The African fintech revolution has reshaped the continent’s financial landscape, with mobile money and digital payments driving financial inclusion at an unprecedented pace. However, a critical challenge remains—a lack of structured payments education and industry-recognized certification.
Enter Intreensic, a newly launched payments education and advisory firm founded by Nkebet Mesele, a globally recognized payments expert and thought leader. With Africa accounting for 70% of the world’s $1 trillion mobile money market, and digital payments revenue set to grow by 152% to $39 billion by 2025, the need for skilled professionals in the sector has never been greater.
The Urgent Need for Payments Expertise in Africa
The African fintech ecosystem is booming, yet professionals often learn on the job, without structured learning paths or globally recognized credentials. This skills gap poses significant challenges for businesses, particularly in fraud mitigation, regulatory compliance, and cross-border payments.
A 2020 International Finance Corporation (IFC) report projected that 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030, presenting a $130 billion training opportunity. However, a severe shortage of industry-certified professionals remains a major barrier to fintech growth. Many companies outsource payments consulting to international experts, leading to higher operational costs and limited local expertise development.
This gap is particularly relevant given Africa’s $65 billion fintech potential, as discussed in our analysis of FinTech growth in Africa.
A Comprehensive Approach to Payments Training
Intreensic is tackling this challenge head-on through a three-pillar strategy:
- Consulting – Helping businesses define and implement digital payments strategies tailored to the African market.
- Training & Certification – Offering structured learning programs, from foundational courses like ‘Introduction to Payments’, to advanced certifications in cybersecurity, remittances, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance.
- Talent Resourcing – Connecting trained professionals with corporate employers, ensuring a steady pipeline of industry-ready talent.
As digital payments become central to financial inclusion, bridging the gap between adoption and expertise remains a challenge, particularly in emerging markets where payment systems are rapidly evolving (Digital Payments & Inclusive Growth).
Why Intreensic is Different
Unlike fragmented training programs that focus on niche aspects like compliance or mobile money, Intreensic takes a holistic approach to payments education.
Speaking to Techish, Nkebet Mesele, Founder & CEO of Intreensic, said:
"While several training programs exist for fintech in Africa, most are fragmented or focused on specific aspects like compliance or mobile money.
Intreensic takes a comprehensive approach, offering structured education across the entire payments ecosystem—from digital banking and cybersecurity to remittances and regulatory frameworks.
Our training is not just theoretical; it’s designed by industry practitioners, ensuring that professionals acquire practical, real-world skills.”
By blending global best practices with localized insights, Intreensic aims to position African payments professionals on the global stage.
Real-World Impact: Solving Critical Industry Challenges
Many African businesses struggle with:
- Fraud & Security Risks – Without proper risk management training, companies remain vulnerable to fraud.
- Regulatory Compliance – Constantly evolving regulations create compliance challenges, increasing operational risks.
- Cross-Border Payments Complexity – Africa’s fragmented payments infrastructure requires specialized knowledge in interoperability and settlement mechanisms.
Mesele explained that payments professionals in Africa often learn on the job, which fosters expertise but lacks standardization.
“While this fosters expertise in specific areas, there is no unified credential standard to benchmark skills.
Intreensic is creating an industry-recognized framework so businesses can trust that an individual certified by Intreensic has the necessary expertise across multiple domains—whether it’s card schemes, mobile money, or compliance.”
A Growing Footprint Across Africa
Since launching, professionals from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia have already enrolled in Intreensic’s courses. The company leverages a state-of-the-art digital learning platform, ensuring accessibility for learners across the continent.
“While we are headquartered in Lagos, our digital learning platform enables professionals across Africa to access our training programs remotely.
With a growing community of learners, we are equipping Africa’s payments ecosystem with world-class expertise, empowering businesses to scale, innovate, and compete globally.”
Scaling Innovation & Future Plans
Intreensic has ambitious plans for expansion:
- Localized Operations in Key Markets – Future hubs in Kenya and South Africa will strengthen regional access.
- Industry Partnerships – Collaborations with corporations, regulators, and payment networks to establish certification standards.
- Enterprise Training Programs – Custom solutions for banks, fintechs, and payments service providers.
McKinsey estimates that Africa’s fintech revenues will surge from $10 billion in 2023 to $47 billion by 2028, underscoring the urgent need for skilled payments professionals. Intreensic’s role in training and certifying professionals will be pivotal in supporting this growth.
Final Thoughts: A Game-Changer for Africa’s Payments Industry
The launch of Intreensic marks a significant milestone in the professionalization of Africa’s payments sector. As mobile money, digital banking, and fintech solutions continue to disrupt traditional financial models, structured education will be key to unlocking the next phase of growth.
Summarizing Intreensic’s vision, Mesele said:
“The payments ecosystem is evolving rapidly, yet many professionals struggle to access structured learning and industry-recognized credentials.
At Intreensic, we bring together a world-class faculty with deep industry expertise, combining global best practices with localized insights tailored to Africa’s unique market dynamics.
Our goal is to equip individuals and businesses with the educational certifications, knowledge, and skills necessary to thrive in the rapidly evolving global payments industry.”
By providing globally recognized certifications, expert-led training, and hands-on skills development, Intreensic is empowering professionals and businesses alike. The result? A more competitive, innovative, and resilient African payments ecosystem.
For more details, visit www.intreensic.com
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