On the lighter side of things , we ask the industry experts what makes them tick . . . .

Folasade Femi-Lawal is the Country Manager and Area Business Head for West Africa , at Mastercard . She is responsible for driving the company ’ s strategic vision , innovation and growth agenda ; strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders , and advancing the company ’ s mission of building a more connected and inclusive digital economy in West Africa .

What are your strengths and abilities that you bring to the above role ?

Folasade has a professional experience of nearly 30 years across retail , management consulting and digital payments , with evident leadership in the digital payment industry and several professional women associations . She is also recognised as a change agent , employing leadership skills to mentor , sponsor , and support other women in career advancement locally and globally .

Please describe the expectations of the end customers that you address . What are their pain points today ?

Payment needs are changing , and they are mostly driven by digital transformation . As such , there is a

growing demand for consumers seeking accessible , safe , and affordable financial services . Mastercard is addressing these needs by enabling businesses to meet them by developing and introducing innovative solutions .

This includes the launch of low-cost acceptance solutions in Nigeria , Tap on Phone , QR Pay by Link , and Payment Link , enabling SMEs to accept card payments using mobile devices , in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria ’ s demonetisation policy .

Other innovative solutions include Mastercard Send , a secure cross-border money transfer service , and Community Pass , which is a shared interoperable digital platform that provides essential services to digitally excluded and underserved populations .

Another need being addressed is cybersecurity and data protection , which includes employing advanced technologies to safeguard our platforms from fraud and cyber-attacks and partnering with key bodies to organise fraud forums that ensure knowledge-sharing .

Additionally , Mastercard is collaborating with key industry players ranging from financial institutions to telecom operators , fintech companies , e-commerce platforms , and government agencies , to enhance interoperability and promote inclusion for both business owners and consumers . Mastercard ’ s

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