The Committee of Heads of Bank Operations (CHBO) in Nigeria has announced plans to host its Annual Banking Operations Conference on Friday, January 23, 2026, bringing together key decision-makers across Nigeria’s banking and payments ecosystem to examine the evolving role of cash in a rapidly digitising economy.

Scheduled to commence 10:00 a.m. at The Bankers House, Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, the conference will bring together senior executives overseeing Banking Operations, Electronic Business, Compliance, Internal Audit, Information Security, and Corporate Communications. It will also host regulators from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Inter‑Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), as well as other key industry stakeholders, including Payment Service Providers and Licensed Cash Managers in Nigeria.

Themed “Re-imagining the Future of Cash in a Digital-First Economy,” the conference will interrogate the balance between accelerating digital payment adoption and the continued relevance of physical cash, particularly within informal markets and underserved communities. Discussions will focus on how cash can be repositioned to coexist efficiently, securely, and sustainably alongside digital channels.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Chairman of CHBO, Mr. Abraham Aziegbe, ACIB said the 2026 edition comes at a defining moment for the financial services industry. “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,” he stated.

The conference will explore practical strategies for redefining cash operations, leveraging technology to improve traceability and security, strengthening interoperability between cash and electronic channels, reassessing cost and risk frameworks, and enhancing customer experience across payment touchpoints.

According to Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Tolulope Ogundipe, ACIB, the agenda has been carefully curated to deliver actionable insights. “This year’s theme reflects the industry’s shared responsibility to rethink cash beyond legacy processes. Our objective is to provide a platform where banks, regulators, switches, and service providers can align on sustainable models for cash management in a digital-first era,” he noted.

CHBO expects the conference outcomes to shape industry thinking, inform policy conversations, and support more resilient and forward-looking bankingoperations as digital adoption continues to accelerate nationwide.

Registration details and programme highlights will be shared with invited participants ahead of the event. Media representatives are encouraged to engage early as the conference promises robust conversations with significant implications for Nigeria’s financial ecosystem.