LEADERSHIP Award Encouraging, Acknowledgement Of Our Efforts – Moniepoint

The General Manager, Business Management Tools (MonieBook) at Moniepoint, Kolawole Osinowo, has described the nomination of MonieBook for the LEADERSHIP Product of the Year Award as an encouraging acknowledgement of the company’s efforts to address challenges confronting small businesses in Nigeria.

Osinowo spoke in Lagos recently when the Vice Chairman of LEADERSHIP Group, Mike Okpere, and the Group Executive Director, Abraham Nda Isaiah, visited Moniepoint to present the formal nomination and invitation letters ahead of the 2026 LEADERSHIP Awards slated for December 1.

The nomination recognises MonieBook’s integrated approach to business management, which combines payment records, sales tracking, inventory management, staff administration and customer activities on a single platform to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) improve efficiency, reduce losses and make informed business decisions.

Reacting to the nomination, Osinowo said the recognition was both surprising and exciting, particularly because it acknowledged efforts to develop solutions for businesses operating in Nigeria’s challenging economic environment.

“The amazing thing about the recognition is that it is not just surprising, but also exciting for us to be recognised for the work that we do, especially in the financial services space in Nigeria today,” he said.

He explained that Moniepoint’s approach was to identify the problems confronting businesses and develop practical solutions rather than merely highlighting the challenges.

“One of the things that we’ve identified here at Moniepoint is that there are usually a lot of problems everywhere, but we will not just sit back and complain; we will get our hands dirty and go in the field and try to solve those problems,” Osinowo said.

He identified poor visibility into sales, stock levels and profitability as some of the challenges confronting small business owners, noting that many operators generate substantial revenue without knowing their actual profit margins.

According to him, MonieBook was developed to address these gaps by allowing business owners to track sales and inventory while automatically reconciling transactions conducted through Moniepoint’s payment infrastructure.

“As you are bringing in the products from your suppliers, you are putting it into MonieBook. As you are selling on the Moniepoint terminal, it is doing automatic reconciliation, telling you when to restock. You also know your best sellers,” he said.

Osinowo added that the platform enables businesses to identify fast-selling products, monitor inventory levels and detect discrepancies between physical stock and recorded transactions.

He explained that such information could help operators prevent stock shortages and identify potential losses arising from poor inventory management or theft.

The MonieBook general manager said the platform was designed to accommodate the realities of Nigeria’s largely informal business sector, where many operators need simple, accessible tools rather than complicated management systems.

He noted that the product could operate across point-of-sale terminals, laptops, sales registers, smartphones and tablets, providing businesses with flexibility in managing their operations.

Osinowo said the initiative reflected Moniepoint’s broader objective of extending financial inclusion to financial prosperity by equipping small businesses with tools that could improve their performance.

“It’s in the DNA of Moniepoint to get financial services to the last mile. So we’re extending that financial inclusion to financial prosperity,” he said.

He disclosed that the company was expanding MonieBook’s capabilities, with a loyalty programme being introduced and an accounting package expected before the end of the year.

According to him, the accounting feature would help businesses maintain more effective financial records and make their accounts available when required for regulatory or tax purposes.

Speaking during the presentation, the Vice Chairman of LEADERSHIP Group, Mike Okpere, said the nomination followed a rigorous examination of the product and its relevance to businesses operating in Nigeria.

“The LEADERSHIP Group, after rigorous examination, concluded that the product you have introduced should be Product of the Year for LEADERSHIP,” he said.

He explained that the visit was to officially inform Moniepoint of the nomination and invite the company to attend the award ceremony scheduled for December 1, 2026.

Okpere said the company would share the award platform with prominent Nigerians recognised for their contributions to national development, including five state governors, the Founder and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and the Founding Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY Media Group and ARISE News Channel, Nduka Obaigbena.

He noted that the LEADERSHIP Awards had become an established platform for recognising individuals and organisations whose contributions had made significant impacts on the country.

According to him, the awards, which have been held for 18 years, have previously recognised former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari as Persons of the Year.

Other past recipients include international development figures and financial sector leaders such as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Akinwumi Adesina and Benedict Oramah, alongside traditional and religious leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto and Cardinal John Onaiyekan.

Also speaking, a Director of LEADERSHIP Group, Abraham Nda Isaiah, explained the rationale behind MonieBook’s selection, noting that the product addresses the challenges created by fragmented business management systems, which often leave business owners struggling to obtain a clear picture of their operations.

He said MonieBook brings payment information, sales records, inventory, staff management and activities across multiple business locations together on one platform, providing entrepreneurs with real-time visibility into their businesses.

According to him, connecting financial transactions directly to business management data enables operators to monitor performance more effectively, strengthen accountability, reduce revenue leakages and minimise stock losses.

He added that the integrated platform could help Nigerian SMEs improve operational efficiency and make better-informed decisions, positioning them for sustainable growth.

Nda-Isaiah said the innovation demonstrated the value of technology in addressing practical business challenges, particularly for small enterprises that require accessible tools to manage their daily operations.

The LEADERSHIP Awards recognise individuals, corporate organisations and public institutions whose achievements have contributed to national development. The Product of the Year category focuses on products that demonstrate relevance, innovation and practical value in the Nigerian market.