Kora’s 2025 Sundown Sessions Ignites Bold Conversations on AI, Innovation, and Africa’s Digital Future
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji challenges founders to “build beyond unicorns” in Lagos keynote
Kora, a leading payment infrastructure company, hosted the second edition of its flagship event, “Sundown Sessions”, under the theme “AI in Africa: Scaling Beyond the Hype.” The event brought together more than 400 entrepreneurs, creatives, and technology leaders in Lagos to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping Africa’s economic and creative future.
The evening opened with a fireside chat featuring Ifeanyi Nwunne, Creative Director of I.N Official Limited, and Yinka Ash, Founder & CEO of Ashcorp Group, moderated by Dickson Nsofor, CEO of Kora. Their conversation explored AI’s influence on creativity, manufacturing, and consumer engagement in Africa’s fashion industry.
“AI only threatens people who stop innovating,” said Nwunne. “Across fashion and other industries, it helps us work faster, visualize ideas better, and bring more precision to our craft. It’s not here to replace creativity, but to amplify it.”
Ash added, “What separates humans from machines is our creativity and lived experience. AI can automate, but it cannot feel. When we use it as a partner, not a competitor, we position ourselves to compete globally.”
AI Across Sectors: Rethinking African Business Models
The first panel discussion, “How Will AI Reshape Business Models in Africa,” featured thought leaders including Somtochukwu Ifezue (Co-founder & CEO, PiggyVest), Onyinye Olisah (CEO, Onus Financial Services), Buchi Okoro (CEO, Quidax), Frank Atat (Industry Practitioner), and Ugodre Obi-Chukwu (Founder & CEO, Nairametrics). Chigozirim Nwokeoma of Techpoint Africa moderated the session.
Panelists shared how AI is driving transformation across finance, agriculture, and media:
Somtochukwu Ifezue noted that PiggyVest leverages AI to enhance productivity and accelerate learning.
Onyinye Olisah emphasized the need for human creativity: “AI is powerful, but it can only go as far as we guide it. If you don’t bring insight to the table, AI will replace you.”
Buchi Okoro highlighted responsible adoption: “In financial services, data protection is everything. That’s why at Quidax, we’ve built clear internal AI policies to ensure ethical use and safeguard customer trust.”
Frank Atat discussed AI’s growing role in agriculture, from soil testing to crop management, showcasing innovation rooted in impact.
Ugodre Obi-Chukwu reflected on journalism: “AI helps with data analysis and report drafting, but human editors must still fact-check and refine the story. Originality remains a human art.”
Aboyeji’s Call to Build Beyond Fintech
The night’s keynote address came from Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Founding Partner at Future Africa, who challenged African innovators to broaden their vision of what’s possible.
“We need to go beyond fintech,” said Aboyeji. “We’ve built unicorns with limited resources, but in the age of AI, there’s so much more to build. From trade to governance, our future depends on digital infrastructure — yet too many still lack access to the internet. That’s the challenge we must solve.”
Kora also showcased its latest AI-driven product suite, demonstrating how the company is embedding machine learning into payments and risk management to help African businesses scale faster and smarter.
Reflecting on the event, Dickson Nsofor, Kora’s CEO, said:
“AI is driving a new phase of Africa’s digital growth. At Kora, we believe progress happens when technology meets community — and Sundown Sessions is our way of creating that bridge.”
From fashion to finance, agriculture to media, Kora’s 2025 Sundown Sessions celebrated Africa’s readiness to lead the next global wave of innovation, powered by technology, creativity, and collaboration.
