Mastercard has appointed Folasade Femi-Lawal as the new Country Manager and Area Business Head for West Africa. Folasade brings over 25 years of diverse experience spanning financial services, management consulting, telecommunications, and business advisory services to her role.
As Country Manager, Folasade is tasked with driving the company’s strategic vision, innovation, and growth agenda. She will strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders and advance the mission of building a more connected and inclusive digital economy in West Africa.
Folasade is known for her successful tenure in Mobile Financial Services and Digital Banking Strategy at First Bank, Nigeria, where she significantly grew the card subscriber base and market share as the Head of Cards & Messaging Business. She also served as the Head of the Loan Monitoring Unit at the United Bank of Africa, overseeing critical aspects of credit risk management.
In her role, Folasade will lead Mastercard’s strategic initiatives, strengthen partnerships, and work towards building a more connected and inclusive digital economy in West Africa.
Mark Elliott, the division president for Sub-Saharan Africa at Mastercard, expressed delight in welcoming Folasade to the Mastercard family, highlighting her vast experience in the digital payments ecosystem. He emphasized the importance of her role at a time when digital innovation is transforming Nigeria’s payments landscape.
Folasade Femi-Lawal is recognized for her commitment to fostering inclusive growth and empowerment, particularly for women and children. She has been involved in philanthropic endeavors and mentorship roles with organizations like Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WimBiz), the United States White House Initiative – Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), and FirstBank Women Network.
In her statement, Folasade expressed her honor in taking on the role and her eagerness to work with Mastercard teams, customers, clients, and partners to shape the future of payments, drive digital transformation, and promote inclusion. She is committed to supporting the Nigerian government’s agenda for developing a powerful, inclusive, and secure digital economy.
A Summary Background On Folasade Femi-Lawal
Folasade Femi-Lawal holds several accolades, including the Outstanding Women in Management award by the United Nations Association in Nigeria and recognition as one of the Top 50 Women in Management Africa by Women in Management Africa. She has also served as the Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Committee of eBusiness Industry Heads (CEBIH) and is a member of the Forbes Business Development Council. Beyond her professional pursuits, Folasade enjoys singing, writing, and spending quality time with her family.
From The News Source: Techeconomy
