Mastercard has announced a major leap in its African operations, expanding its acceptance network by 45 per cent in 2025 and bringing millions of consumers and small businesses into the continent’s fast-growing digital economy.
The company said the milestone underscored the rapid advancement of digital payments and innovation across Africa, progress that traditionally would have taken several years to achieve.
The expansion comes amid new market entries, significant investment, and product innovation.
Mastercard has opened offices in Ghana, Uganda and Mauritius, with further markets expected in 2026, and increased its employee base by nearly 20 per cent to strengthen local capabilities.
Alongside its footprint growth, the company has advanced digital infrastructure, including tokenization upgrades, digital identity capabilities and virtual card enhancements, aimed at bolstering trust and convenience in online and in-person transactions.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), described as the backbone of Africa’s economy, remain central to Mastercard’s strategy.
The company has launched 15 SME-focused programmes in the past 18 months, working with governments, FMCGs and telecoms to enable cross-border payments, credit solutions and marketplace digitization.
In Nigeria, new QR-on-Card solutions with UBA and WEMA are enabling 1.8 million SMEs and gig workers to accept seamless payments, while USD cards with Zenith Bank are supporting more than 50,000 SMEs in cross-border trade.
In Morocco, Mastercard co-developed the country’s first digital marketplace with BCP and government partners, benefiting 2.3 million artisans. Similar collaborations in Kenya, Mauritius and Tanzania have empowered over 200,000 SMEs with digital tools.
The company is also driving financial inclusion in underserved communities through its Community Pass initiative, which digitizes access to services in rural areas.
Mastercard aims to register 15 million users in Africa within five years, having already reached 1.2 million smallholder farmers in Uganda.
Through the Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance, launched in 2024, Mastercard and partners plan to expand digital access to 100 million individuals and businesses by 2034.
Folasade Femi-Lawal, Mastercard’s Country Manager for West Africa, described 2025 as a defining year for the company on the continent.
“Our collaborations across Africa will continue to connect more people and businesses to the financial system, helping drive greater financial inclusion and economic opportunity, as we collectively look towards a $1.5 trillion digital economy by 2030,” she said.
Looking ahead, Mastercard predicts that artificial intelligence and agentic commerce will define the next era of commerce, with Africa’s AI market projected to reach $16.5 billion by 2030.
The company said it would continue to expand across markets in 2026, introduce more locally relevant solutions, and invest in infrastructure to support a secure and connected African economy.
Rate, Like 👍, Comment 💬, Share this article, Follow us on our social media handles, and Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
