Standard Chartered Bank Hosts 2025 Finance Master Class, Spotlights AI and Open Banking as Future of Finance

Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria has once again demonstrated its leadership in financial innovation and professional development with the launch of the 2025 edition of its flagship Finance Master Class (FMC) — a premier learning and knowledge-sharing platform uniting finance professionals across West Africa.

Held annually, the FMC brings together experts from diverse departments to exchange insights on global trends, emerging technologies, and innovations shaping the financial sector. In a statement on Monday, the bank described the Master Class as a cornerstone of its learning agenda and a benchmark for excellence, fostering collaboration, thought leadership, and continuous education.

Fully accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the FMC satisfies the Institute’s Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) requirements. The partnership between Standard Chartered and ICAN serves as a model for professional synergy, promoting knowledge advancement and high standards in Nigeria’s finance industry.

Executive Director of Standard Chartered Nigeria and Cluster Chief Financial Officer for West Africa, Dayo Omolokun, described the FMC as the bank’s “signature empowerment platform” for over 150 qualified accountants and finance professionals across six West African countries.

He explained that participants engage with leading experts on global economic shifts, accounting standards, technology-driven finance, and the evolving future of work. “The FMC equips finance professionals to connect global trends with local realities,” Omolokun said.

The 2025 edition, themed “Beyond Imagination,” is scheduled for October 21–22, 2025, and will adopt a hybrid format with physical and virtual participation. Omolokun noted that the convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Open Banking will transform Nigeria’s financial landscape “beyond imagination.”

“AI is already revolutionizing financial services through smarter decision-making, personalized solutions, and better fraud detection,” he said. “With Open Banking set for rollout in 2026, customers will have greater control over their financial data, paving the way for deeper collaboration between banks and fintechs.”

The speaker lineup for this year’s FMC includes Adedeji Olowe (Lendsqr), Joel Omeike (P4PE), Lanre Basamta (Optimus AI Labs), Chijioke Odo (Deloitte), and Ade Shokoya, a GenAI and strategy expert. Also speaking are Chemutai Murgor (CFO, Kenya & Africa), Dalu Ajene (CEO, Standard Chartered Nigeria), and Dayo Omolokun himself.

Over the years, the FMC has featured top industry voices such as Temi Popoola, Dr. Doyin Salami, Dr. Bismarck Rewane, Dr. Sola Adeduntan, Oreoluwa Boboye, and Bisi Lamikanra, among others.

By consistently promoting innovation, education, and professional growth, Standard Chartered Bank’s Finance Master Class continues to redefine finance learning in Nigeria and West Africa—empowering professionals with future-ready skills and reinforcing the bank’s role as a driver of transformation in Africa’s financial ecosystem.