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14 - 15 May 2025
Dakar, Senegal

Swift Connect Africa

Overview

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Connecting Africa and the future of finance

Thank you to everyone - delegates, speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors - who helped to make Swift Connect Africa 2025 so inspiring.
Take a look at some of the highlights from the event.

Swift Connect Africa 2025

Programme

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Programme

09:00 AM - 09:10 AM

Welcome address to Day 1 - Delivering instant and frictionless transactions in Africa and beyond

As Swift Connect Africa opens, our team will welcome the delegation.

They'll set the scene for two days of collaboration, networking and debate as we dive deep into cross-border payments in Africa and around the world.

09:10 AM - 09:50 AM

Opening keynote

Speakers

Kady Boye Hanne
President, Association Professionnelle des Banques et Établissements Financiers du Sénégal (Seneg
09:50 AM - 10:35 AM

Challenges and opportunities in payments

What does data from the Swift network tell us?

Explore the key challenges and opportunities facing the continent’s payments sector, from current trends and customer expectations to market initiatives, ongoing digitisation and technology developments.

Speakers

Isaac Kamuta
Group Head, Payments, Cash Management & Client Access, Ecobank (Togo)
George Wakaria
Treasury & Trade Solutions Head for Kenya and East Africa, Citi Bank (Kenya)
Emmanuel Khisa
Africa Director, Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure (Rwanda)
10:35 AM - 11:15 AM

Networking break

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Swift breakout sessions

Four sessions running concurrently and led by Swift experts. These will be run twice on Day 1 so that you can attend two sessions of your choice. All sessions are offered in English and French. 

· Improving the payments experience with Swift

· End-to-end tracking: powering payment transactions

· Interoperability: the foundation for future payments

· What's Swift all about?

12:00 PM - 01:30 PM

Networking lunch

01:30 PM - 01:40 PM

Afternoon introduction

Ahead of afternoon sessions on Day 1, take a look at what's in store as we continue exploring cross-border payments in Africa and globally.

01:40 PM - 02:25 PM

A banking view: connecting the world and overcoming fragmentation

Ensuring greater interoperability and connectivity is integral to achieving instant and frictionless payment transactions worldwide.

Join this expert banking panel looking at priorities and developments with a focus on Africa.

Speakers

Nana Dwomoh Bonsu
Division Manager, Treasury Operations, African Development Bank (Cote D'Ivoire)
Sanjeev Hazareesing
Head, Global Transaction Banking, The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited, (Mauritius)
02:25 PM - 03:10 PM

The role of mobile money in cross-border transactions

Africa is at the forefront of mobile payments, having seen vast growth in digital wallet usage.

Hear from industry leaders on how Africa can leverage this for greater harmonisation in international transactions.

Speakers

Naima Yusuf
Executive Head Global Payments, M-PESA (Kenya)
03:10 PM - 03:45 PM

Networking break

03:45 PM - 04:30 PM

Swift breakout sessions

Four sessions running concurrently and led by Swift experts. These will be run twice on Day 1 so that you can attend two sessions of your choice. All sessions are offered in English and French. 

· Improving the payments experience with Swift

· End-to-end tracking: powering payment transactions

· Interoperability: the foundation for future payments

· What's Swift all about?

04:40 PM - 05:10 PM

Closing address

Rounding off Day 1, our team will cover the key moments, plus preview what’s to come.

If you are joining the evening’s gala dinner, we will also provide details here.

09:00 AM - 09:15 AM

Welcome to Day 2 - Shaping the future of payments

Take a look ahead to what's in store on Day 2, as we work collectively towards an instant and frictionless future, in Africa and around the world.

09:15 AM - 10:00 AM

Keynote address

Speakers

Dr Robert Ochola
Chief Executive Officer, AfricaNenda (Kenya)
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

Future proofing the financial ecosystem

How can we ensure greater efficiency and security and enhanced customer experiences?

Join this session to look at how innovation and collaboration can help us future proof the financial ecosystem.

Speakers

Daniel Parreira
Senior Vice President of Sales Africa, Thunes (South Africa)
Obi Ejimofo
Head of Commercialisation and Market Solutions, Afreximbank (Egypt)
Martin Awagah
President, Ghana Fintech and Payments Association (Ghana)
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM

Networking break

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Payments in 2035: a vision for the next decade

What will payments look like in ten years' time? Be part of this interactive session as panellists and delegates chart a course for the future of payments, in Africa and globally.

