi) Digital Banking Awards 2025, triumphing in the "Corporate Banking" and "Digital Wallets" categories.
These awards collectively reflect Moniepoint's successful evolution from a Nigerian-rooted startup to a globally recognised fintech powerhouse, dedicated to delivering seamless, scalable, and inclusive financial solutions that empower millions of entrepreneurs and individuals worldwide.
This digital evolution has been further validated by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data, which indicates a 40% surge in digital transactions in 2025. By making bank account opening seamless and providing reliable payment infrastructure, these fintechs have significantly advanced financial inclusion, particularly for women and youth, empowering millions of consumers and small business owners across the country.
