We hosted the first edition of Sundown Sessions to bring together founders, operators, and tech enthusiasts in the African tech space. 

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It was more than just an event, it was a gathering for Africa's brightest minds to unwind, network, and absorb insights from leaders in the fintech startup ecosystem. 

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Arrival of guests

Our guests arrived at the Afronaut and checked in.

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Some who arrived early got the most coveted ethnic tote bag. Maybe you’ll get one at the next Sundown. 

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Gbenga Onalaja, Head of Marketing, was the master of ceremonies for the event. He welcomed everyone and set the tone.

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Mr Peter Owunna, Chairman of the Board, gave a short speech introducing Sundown Sessions and sharing our goal of bringing people closer to the African tech ecosystem.

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‍Panel 1: Adaptive B2B Strategies for African FinTechs

‍Adetola Oloke, Head of Sales, moderated the first-panel session, directing the flow of questions and conversations. 

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Onyinye Olisah, CEO and founder of Payonus, shared a compelling perspective: “There needs to be more interconnectivity between fintechs and banks in Nigeria and across Africa.”

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Jude Abaga, Founder/CEO of TASCK, painted a bold picture of Africa’s creative economy: “I foresee a future where Africa becomes a dominant player in the creator space. There will be a lot of money to be insured, guided, and moved around. That's where fintechs come in.” 

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Frank Atat, Divisional Head of Payments and Solutions at First City Monument Bank(FCMB) shared insights about products that drive growth: “Growth comes from products that will drive interest.” 

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Oladipo Sadibo, Head of Sales at Transactworld Digital, shared a timeless principle for thriving in B2B: “See sales as a consultative space. For every problem your customer has, you must offer a solution.” 

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Panel 2: Blitzscaling in Africa – Products, Processes, and People

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The second panel was even more profound, pivoting the conversation toward a broader vision for Africa and exploring the niche concept of blitzscaling in Africa.

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Rufai Oseni, Host at Arise News, moderated the session, which featured insights from Ifeanyi Duru, SVP of Enterprise Sales and Partnerships at Moniepoint, Somtochukwu Ifezue, Co-founder/CEO of Piggyvest, Obi Emetarom, Co-Founder/CEO of Zone and Wale Hassan, CEO of Budpay.

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They shared insights about growing fast while navigating the challenges of the African market. They also shared insights around scaling through word of mouth and building a contagious product people love.

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They further shared ideas around scaling from an infrastructure perspective and building products for the grassroots. 

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The panel session ended with questions from the audience.

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After the panel discussions, our CEO, Dickson Nsofor, gave closing remarks.

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Then, the attendees used the opportunity to network and make new connections. People swapped business cards, shared ideas freely and made new connections.

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One of the biggest highlights of the evening was the performance by Africa’s number-one rapper, MI Jude Abaga, who stepped into his rapper persona. The room came alive as he performed fan favourites, turning the rest of the evening into a mini-concert. 

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Sundown Sessions is more than a tech event— it’s a community where people in the tech space can share moments, make new connections and get invaluable insights from each other and leaders in the ecosystem. 

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If you’re part of the African tech ecosystem, don’t miss the next edition of Sundown Sessions.

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At Kora, our goal is to connect Africa to the world and connect the world to Africa via payments. For startups and businesses working in Africa, we provide All The Support You Need ™️ to start, scale and thrive on the continent.

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