EDITOR ’ S QUESTION
SANDY RHEEDER , CHIEF INFORMATION
OFFICER , MUKURU
With a commitment to women empowerment embedded in its operations , next-generation financial services platform , Mukuru , is driving financial inclusion and economic inclusivity among African women . Women ’ s Month is a time to pay tribute to women in all sectors of society and it is an opportunity to honour and uplift women and their incredible achievements . Female executives at Mukuru highlight the importance of African fintech companies empowering women across the continent by providing accessible and inclusive financial services . Mukuru itself enjoys 56 % female representation across its entire business that spans multiple countries , with 28 % of its technology team , which is led by a woman , comprising female staff .
Most recipients of money on the Mukuru platform are women . 55 % of the people who receive money through Mukuru are women . Research shows that most of this money is used for basics such as food , medicine and education . As part of its financial inclusion methodology , Mukuru has developed educational programmes and products that enable recipients of remittances to use a digital store of money as opposed to withdrawing all of the cash .
As a next-generation fintech platform , Mukuru helps its customers – millions of whom are women – evolve from living in a cash-only world to one where they understand and use a digital store of money , to the eventual uptake of further products and solutions such as the ability to pay for goods and services , earn interest through savings , and take out insurance policies .
This is the power of fintech in providing women on the continent , many of whom are also breadwinners in addition to managing their households , with the tools needed to actively partake in the economies where they live and work .
Nikki Kettles , joined Mukuru because its culture is to develop solutions for unbanked and underserved people , something she is passionate about , having previously worked for nonprofit organisations seeking to improve access to formal financial services for vulnerable communities .
Kettles , a senior woman leader in Mukuru , was recently appointed as a brand ambassador to a programme called Woman in Payments
Africa . Women in Payments is a dynamic platform for female leaders in the payments industry to connect and share experiences .
It is dedicated to celebrating the indispensable contribution of women in payments , throughout history and in today ’ s landscape . Its mission is to amplify the voices of women , champion their achievements , and advocate fervently for gender parity . Financial inclusion , is a vital step in the journey to gender parity .
NIKKI KETTLES , EXECUTIVE LICENCES AND PAYMENT
REGULATION , MUKURU
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