Optimus AI LABS CEO Unveils AI Suite for Nigeria's Financial Sector
Mr. Lanre Basamta, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Optimus AI LABS, announced a set of AI-driven solutions for banks in Nigeria at a media briefing in Lagos. The launch sits in step with recent Central Bank of Nigeria directives on consumer protection and fraud prevention, signaling a push for smarter, safer customer interactions.
At the center of the rollout is Omnis - a virtual assistant embedded inside mobile banking apps. It studies customer behavior and intent, then recommends relevant financial products, acting like a digital salesperson that works inside the app while keeping the experience simple for the user.
What Omnis Brings to Banking
- Personalized product recommendations based on customer activity and context.
- In-app support that answers questions, guides tasks, and reduces call center load.
- Sales assist for cross-sell and upsell without adding friction to the user journey.
- Analytics on engagement and conversion to inform product and pricing decisions.
Consumer Protection and Fraud: Staying in Step with CBN
Basamta framed the suite as a practical response to current regulatory expectations on transparency, data use, and fraud prevention. Financial institutions exploring AI assistants will need clear consent flows, explainable recommendations, and audit trails that can stand up to internal and external review.
For reference, see the Central Bank of Nigeria for policy updates and guidance.
Implementation Notes for Finance Leaders
- Data readiness: unify customer profiles, define consent flags, and label outcomes for training and monitoring.
- Model governance: document features, set drift alerts, and schedule periodic fairness and accuracy tests.
- Controls: require human review for high-impact decisions and keep clear escalation paths.
- Integration: embed the assistant in existing mobile flows and CRM so insights turn into actions.
- KPIs: track recommendation acceptance, incremental product uptake, cost-to-serve, complaint rates, and fraud losses.
How to Pilot Without Disruption
- Start with one use case (e.g., savings recommendations for retail users) and a small customer segment.
- A/B test copy, timing, and placement inside the app; keep opt-out fast and visible.
- Report weekly on key metrics and customer feedback; gate wider rollout on measurable lifts and compliance sign-off.
Basamta's pitch is straightforward: use AI to make mobile banking more helpful and more profitable, while keeping guardrails tight. For teams under pressure to grow deposits and fee income without bloating costs, an in-app assistant like Omnis is a practical path-provided data, controls, and governance are in place from day one.
If you're mapping AI use cases by function, this curated list may help: AI tools for finance.
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