As part of its broader financial inclusion strategy, Flutterwave has partnered with AfriGo, a national domestic card scheme launched by the Central Bank of Nigeria. This partnership enables AfriGo cardholders to transact on the company’s expansive network of payment services, including online platforms and physical point-of-sale systems. The initiative represents a significant step in supporting locally issued cards, which historically have faced limitations in terms of merchant acceptance and integration with modern digital infrastructure.
The collaboration is particularly important in reaching unbanked and underbanked populations. Flutterwave’s integration of AfriGo provides a more inclusive payment experience, ensuring that users without access to international cards can still participate in digital commerce. This move aligns with broader national goals to reduce cash dependency and improve financial access across Nigeria. By creating additional channels for digital transactions, the partnership strengthens the domestic financial system and enhances consumer choice.
Beyond its local implications, this project also contributes to broader conversations about sovereignty in payments. African governments have increasingly advocated for national control over transaction infrastructure, and Flutterwave’s support of AfriGo reflects responsiveness to these priorities. The company’s capacity to adapt its platform to accommodate domestic initiatives ensures it remains aligned with regulatory objectives while providing seamless functionality to users and merchants.
Merchants across Nigeria have benefited from the streamlined acceptance process. Once a business is onboarded onto the company’s platform, it can accept both domestic and international cards without requiring additional setup. Flutterwave’s efforts reduce the technical and administrative burden often associated with multi-channel payment acceptance, allowing businesses to focus on growth. This integrated approach is especially useful for small and medium enterprises seeking simple, reliable tools to expand their customer base.
Product design has played a crucial role in enabling this level of integration. The company ensures that domestic card acceptance is treated with the same level of security and efficiency as its international counterparts. Flutterwave has implemented tokenization, encryption, and real-time fraud monitoring tools across its network to safeguard all transactions. These protections help maintain consumer trust while providing peace of mind for merchants navigating digital payments for the first time.
In addition to improving consumer access, the initiative supports efforts to deepen local capital flows. By facilitating domestic card transactions within Nigeria, Flutterwave is helping to keep more value circulating within the country’s financial system. This contributes to the stability of local banks, enhances tax transparency, and supports formal economic activity. These benefits are especially pronounced in regions where traditional banking infrastructure remains limited or inconsistent.
The company’s broader ecosystem continues to evolve to support such national efforts. Flutterwave’s partnerships, licensing strategies, and regulatory engagements reflect its ability to deliver scalable, compliant solutions across various jurisdictions. Its work with AfriGo is one example of how global technology can be leveraged to address country-specific challenges, providing both systemic and practical value in emerging financial environments.