Octave Analytics

Nigeria’s ATM network is quietly losing relevance.

Not because cash disappeared.
But because convenience won.

Across cities, towns, and underserved communities, POS terminals are becoming the real financial access points for millions of Nigerians.

At Octave Analytics, we analyzed the structural shift happening across Nigeria’s payment ecosystem — and the trend is accelerating faster than many expected.

Our findings reveal several key patterns:

• POS transaction growth has significantly outpaced ATM withdrawal growth over the past few years.

• Agent banking networks are expanding rapidly in areas with limited traditional banking infrastructure.

• Convenience, speed, and accessibility are increasingly outweighing concerns around transaction charges.

• ATM downtime and failed transactions continue to push users toward alternative financial channels.

But this transition raises deeper questions.

As POS agents become critical financial infrastructure:
- how do we strengthen regulation and consumer protection?
- how do we reduce fraud exposure?
- and what happens when informal financial access points become systemically important?

Nigeria may not simply be moving toward a cashless economy.

It may be transitioning into an agent-powered financial ecosystem.

The shift is real.
How has your experience with POS been recently?

A 2019 report that reads like it was written for today.

Six years ago, the team at Octave Analytics published a quiet but ambitious piece — Open Data Ecosystem: at Subnational Level. No fanfare. No campaign. Just rigorous thinking about how data could close the gap between Nigeria’s formal financial system and the millions it was still leaving behind.

We recently revisited it. Five of the use cases hold up remarkably well:
— the logic of using open geodata to identify financially underserved communities is now the backbone of CBN’s agent banking push. We mapped it before the rush.

— FICO scores don’t work for a tomato trader in Onitsha market. Behavioural and transactional proxies do. Fintechs are now building exactly what this report proposed.

— distance to the nearest financial touchpoint is not just inconvenient; it is a structural exclusion. Open data can quantify that exclusion — and argue for investment to fix it.

— the woman in the photo above is not the exception anymore. But the data infrastructure to serve her at scale? Still catching up.

This one was asking: what does financial inclusion actually look like when you zoom past the national averages and get to the ward, the LGA, the market?

I’m sharing it again. Because the data conversation in Nigeria is maturing — and I think this is exactly the kind of foundation document practitioners, policymakers, and fintech builders should have on their reading list.

🔗 Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/e2n2q8C6

FinancialInclusion OpenData Nigeria Fintech DataScience WestAfrica InclusiveFinance OctaveAnalytics MakeYourDataSing SubnationalData OPay Guaranty Trust UBA Group First Bank of Nigeria Ltd. Zenith Bank Plc Moniepoint Group PalmPay Access Bank Plc FairMoney

🚀 Octave Analytics is hiring a Data & Integration Engineer!

🔹 Design & manage PostgreSQL databases
🔹 Handle data migration & deduplication
🔹 Build APIs & third-party integrations
🔹 Create reporting/data export systems
🔹 Ensure data quality & validation

Requirements:
✔ Strong SQL skills
✔ Python for ETL & integrations
✔ Data migration experience
✔ Git knowledge

Bonus:
➕ Health systems integration
➕ Docker experience
➕ Audit logging/data quality frameworks

Join the team building powerful digital information systems 📊
Send CV and Cover Letter to [email protected]

Can you negotiate a contract so effectively that both parties walk away feeling like they hit the jackpot? Do you thrive on building strategic partnerships and turning opportunities into lasting organizational growth?

At Octave Analytics we’re looking for a results-driven Business Development Manager who brings equal parts strategy, charisma, and commercial instinct to the table.

What you’ll bring:
• A proven track record in business development or sales
• Sharp negotiation skills with a win-win mindset
• The ability to think strategically and execute relentlessly
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills
Location: Abuja, Nigeria

How to Apply: Send your CV and a cover letter that shows us exactly why you’re the person we’ve been looking for to [email protected]

Last year, Octave Analytics joined EFInA and key stakeholders at the 9th A2F Stakeholder Engagement Workshop in Lagos to shape the next wave of financial inclusion measurement in Nigeria.

The headline? Formal Financial Inclusion is at 64% — but financial health dropped from 28% to 16%. Access without impact isn’t enough.

