Meet Folasade Femi-Lawal, New Country Manager MasterCard

Mastercard has appointed Folasade Femi-Lawal as the new Country Manager for Nigeria as well as the Area Business Head for West Africa TechTV Network can confirm.

With over 25 years of extensive experience in financial services, management consulting, telecommunications, and business advisory services, Folasade brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her new role.

As the Country Manager, Folasade will play a crucial role in driving Mastercard’s vision, innovation, and growth agenda in West Africa. Her responsibilities include strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders and advancing the mission of building a more connected and inclusive digital economy in the region.

Taking a look at her distinguished leadership career roles at First Bank, Nigeria, she successfully led initiatives in Mobile Financial Services and Digital Banking Strategy. Prior to this, she served as the Head of the Loan Monitoring Unit at the United Bank of Africa, demonstrating her proficiency in credit risk management.

Uveiling Folasade Femi-Lawal’s achievements
Speaking on the appointment, Mastercard’s Division President for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mark Elliott, said: “We are delighted to welcome Folasade to the Mastercard family. Folasade’s vast experience across the digital payments ecosystem will be a huge asset to the Mastercard business in West Africa.

She arrives at a pivotal time when digital innovation is transforming the country’s payments landscape, moving Nigeria toward a cashless society. Folasade will work closely with various private and public sector stakeholders in the country to help further this transformation. Her proven track record of leadership, innovation, and dedication to driving positive change and results aligns perfectly with our vision for the region.”

In addition to her professional achievements, Folasade is recognized for her commitment to fostering inclusive growth and empowerment, particularly for women and children. She has been actively involved in philanthropic endeavours and mentorship roles with organizations like Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WimBiz) and the United States White House Initiative – Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) According to the new Country Manager of Mastercard for West Africa:

“Mastercard’s unwavering commitment to excellence, cutting-edge solutions, partnerships, and initiatives have consistently set industry standards as it concerns financial inclusion, economic empowerment, digital transformation, and innovation”.

She added, “As such, I am extremely honoured to take on this role and I look forward to partnering with the amazing Mastercard teams, as well as its customers, clients and partners, as we work together to shape the future of payments and drive digital transformation and inclusion.

She expressed her eagerness to support the Nigerian government’s agenda for developing a powerful, inclusive and secure digital economy while welcoming the opportunity to further elevate the company’s presence and deliver unparalleled value to clients and customers.

Folasade Femi-Lawal holds a distinguished list of 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 is also a member of the Forbes Business Development Council and has recently served as the Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Committee of eBusiness Industry Heads (CEBIH). Beyond her professional pursuits, Folasade enjoys singing, writing, and spending quality time with her family.