ZikarelHub says Nigeria’s tech sector added ₦7 trillion to GDP in the first half of 2025. Yet businesses still split digital product work among overseas design agencies, foreign freelance developers and local engineers who handle payments integration and regulatory compliance. The company says that fragmented setup can inflate budgets, delay timelines and leave products that fail with local users.
Who Builds the Infrastructure
ZikarelHub LTD, a digital product studio in Lagos and Abuja, says it has brought the product lifecycle into one ecosystem. Its expertise spans twelve technological verticals, including custom software development, mobile applications, web platforms, blockchain integration and AI-driven automation.
The company says it takes concepts from boardroom wireframes to deployed applications that comply with regulation. Its approach, it says, is homegrown and suited to local conditions—not reliant on imported software frameworks built for different infrastructure.
Nigerian businesses need offline-first tools, architecture optimized for 3G, USSD integration and compliance with changing Central Bank of Nigeria directives, the company says. Its teams build lightweight Progressive Web Applications for legacy devices and fluctuating bandwidth. They also develop mobile applications that let rural field workers enter data offline and sync it when connectivity returns.
Fintech systems need localized know-your-customer processes, multi-tiered authentication, fraud prevention and regulatory awareness, ZikarelHub says. It reports a 98% client satisfaction rate across more than 60 deployed projects. Its cited work includes Enterprise Resource Planning software for manufacturing and logistics firms, business-to-business software platforms for local founders, and AI workflows for customer service and back-office data processing at financial institutions.
Platforms, Payments and Partnerships
At GITEX Nigeria 2026, held in Abuja and Lagos from August 31 to September 3, Mastercard executives discussed interoperability, financial innovation, local capability and cybersecurity. The company said linking digital identity, payment and government service systems could help people verify identities, access services, and make or receive payments.
Kari Tukur, vice president, Core Payments, West Africa, Mastercard, said identity, payment and service-delivery systems should work together from the outset. Mastercard’s Community Pass uses digital credentials to connect underserved communities with financial institutions, governments and service providers. The company says it helps farmers and small traders build profiles that can support access to payments, markets and financial tools.
At a discussion titled “What the Digital Future Requires – From Dependency to Ownership,” Olusola Olakanmi, vice president, Account Management and head of Sales, West Africa, Mastercard, said global partnerships can speed access to technology, infrastructure and expertise. He said their long-term value should depend on whether they strengthen local capability, develop infrastructure and create opportunities for African businesses to generate sustainable value. He cited capability transfer, engineering and cybersecurity skills, product development and local supplier participation.
Mastercard said its acceptance network across Africa grew by 45% in 2025. Its Mastercard Move service supports money movement across more than 200 countries and territories and more than 150 currencies, connecting bank accounts, cards, digital wallets and cash endpoints. Mastercard said its Threat Intelligence service uses AI to assess transaction risk in real time.
Regulation and the Limits of the Accounts
Mastercard hosted stakeholders, including the Deputy Governor of Lagos State and the U.S. Consul General, at its exhibition booth. At a cybersecurity workshop, Can Elbeyli, senior vice president, Security Solutions, EEMEA, Mastercard, discussed AI-driven risks and the integration of cybersecurity, fraud prevention and resilience into transformation strategies.
Gabriel Swanepoel, division president, Africa at Mastercard, said: “Africa's digital future will be shaped by the partnerships that bring together technology, innovation and local expertise to create real opportunities for people and businesses.”
ZikarelHub says its roadmap includes expansion as the African Continental Free Trade Area matures and cross-border digital trade accelerates, including Nigerian businesses moving into Kenya, Ghana and South Africa. It is also developing proprietary software-as-a-service products and reusable fintech payment rails, moving from custom services toward a scalable product ecosystem.
Neither account identifies unions, strikes or worker organizations. Neither provides wage figures, worker headcounts or ownership shares for the businesses and platforms discussed. The accounts describe local capability, supplier participation and product development, but don't specify how those measures will be assessed. They don't report any figures on wages or ownership.