Speakers

Lukovi Seke
Principal Programme Director, African Union Development Agency (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
May Okail Wafa
Executive Director, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa FIG Sales, J.P. Morgan (Dubai)
David Backshall
VP of Payment Partnerships, Terrapay (United Kingdom)
12:00 PM - 01:30 PM

Networking lunch

01:30 PM - 01:40 PM

Afternoon introduction

Join our team as they take us through the final phase of the conference, with further opportunities to connect and collaborate.

01:40 PM - 02:25 PM

Big data and analytics: a tool for smarter strategies?

Big data brings the promise of improved compliance and analytics, along with increased efficiency and innovation. Can the latest AI technology help make this a reality? Gain insights from an esteemed panel on how to make data work harder.

Speakers

Del Titus Bawuah
Founder and Chairman, Web 3 Africa Group, (Ghana)
Mbacke Sy
President and Co-Founder, Finappli (Senegal)
Gakii Mwongera
Director Mobile Financial Services, Ericsson (Kenya)
02:35 PM - 03:20 PM

Swift breakout sessions

Four sessions running concurrently and led by Swift experts. All sessions are offered in English and French. 

· Improving the payments experience with Swift

· End-to-end tracking: powering payment transactions

· Interoperability: the foundation for future payments

· What's Swift all about?

03:20 PM - 03:50 PM

Networking break

03:50 PM - 04:35 PM

A blueprint for the economy: unleashing Africa's potential

Africa is home to an abundance of expertise and resources, which together with a young demographic and a commitment to innovation, are drivers of its financial sector. Join this discussion focusing on what's needed to fuel economic growth.

Speakers

Djibril Deme
Directeur Charge de Mission, Banque de l'habitat du Senegal (Senegal)
Dr. Letonde Brice F. Houeton
Head of Resource Mobilisation, Banque d’Investissement et de Developpement de la CEDEAO (Senegal)
Minenhle Ncube
Commercial Finance Specialist, Anglo American (South Africa)
04:35 PM - 05:00 PM

Closing remarks

As Swift Connect Africa 2025 comes to a close, our team will gather the delegation for a look at conference highlights, drawing together key learnings and takeaways for our ongoing collaboration.

Speakers

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Speakers

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    Kady Boye Hanne

    President, Association Professionnelle des Banques et Établissements Financiers du Sénégal (Seneg

  • Another image

    Isaac Kamuta

    Group Head, Payments, Cash Management & Client Access, Ecobank (Togo)

  • Another image

    George Wakaria

    Treasury & Trade Solutions Head for Kenya and East Africa, Citi Bank (Kenya)

  • Another image

    Emmanuel Khisa

    Africa Director, Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure (Rwanda)

  • Another image

    Nana Dwomoh Bonsu

    Division Manager, Treasury Operations, African Development Bank (Cote D'Ivoire)

  • Another image

    Sanjeev Hazareesing

    Head, Global Transaction Banking, The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited, (Mauritius)

  • Another image

    Naima Yusuf

    Executive Head Global Payments, M-PESA (Kenya)

  • Another image

    Dr Robert Ochola

    Chief Executive Officer, AfricaNenda (Kenya)

  • Another image

    Daniel Parreira

    Senior Vice President of Sales Africa, Thunes (South Africa)

  • Another image

    Obi Ejimofo

    Head of Commercialisation and Market Solutions, Afreximbank (Egypt)

  • Another image

    Martin Awagah

    President, Ghana Fintech and Payments Association (Ghana)

  • Another image

    Lukovi Seke

    Principal Programme Director, African Union Development Agency (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

  • Another image

    May Okail Wafa

    Executive Director, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa FIG Sales, J.P. Morgan (Dubai)

  • Another image

    David Backshall

    VP of Payment Partnerships, Terrapay (United Kingdom)

  • Another image

    Del Titus Bawuah

    Founder and Chairman, Web 3 Africa Group, (Ghana)

  • Another image

    Mbacke Sy

    President and Co-Founder, Finappli (Senegal)

  • Another image

    Gakii Mwongera

    Director Mobile Financial Services, Ericsson (Kenya)

  • Another image

    Djibril Deme

    Directeur Charge de Mission, Banque de l'habitat du Senegal (Senegal)

  • Another image

    Dr. Letonde Brice F. Houeton

    Head of Resource Mobilisation, Banque d’Investissement et de Developpement de la CEDEAO (Senegal)

  • Another image

    Minenhle Ncube

    Commercial Finance Specialist, Anglo American (South Africa)

Location

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Dakar, Senegal

Noom Hotel Dakar Sea Plaza, Route de la Corniche Ouest Fann 16868, Dakar

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Partners

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Platinum sponsor

Gold sponsor

Silver sponsors

Networking cocktail sponsor

Exhibitors

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