At MIPAN AGM, fintech giant urges practitioners to turAren disruption into opportunity and rethink traditional revenue models
Interswitch Group, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, has called on Nigeria’s media industry to embrace bold reinvention, innovation and agility as the sector navigates rapid technological disruption and changing consumer behaviour.
The company made the call while reaffirming its commitment to the growth and transformation of Nigeria’s media ecosystem as a proud sponsor of the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) Annual General Meeting.
Held in Ogun State under the theme, “Monetising Tomorrow: Outpacing Disruption, Capturing Growth,” the AGM provided a platform for media, advertising and communications professionals to examine the forces reshaping the industry and identify new pathways for sustainable growth.
For Interswitch, however, the conversation went beyond the immediate challenges confronting the media sector. The company noted that monetising tomorrow requires organisations across industries to recognise that disruption has become a permanent feature of the business environment.
According to the company, businesses that will remain relevant are those willing to see change not merely as a threat, but as a catalyst for innovation, reinvention and long-term growth.
Speaking on the partnership, Tomi Ogunlesi, Divisional Head, Brands, Communications & CSR, Interswitch, said infrastructure and technology could only create meaningful impact when supported by storytellers, innovators and independent voices capable of translating complex ideas into trust and value.
“Infrastructure alone means very little without the storytellers, disruptors and independent voices that translate innovation into trust. That is why we are particularly pleased to support this year’s MIPAN AGM.
“The questions being asked in this room are not exclusive to media; they speak to every industry navigating a world where technology is dissolving traditional boundaries and rewriting the rules of value creation.”
Ogunlesi noted that the accelerating convergence of media, technology and marketing is fundamentally altering conventional definitions of industry ownership.
Agencies are expanding into influencer networks, digital platforms are increasingly functioning as media companies, while data has evolved into a critical component of the value proposition for brands and businesses.
He added that the boundaries separating media, public relations, digital communication, content creation, experiential marketing and influencer engagement are becoming increasingly fluid.
While these developments may create tensions for traditional players, he stressed that they also present significant opportunities for practitioners prepared to challenge established assumptions and explore new ways of creating value.
From Disruption to Opportunity
Against the backdrop of accelerating technological change, Interswitch argued that the objective should not simply be to “outpace” disruption.
Rather, businesses must develop the agility to keep pace with change, anticipate where it is heading and transform emerging disruptions into opportunities for sustainable growth.
The company’s position, it noted, is informed by more than two decades of experience evolving alongside Africa’s digital economy.
Over the years, Interswitch has built and expanded digital infrastructure that facilitates the movement of value across Africa, while continually reassessing its assumptions, strategies and business models in response to emerging market realities.
That experience, according to the company, offers an important lesson for organisations across sectors: the pursuit of tomorrow’s sustainable value must take precedence over the protection of today’s revenue streams.
Rethinking Value in the Media Industry
For Nigeria’s media industry, the evolving landscape presents an opportunity to fundamentally rethink what constitutes value.
With technology lowering barriers to entry and enabling new participants to enter the media ecosystem, traditional media organisations can no longer rely solely on established business models.
Instead, they can explore new revenue streams, strategic partnerships, innovative products, digital platforms and alternative approaches to audience engagement.
The future, therefore, belongs to media organisations capable of combining credibility and professional excellence with innovation, technology and commercial agility.
As the industry enters its next phase of evolution, Interswitch reiterated its commitment to supporting platforms that promote dialogue, innovation, professional excellence and stronger ecosystems across Africa.
The company also charged media practitioners to approach the future deliberately and independently, with the courage to challenge conventional thinking and build business models capable of thriving amid continuous disruption.
The message from the MIPAN AGM was clear: the future of media will not simply be about surviving disruption—it will be about converting disruption into a new engine for growth.