Banking professionals and financial regulators are set to deliberate on the evolving role of cash in a rapidly digitising economy at the Committee of Heads of Bank Operations (CHBO) Annual Banking Operations Conference in Lagos.

Scheduled to hold at The Bankers House, the event will convene senior executives from banking operations, payments, compliance, internal audit, information security, corporate communications, licensed cash managers, and regulators from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Inter‑Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).

Themed “Re-imagining the Future of Cash in a Digital-First Economy,” the conference will explore strategies to balance the growing adoption of digital payments with the ongoing relevance of physical cash—especially in informal markets and underserved communities. Discussions will focus on integrating cash and digital channels securely, efficiently, and sustainably.

Speaking ahead of the conference, CHBO Chairman Abraham Aziegbe highlighted the continued importance of cash:

“As Nigeria deepens its digital payments infrastructure, cash remains an indispensable part of economic activity. This conference is about confronting operational realities head-on and charting a future where cash is smarter, more efficient, and better integrated with digital systems.”

Conference Planning Committee Chairman Tolulope Ogundipe added that the agenda has been designed to provide actionable insights, enhance interoperability between cash and electronic channels, strengthen traceability and security, and improve customer experience across all payment touchpoints.

He emphasized that the conference will serve as a platform for banks, regulators, and service providers to align on sustainable cash management models in a digital-first era, with outcomes expected to inform policy discussions and support resilient banking operations nationwide.

Registration details and programme highlights will be shared with invited participants ahead of the event.