Verve International, Africa’s leading homegrown payment card scheme, has crossed a major industry milestone with the issuance of over 100 million cards across the continent.
The announcement was made in Lagos by Vincent Ogbunude, chief executive officer of Verve International, during a media briefing in Lagos, on Monday.
Ogbunude described the achievement as a defining moment for Verve and a testament to African resilience, innovation, and consumer trust. “More than 15 years ago, when we launched Africa’s first domestic payment card scheme, the environment was tough. Electronic payments were still taking shape, infrastructure was limited, and many doubted that a homegrown brand could thrive. Yet today, we stand proudly as Africa’s largest homegrown payment card brand, accepted across markets including Kenya, Uganda, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Benin, and Senegal,” he said.
The company also announced two new strategic partnerships aimed at broadening value for its cardholders: Adobe and Glovo.
The Adobe partnership, Ogbunude explained, is designed to support Africa’s rapidly expanding digital creator economy.
Verve cardholders will now enjoy seamless access to Adobe’s suite of world-class creative tools, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro. This move is expected to democratize access to global-standard creative solutions for young professionals, designers, photographers, and digital entrepreneurs across the continent.
The collaboration with Glovo, one of Africa’s fastest-growing on-demand delivery platforms, will expand lifestyle and convenience offerings for Verve users. Cardholders will benefit from exclusive discounts, smoother checkout experiences, rewards, and access to services across food delivery, retail, and mobility categories. The partnership aligns with Verve’s broader strategy of embedding itself deeper into the everyday lives of Africans.
Chidi Oluaoha, divisional head of growth marketing at Verve International, reinforced the significance of the achievement, describing it as a story of endurance and collective progress. “From the first set of cards, adoption grew from thousands to millions, and now to 100 million. If the average African household has five members, the ripple effect of 100 million cards touches nearly half a billion lives,” he said.
Oluaoha added that Verve’s success stems from consumer-focused innovation, enhanced security, global integrations, and a deep understanding of the African market. He emphasized that the milestone belongs not just to the company but to its ecosystem, issuing banks, merchants, regulators, partners, and millions of users.
During a brief Q&A session, company executives reiterated Verve’s readiness for widescale contactless payment adoption and its commitment to expanding financial inclusion across underserved segments. They also reaffirmed plans for continued regional expansion and product upgrades tailored to real consumer needs.
