On October 22, 2026, Flutterwave, Africa's leading payments technology company, participated in a high-level investor forum in Beijing, co-hosted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and ICBC Standard Bank. The forum, titled 'Nigeria’s Economic and Investment Opportunities Sharing Session,' brought together Chinese financial institutions, development finance organizations, investment funds, and multinational corporations operating across Nigeria and Asia. This event marked a significant step in Nigeria's efforts to strengthen economic ties with Asia.
During the forum, Flutterwave Founder and CEO Olugbenga "GB" Agboola joined a panel discussion on foreign exchange predictability, local-currency settlement, and the role of financial technology in expanding bilateral trade. Agboola emphasized how Nigeria's recent economic reforms have improved the country's credibility and opened up new opportunities for African businesses. He highlighted the country's removal from the FATF grey list, improved FX stability, and growing foreign reserves as key factors in rebuilding institutional confidence.
Agboola noted that Nigeria's past economic challenges hindered its ability to engage with the global financial system. However, the country's recent progress has changed this reality. "Thanks to the intentional work led by Governor Cardoso and the CBN team to rebuild external reserve buffers, enforce compliance benchmarks to exit the grey list, and restore FX stability, African businesses can sit across the table with global institutions as credible partners," Agboola said.
The forum was part of a coordinated Asian bilateral outreach effort by the CBN, which included high-level dialogues in Singapore and Bangkok. The Central Bank of Nigeria stated that stronger Nigeria-China economic ties depend on confidence, financial infrastructure, and partnerships needed to support long-term investment. This underscores the strategic foundation of the Nigeria-China financial corridor.
The panel discussion was moderated by Peter Poon, Head of Structured Solutions at ICBC Standard Bank, and featured several other prominent figures, including Dr. Okey Umeano, Acting Director of Financial Markets at the CBN, and Kayode Solola, Head of Global Markets for Africa Region at Standard Bank Group. Agboola was accompanied by Mobolaji Bammeke, Chief Compliance Officer, and Guo Songmei, Regional Vice President of Sales and Partnership for Greater China and Asia Region.
The event reinforced Flutterwave's position as a licensed, regulated bridge connecting global liquidity to Africa. The company's participation in the forum highlights its commitment to compliance frameworks, risk management, and governance across international payment rails. This is crucial in enabling African businesses to engage with global institutions and access new markets.
The bilateral engagement between Nigeria and Asia is expected to deepen cooperation and unlock new trade opportunities. With Nigeria's improved economic fundamentals and the country's commitment to strengthening economic ties with Asia, African businesses are well-positioned to capitalize on these new opportunities and drive growth.
Key points
- Nigeria's removal from the FATF grey list, improved FX stability, and growing foreign reserves have boosted the country's credibility and opened up new opportunities for African businesses.
