Interswitch Group, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, recently hosted the fourth edition of its flagship Career Fair at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos. Themed “The Talent Paradox: Enabling the Talent Ecosystem in Africa,” the one-day event brought together thousands of industry leaders, professionals, students, and job seekers for an immersive experience focused on unlocking the potential within Africa’s talent pipeline.
Participants engaged in a dynamic series of keynotes, panel discussions, and mentoring sessions that challenged conventional thinking and sparked fresh ideas about the future of work in Africa. From practical career resources to strategic insights, the Career Fair offered a holistic experience designed to equip attendees with tools for success in an ever-evolving labour market.
Setting a compelling tone for the event, Mitchell Elegbe, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Interswitch Group, delivered an inspiring message to participants. Drawing on his entrepreneurial journey, he emphasised the power of resilience, bold thinking, authenticity, purpose, and a deep commitment to solving real problems. Addressing attendees, he said: “Starting Interswitch at a young age wasn’t easy. The odds were stacked high, but I was determined to break new ground in Nigeria’s emerging tech scene—and that grit shaped what you see today. In a world where visibility is often mistaken for value, one must avoid falling into the trap of inflating your skills because of the ‘LinkedIn effect’. Authenticity builds trust. Embrace your learning curves, own your gaps, and grow deliberately. More importantly, focus on creating real value. Solving meaningful problems is not just the gateway to career success—it’s how we build lasting impact.”
Oremeyi Akah, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Interswitch and one of the company’s earliest employees, opened the programme with an engaging session that combined storytelling and LEGO block demonstrations. She highlighted how creativity, resourcefulness, consistency, and incremental actions can drive impactful career outcomes.
During the session, Franklin Ali, Group Chief Human Resource Officer, emphasised that the Interswitch Career Fair remains the company’s flagship platform for supporting Africa’s rich and diverse talent.
Adding further depth, Dr. Harry Akinola, Executive Director at JP Morgan Chase & Co., delivered a keynote on self-awareness and personal development. He encouraged young professionals to identify their unique strengths, define their own paths, and commit to continuous learning.
Other notable speakers included Kemi Okusanya, CEO of Hydrogen; Charles Ifedi, Founder of eBanqo; Lanre Basamta, Co-Founder of Optimus AI Labs; and Isioma Utomi, CEO of Catalyst Experience Solutions, among others.
Together, they addressed systemic challenges affecting Africa’s talent ecosystem—highlighting the need for scalable skilling programmes, agile hiring models, and stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors in supporting the next generation of African innovators.
With a mix of mentorship sessions, practical career resources, and exposure to recruiters and hiring managers, the Interswitch Career Fair once again lived up to its reputation as one of Africa’s most impactful platforms for talent development, knowledge exchange, and opportunity creation.
As the world of work becomes increasingly dynamic, digital, and global, Interswitch continues to lead the way by championing a talent agenda that is inclusive, future-focused, and distinctly African.