REGULATORY MAPPING IN THE NIGERIAN FINTECH SECTOR (TALP’S FINTECH SERIES 4)
Introduction Nigeria’s Fintech revolution is unstoppable, but so are the regulators. With over 430 companies now transforming how money moves, from digital banking and mobile payments to blockchain, lending, and wealth management, the sector has become one of Africa’s most vibrant innovation hubs. But rapid growth attracts not just capital and customers, but also scrutiny. […]
Moonlighting in the Nigerian Tech Industry: What Employers and Employees Need to Know
Introduction Moonlighting (holding down a full-time job while running a side hustle) is fast becoming the norm in the global tech space. For employees, the perks are obvious: extra income and a safety net. For employers? It is dealing with employee’ burnout, slipping performance, conflicts of interest, and even misuse of company resources and confidential […]
IP OWNERSHIP 101: A FOUNDER’S GUIDE TO PROTECTING YOUR STARTUP’S ASSETS
For most tech startups, the real asset is not a sleek office or shiny gadgets; it is intellectual property (IP). Your code, brand, and ideas are the foundation of value. But if you don’t secure ownership, that foundation can collapse overnight. Too many founders discover this the hard way, battling co-founders in court over who […]
Contractor Or Employee? The Startup Dilemma That Can Define Your Future
Introduction For most startups, survival hinges on one thing: how well resources are managed. In the race to cut costs and scale smartly, staffing becomes both a founder’s greatest strength and toughest challenge. The dilemma is clear: people are your biggest asset and your biggest cost. Do you hire full-time employees who grow with the […]
Understanding Commercial and Microfinance Banking Licenses in Nigeria (TALP’s Fintech Series 3)
Introduction Fintech licenses come with limits and many fast-growing players are now turning to banking licenses as a more scalable path forward. Moniepoint is a prime example. It began as a mobile money operator, transitioned to a microfinance bank, and is now pursuing a full commercial banking license. The aim? To overcome regulatory constraints, broaden […]
Financing your Startup through IP Monetization (Tech IP Series 2)
In our last Newsletter, we highlighted how licensing external tech can help you grow without losing focus on your core business objective. Now, let’s flip the script, what if your IP could do the heavy lifting? Imagine you’ve built an amazing software product, but scaling your business generally feels out of reach. Sound familiar? Don’t […]
Scaling Without Sanctions: The Nigerian Fintech Compliance Playbook (Fintech Series 2)
Introduction Paystack, Moniepoint, and Opay, some of the biggest names in the Nigerian fintech space, have all been hit with major fines by the Central Bank of Nigeria (“CBN”) in the last 18 months, some as high as N1 billion. So, what happened? Compliance slipped through the cracks. It’s a common story, startups get caught […]
Breaking into Fintech: Understanding the Key Licence Requirements and Limitations (TALP’s Fintech Series 1)
Introduction In Nigeria’s increasingly scrutinized and regulated fintech landscape, having a license is no longer enough; it is about understanding what that license permits. Earlier this year, Paystack reportedly paid a N250 million fine for allegedly offering services via its Zap product outside the scope of its CBN license. That’s not just a compliance […]
Scale Smarter, Not Harder: Leveraging IP Licensing for Startup Growth (Tech IP Series 1)
Introduction How startups leverage Intellectual Property (“IP”) can significantly impact their growth trajectory. For startups with limited IP portfolios, leveraging the technology of other startups could provide the required momentum for rapid expansion. Conversely, startups with limited funds and valuable IP can generate revenue to finance operations by monetizing their IP assets. In this part […]
Regulatory Update: Designation of the Nigerian Copyright Commission as a Relevant Organisation under the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022
On 7 February 2025, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (“NCC”) was designated as a Relevant Organisation under the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022 (“Act”), by the Proceeds of Crime (Designation of Nigerian Copyright Commission as a Relevant Organisation) Order 2025 (“Order”). What’s New The Act provides a legal framework for the recovery and […]
