OPay launches Kano office to boost regional financial inclusion

OPay has officially opened a new physical office in Kano State, marking a strategic expansion to bring its financial services closer to customers and businesses in Northern Nigeria. The move is intended to provide dedicated support to merchants and individuals within the state and its surrounding communities.

The launch involved senior company executives, including Joshua Folayemi, OPay’s PR Lead, and Ifeoma Mba, the Chief People Officer. Also present at the event were Isimeme Ayobami Owobu, Director of Key Account Merchants, Retail and FMCG, alongside local representatives Sani Umar, Mai Unguwar, Kawaji, and Abubakar Abba, Mai Unguwar, Yankaba.

The establishment of this office follows the company’s announcement regarding its commitment to Nigeria’s financial inclusion. By creating a physical presence in Kano, OPay aims to bridge the gap between digital payment technologies and the traditional commercial activities that drive the regional economy.

Strengthening merchant and customer support in the North

Kano serves as one of Nigeria’s most significant commercial hubs, hosting vast networks of traders, wholesalers, and small-scale enterprises. The expansion is designed to offer hands-on assistance to these businesses, particularly those in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and retail sectors, who require reliable and immediate digital payment solutions to manage daily high-volume transactions.

The presence of a local hub allows the fintech company to offer specialised support to its key account merchants. This physical footprint is expected to facilitate faster dispute resolution, easier onboarding for new users, and more direct engagement with the local business community, reducing the reliance on purely remote customer service channels.

The move aligns with broader efforts by the Nigerian financial sector to increase inclusion among unbanked and underbanked populations. While fintechs have traditionally operated through mobile applications, the decision by OPay to invest in physical infrastructure in Kano suggests a shift toward a hybrid model that combines digital efficiency with local, physical accessibility to build trust among traditional market traders.

The new office will now serve as the primary point for regional operations, ensuring that the specific needs of Northern Nigerian consumers and merchants are addressed through localised service delivery and direct corporate engagement.

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