Mastercard and TeamApt Ltd., a subsidiary of Moniepoint Inc. and a leading provider of financial infrastructure and payment solutions, have forged a strategic collaboration aimed at expanding digital payment acceptance and strengthening transaction infrastructure for businesses and financial institutions across Africa.
A key element of the partnership is TeamApt’s integration directly with Mastercard’s global payments network as a non-bank acquirer.
The arrangement will enhance TeamApt’s capacity to onboard credible, licensed entities and provide secure payment acceptance, transaction processing and acquiring services across multiple markets.
The collaboration is also expected to significantly broaden TeamApt’s card acceptance infrastructure, enabling more merchants to accept Mastercard payments through physical stores, e-commerce platforms and mobile channels.
By connecting TeamApt’s switching infrastructure to Mastercard’s global network, the partnership will support the secure processing of high-volume transactions across both online and in-store environments, creating greater opportunities for businesses to participate in the digital economy.
The initiative is particularly significant in Nigeria, where more than 40 million micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) form a critical part of the economy.
Mastercard’s 2026 SME Confidence Index also indicates that small businesses increasingly regard digital solutions as essential to scaling their operations, underscoring the importance of accessible and reliable payment infrastructure.
By combining TeamApt’s deep local market expertise with Mastercard’s global scale, businesses and individuals will benefit from more reliable transactions, stronger security and faster, safer and more accessible digital payment experiences.
“Expanding digital payment acceptance is one of the fastest ways to support small businesses across Africa to compete, grow, and reach more customers. By working with TeamApt, we are equipping MSMEs and informal sector businesses in Nigeria with robust, secure infrastructure to seamlessly process transactions across multiple channels.
“This collaboration brings more businesses into the digital economy, unlocking vital new opportunities for growth, credit access, and cross-border trade,” said Folasade Femi-Lawal, country manager, West Africa at Mastercard
“This collaboration with Mastercard represents an important step forward in our commitment to removing barriers within the payments ecosystem. For years, TeamApt has focused on building infrastructure that helps financial institutions and businesses grow with confidence.
“By working closely with Mastercard, we are extending those capabilities, enabling businesses to accept payments more seamlessly and giving users the freedom to transact securely both locally and internationally,” said Dennis Ajalie, Chief Executive Officer of TeamApt.
The collaboration also delivers international value, enabling Mastercard cards supported by TeamApt’s infrastructure to be used across millions of merchant locations worldwide.
Customers gain the convenience of secure global payments, while merchants can more easily serve both local and international customers.
A Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-licensed switching and processing company, TeamApt has, for over a decade, built and operated critical financial infrastructure that powers banks, fintechs and other institutions.
The company’s technology supports secure and reliable transaction processing across multiple payment channels, enabling businesses and consumers to participate more easily in the digital economy.
This collaboration further underscores the strength of Moniepoint’s ecosystem. With operations and agent coverage across all 774 local government areas in Nigeria, Moniepoint has established one of the nation’s most extensive financial services networks, positioning the group to drive meaningful scale and adoption of digital payment solutions.
Through the collaboration, Mastercard and TeamApt are positioned to help bridge gaps in digital payment acceptance while giving more businesses the infrastructure needed to transact seamlessly and scale across Africa’s rapidly evolving digital economy.