That’s why we built the A2F Interactive Dashboard — 10+ years of survey data across 36 states + FCT, explorable by year, region, gender, age, and more. The data now responds to your questions.

👉 Explore it: https://lnkd.in/dEA8_7aW

Read the coverage: https://lnkd.in/dSmFczAi

Proud to partner with EFInA on turning evidence into action.

Nigeria InteractiveDashboard Moniepoint Group OPay PalmPay First Bank of Nigeria Ltd. UBA Group Zenith Bank Plc Guaranty Trust Access Bank Plc

Scenario analysis on Nigeria’s 2027 Presidential Election. What’s the data saying?

We modelled 6 coalition permutations using 2023 INEC results, mid-term approval polling, and scraped online sentiment.

The findings are clear — and uncomfortable on both sides.

More details👉 https://lnkd.in/eBtXFk7N

We recently delivered an intensive Power BI and Excel Training at Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Port Harcourt, and the results once again reaffirm why Octave Analytics stands out in developing data professionals.
At Octave Analytics, our focus goes beyond teaching tools. We equip participants with practical, industry-relevant skills—from data cleaning and analysis to dashboard creation and insight-driven decision-making. The training was hands-on, interactive, and tailored to real-world business and operational scenarios, ensuring immediate applicability on the job.
Our approach helps professionals:
Build strong foundations in data analysis
Gain confidence working with real datasets
Translate data into clear, actionable insights
Position themselves competitively in today’s data-driven workplace
This session at NCDMB is another example of how structured learning, expert facilitation, and practical application can transform learners into competent and confident data professionals.
If you’re looking to upskill your team or begin a journey into data analytics, Octave Analytics is committed to guiding you every step of the way.

Monday isn’t just the start of another work week.

It’s the moment where strategy meets reality.

Targets look ambitious. Metrics look demanding. The pressure to perform is real. But performance doesn’t improve because you tracked more numbers ,it improves because you understood the right ones.

The organizations that grow aren’t the ones drowning in dashboards. They’re the ones asking better questions.

What changed?
What matters?
What needs attention now?

At Octave Analytics, we believe clarity is a competitive advantage. When insights are contextual, focused, and actionable, decision-making becomes deliberate , not reactive.

This week, don’t chase numbers.

Interrogate them.

It’s Thursday.

The week is almost over. Reports have been shared. Meetings have been held. Dashboards reviewed.

Now here’s a better question:

What are you doing this year to move from consuming data to confidently working with it?

At Octave Analytics, we believe analytics is not just about charts and spreadsheets. It’s about understanding patterns, making smarter decisions, and creating measurable impact.

That’s why we’re opening registration for our Data Analytics Training Program.

This is hands-on, practical training designed to help you build real skills ,not just theory.

Here’s what makes it different:

✔️ Real-world datasets
✔️ Dashboard development & performance tracking
✔️ Direct mentorship from experienced analysts
✔️ Only 10 slots available
✔️ And a guaranteed 3-month internship upon completion

So as the weekend approaches, consider this your sign to invest in a skill that will position you for real opportunities.

Don’t just end the week.
End it with a decision that moves you forward.

📩 Send a DM or email [email protected]
to secure your spot.

AnalyticsSkills ThursdayThoughts

It’s Monday.

A new week. New goals. New decisions.

While many are reviewing last week’s numbers, some are making a bigger decision , investing in skills that will change their trajectory.

Data is shaping how businesses operate, allocate resources, and make strategic decisions. But here’s the truth: dashboards alone don’t create impact. Skilled analysts do.

That’s why Octave Analytics is opening registration for our Data Analytics Training Program ,designed to move you from learning concepts to building real solutions.

This is not theory-heavy training.
It’s hands-on. Practical. Career-focused.

And here’s what makes it different:

✔️ Real-world datasets
✔️ Dashboard development & performance tracking
✔️ Direct mentorship
✔️ Guaranteed 3-month internship upon completion
✔️ Only 10 slots available

Start your week by making a decision your future self will thank you for.

Because data shouldn’t just sit in spreadsheets.
And your potential shouldn’t either.
Send a DM or email [email protected]
to secure your spot.

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