Transforming Global Trade: Ola Oyetayo of Verto on Unlocking Financial Inclusion for Small Businesses

In this insightful interview, Ola Oyetayo, CEO of Verto, discusses the future of global trade and the crucial role financial inclusion plays in empowering small businesses worldwide. Oyetayo explores the challenges that small businesses face in accessing global markets and financial services, and how Verto’s innovative solutions are helping to bridge these gaps. With a focus on technology and collaboration, the conversation highlights key strategies for unlocking financial opportunities for businesses across the globe, particularly in emerging markets. As small businesses are vital to the global economy, this interview offers valuable insights into how financial inclusion can drive growth, foster innovation, and create new opportunities for entrepreneurs in a rapidly evolving trade landscape.

Digitisation as Africa’s Great Equaliser in Financial Services

Access to financial services in Africa had for decades been defined by disparities—between rural and urban areas, between men and women, between small businesses and larger enterprises. It meant that millions, especially the continent’s most vulnerable populations, were excluded from the formal economy, curbing entrepreneurship, restricting access to credit, and stifling upward financial mobility for far too long. 

THE RISE OF FINTECH INNOVATION IN SA: GOING BEYOND PAYMENTS TO TRANSFORM ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STARTUPS

The piece, “The Rise of Fintech Innovation in SA: Going Beyond Payments to Transform Access and Opportunities for Startups,” discusses how fintech solutions have revolutionized how these businesses operate, providing access to affordable financial services, business management tools, and support.
This article offers valuable insights into the growing fintech ecosystem in South Africa and its potential to drive economic growth.

Fintechs need to overcome regulatory barriers that limit access to financial services for underserved communities

Nikki Kettles, Licences and Payments Regulation Executive at Mukuru, discusses how regulatory barriers often limit fintech innovation and hinder access to financial services for these communities. She highlights the importance of collaboration between fintechs and regulators in overcoming barriers to innovation and expanding access to financial services for underserved communities. Mukuru’s success in holding 49 licenses across 15 countries underscores its deep commitment to working closely with regulators while expanding financial access.