Flutterwave Champions Africa’s Digital Future at UNGA 80

Over the course of the  last week, New York came alive with ideas and ambition as the world’s leaders  in business and politics converged for the 80th United Nations General Assembly  (UNGA). Among the global leaders and decision-makers, Flutterwave, Africa’s  leading payments technology company, stood out as one of Africa’s most  prominent voices. The company’s executives played a central role in high-profile  discussions covering topics such as digital trade, innovation, artificial  intelligence, and financial inclusion, reiterating Flutterwave’s position as a key  enabler of Africa’s digital transformation.

For Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola, the week’s  centrepiece was his participation in the Bridgforte Financial Inclusion  Roundtable, convened by the former Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor,  Aishah N. Ahmad. The roundtable brought together financial leaders and  policymakers who explored how to build more inclusive systems that serve the  unbanked and underbanked.  

Agboola’s contribution reflected a broader consensus at the roundtable: that true  economic growth cannot be achieved without widening access to finance,  particularly for women, rural populations, and small enterprises. Additionally, he  also joined the US-Kenya business investment roundtable and the US-Ghana  executive business roundtable, where conversations focused on strengthening  trade and investment ties between Africa and the United States. 

Mitesh Popat, Chief Financial Officer, joined policymakers and industry leaders  at the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy side  event on accelerating digital trade across Africa through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Popat emphasised the importance of creating a  trusted payment infrastructure to enable cross-border commerce, particularly  for small businesses that often face the greatest hurdles. His comments  reflected Flutterwave’s long-standing mission to simplify payments across  Africa and open pathways for entrepreneurs to access new markets through the  AfCFTA. 

At the same time, Bridgit Antwi, the Company’s Vice President, Strategy and  Planning, took part in the Global Africa Business Initiative’s Action Pathway for  Digital Transformation roundtable. Convened by the UN Global Compact and the  African Union, the closed-door roundtable brought leaders together to establish  digital innovation as a pillar of Africa’s prosperity. Antwi contributed to shaping  an ‘Action pathway’ designed to foster innovation, attract strategic investment,  and secure commitments on bold policy reforms. The session reflects the  company’s belief that digital infrastructure is not only about technology but  about jobs, skills, and inclusive access for Africa’s young and growing  population.  

Elsewhere during the week, Bankole Falade, Chief Legal, Regulatory and Public  Policy Officer, featured in a one-to-one onstage interview at the Foreign Policy  Tech & AI Forum. In a conversation titled ‘The Next Wave: Africa’s Emerging  Digital Economy,’ Falade discussed the promise and risks of rapid adoption of  artificial intelligence and advanced technologies on the continent. He argued  that African economies must define their own path in AI adoption, balancing  innovation with clear regulatory frameworks that ensure ethical use and data  protection. His remarks resonated with the policymakers, technologists, and  investors, sitting in the audience, who are keen to understand how Africa can  leapfrog legacy systems to shape a distinctive role in the global AI landscape.  

Flutterwave’s active engagement at UNGA 80 showcased the breadth of its  leadership’s contribution to global dialogue on Africa’s future. The message that  emerged was clear: Africa is no longer on the margins of global digital  transformation; it is the core of where the future of payments, innovation, and  inclusion will be defined.