[Mauritius, April 3, 2023] – Mauritius Africa FinTech Hub (MAFH) is proud to announce the graduation of its second cohort of university students from the “Future FinTech Champions” industry programme, sponsored by the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB). The initiative is part of MAFH’s mission to foster entrepreneurship, innovation, and talent development in the fintech sector in Mauritius and the region.

The industry programme was designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and the practical skills and experience required in the workplace. The program provided students with exposure to a wide range of topics relevant to the fast-moving FinTech space, from blockchain technology to digital payments and cybersecurity, through initiatives organized by MAFH and partners, as well as exercises to support them in building entrepreneurship, project management, and leadership skills.

The graduation ceremony, held on February 15, 2023, was attended by representatives from MAFH, MCB, members, partners and some representatives from participating universities, namely University of Mauritius (UoM) and University of Technology (UTM). The ceremony was an opportunity to celebrate the commitment of the students to explore this new industry and recognize their dedication over the course of last year, amidst challenging times.

Speaking at the ceremony, the CEO of MAFH, Ms. Benazeer Saïdoo, said: “An estimated growth of year-on-year 25% is estimated to happen, totalling $150 billion by 2025. Funding is flowing into cross-border payments, savings and investment tools, improving access to credit, new digital banking solutions, to cite only a few of the solutions that are popping up over the continent. Needless to say that the timing has never been so ripe as to build a career in this space. We are delighted to see this second cohort of students graduate from our program. This is a significant milestone for us, and we are proud to have played a role in developing a new generation of FinTech professionals.”

MCB’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr. Vincent Chatard, added: “We are proud to have sponsored this program and to have worked closely with MAFH and the participating universities to deliver an immersive learning experience for the students. We believe that initiatives like this are essential to building talent for a strong and sustainable FinTech ecosystem in Mauritius.”

With this cohort closing, MAFH is pleased to announce that recruitment is now open for the 2023 program, which will close on April 17. The program is open to university students in Mauritius who are interested in gaining skills and knowledge in the FinTech industry. The programme will include a range of initiatives relevant to the industry organized by MAFH and partners. Students who successfully complete the program augment their chances to pursue careers in the FinTech industry and contribute to the development of the sector in Mauritius. Students can email MAFH at [email protected] to receive the application form.

The success of the program highlights the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing the skills gap in emerging industries and the value of collaboration in driving innovation and growth. MAFH would like to thank the MCB for their continued sponsorship of the programme. Their support has been instrumental in the success of the programme and we look forward to continuing our partnership over the year.

GO TO THE FFC 2023 APPLICATION FORM

About Mauritius Africa FinTech Hub (MAFH)

Mauritius Africa FinTech Hub (MAFH) is a non-profit organization that promotes the development of the FinTech ecosystem in Mauritius and Africa. MAFH aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the sector and provide support and resources to startups, SMEs, and other stakeholders in the industry.

About MCB

MCB is the longest standing and leading banking institution in Mauritius, offering a comprehensive range of tailored and innovative solutions to its retail, corporate and institutional clients. MCB’s rich history, commitment to customer service and excellence, innovative culture and high quality employees have underpinned its solid franchise and long track record of sustainable profitability and financial soundness. As a testament to its successful business model, it received several awards and recognitions including the ‘Regional Bank of the Year – Southern Africa’ by African Banker Awards 2022 and the ‘Bank of the Year for Mauritius’ by The Banker/FT Magazine for the sixth time in eight years as well as the 4th ‘Strongest Bank by Balance Sheet in Africa by the Asian Banker in 2022. Whilst actively involved in various markets across sub Saharan Africa, MCB has also established a physical presence in 10 countries overseas, via its subsidiaries in Madagascar, Seychelles and Maldives, its representative offices in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Paris and Dubai, as well as its associates, Société Générale Moçambique and Banque Française Commerciale Océan Indien (BFCOI – operating in Réunion Island, Mayotte and Paris)

FFC 2022 Cohort Highlights