NEWS
Nedbank banks on the African Metaverse
“ Creating experiences that go beyond banking has always been a focus for Nedbank . Our entry into the metaverse is not merely about having a presence in this space , it ’ s about meeting the needs of our clients on platforms that resonate with them , while offering an array of touchpoints that continue to demonstrate our commitment to lead in digital ,” said Khensani Nobanda , Group Executive for Marketing and Corporate Affairs , Nedbank Group .
South Africa-based bank Nedbank has joined global players such as DBS Bank , HSBC , Fidelity Investment and JP Morgan who have partnered with metaverses globally . Africarare , Africa ’ s first metaverse is highly sought-after by companies and individuals wishing to capitalise on the multiple opportunities presented by the metaverse . The early settlers in Ubuntuland include MTN , World Data Lab , and M & C Saatchi Abel .
Fred Swanepoel , CIO , Nedbank Group , said : “ As Nedbank , we want to remain at the forefront of the technologies that will enable the next wave of digital business models , so we ’ re investing in web 3.0 and the newer open source technologies on which the Metaverse is built . It ’ s important for us as Nedbank to continue leading and advancing our digitisation journeys which have already yielded excellent results for the group .”
Clickatell helps Nigerians access eNaira services and boosts financial inclusion
Clickatell , a CPaaS innovator and chat commerce vendor , has partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ) to deliver fast , simple , and cost effective eNaira banking services to all Nigerians using the USSD channel , eliminating the need for data and available on all handsets .
The collaboration between Clickatell and CBN is part of the country ’ s drive to make basic banking accessible to all Nigerians , ultimately driving financial inclusion .
The eNaira was launched in October 2021 when the Nigerian President , Muhammadu Buhari , said Africa ’ s first central bank-backed digital currency would help boost remittances , foster cross-border trade , and help his government make welfare payments more easily . With financial inclusion at the heart of the eNaira goals , President Buhari also said that he believed the CBDC would increase GDP in the country by US $ 29 billion over the next 10 years .
“ Introducing the USSD short code allows non-banked Nigerians , many of whom do not have smartphones , to access cashless banking services and is a big win for the stated goals of delivering meaningful financial inclusion . Clickatell ’ s role in making this a reality has been one of the most important achievements of our engagements in
Nigeria ,” commented Uzo Nwani , Commercial Director , Clickatell West Africa .
“ The USSD channel is a vital part of our journey towards realising our financial inclusion vision . We see the eNaira as a leap forward in the evolution of money ,” said Dr . Kingsley Obiora , Deputy Governor Economic Policy , CBN .
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