Interswitch Returns as Headline Sponsor of InnovateAI Conference 2026

Interswitch Returns as Headline Sponsor of InnovateAI Conference 2026

Interswitch, Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce company, has announced its return as the headline sponsor of the InnovateAI Conference 2026, marking the third consecutive year of its top-level support for the event.

The third edition of the conference is scheduled to hold on Friday, February 20, 2026, at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, and is expected to attract over 10,000 participants from across physical and virtual platforms.

With the theme “Responsible AI, Beyond Innovation,” the conference comes at a critical time as artificial intelligence increasingly drives essential systems in finance, governance, healthcare, education and security across Nigeria and the wider African continent.

As part of its headline sponsorship, the Group Managing Director and Founder of Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe, will deliver the opening keynote address titled “Infrastructure of Trust.” His presentation will focus on the foundational systems required for Africa to sustainably harness artificial intelligence, while addressing issues of cybersecurity, data intelligence, governance and responsible innovation.

Speaking ahead of the event, Elegbe stressed that trust must underpin technological advancement. According to him, as AI becomes embedded in economic and social systems, secure and ethical frameworks are no longer optional but essential. He noted that Africa’s opportunity lies not only in adopting AI, but in building regulated, inclusive and revenue-generating systems that align innovation with strong governance and risk mitigation.

Interswitch’s continued participation highlights the importance of moving beyond AI experimentation to developing trusted, secure and scalable systems. The company has played a significant role in strengthening digital payment infrastructure, securing financial transactions and promoting inclusive economic participation—priorities that now form a central part of Africa’s AI discourse.

InnovateAI Conference 2026 will bring together policymakers, regulators, global technology partners, investors, startups, enterprises, researchers and young African innovators to examine practical AI applications and their potential to reshape Nigeria’s economic and social landscape.

Discussions at the conference will explore how intelligent technologies can drive economic growth, enhance service delivery, improve competitiveness and support sustainable development, while also addressing the ethical, regulatory and safety challenges associated with rapid AI adoption.

By headlining the InnovateAI Conference for the third year in a row, Interswitch continues to position itself as a key voice in shaping Africa’s digital future, championing conversations that balance innovation with responsibility, scale with security and technology with trust.