A software engineer and technology entrepreneur, Saintz Vincent, says the biggest obstacle limiting African businesses in global markets is no longer visibility or demand, but access to payment infrastructure.
This was contained in a press material obtained by The PUNCH on Wednesday. Vincent, who is the founder of WalletPlug, explained that in several African markets, businesses can send money internationally but face restrictions when receiving funds.
“Some global platforms refuse to onboard African merchants, while others operate partial services that limit withdrawals or supported currencies,” Vincent stated.
According to Vincent, this imbalance reflects a deeper structural problem, adding that his company represents a response to years of watching African businesses struggle with restrictions, excessive fees, and limited access imposed by global platforms.
Vincent stressed that the effects are visible across sectors, saying freelancers experience delayed or failed payments.
“E-commerce platforms lose sales at checkout. Software companies rely on intermediaries or foreign accounts, driving up costs and compliance risks.
High transaction fees and foreign exchange charges continue to reduce revenues for African businesses operating internationally,” he stated.
Vincent said WalletPlug was designed to limit these costs by reducing reliance on intermediaries and simplifying settlement.
He maintained that security is built into the platform’s architecture, while the public website functions as an interface. “Core systems such as wallets, card engines, and transaction processing operate on isolated infrastructure. This approach reduces exposure and aligns with security standards used by global financial institutions.”
He reiterated that WalletPlug has expanded into multiple African markets, onboarding businesses across e-commerce, freelancing, SaaS, and digital services.
The founder of WalletPlug said he views the uptake as confirmation that the challenge facing African businesses was never a lack of ambition or capacity. “The demand has always been there. What’s been missing is infrastructure that allows businesses to participate on equal terms,” he said.
As digital trade continues to grow, the question remains whether global payment systems will adapt to serve African markets more effectively or whether locally built financial infrastructure will fill the gap.
Across the continent, startups, freelancers, e-commerce merchants, and software companies increasingly serve international customers, yet many struggle to receive payments from abroad. Restrictions imposed by global payment platforms, limited settlement options, and currency barriers continue to prevent thousands of African businesses from fully participating in global digital commerce.
