Global payment data security has gained a new African voice as Smartcomply, a leading African cybersecurity and compliance technology company, announces its membership as an Associate Participating Organisation in the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC). This milestone makes Smartcomply one of the first Nigerian companies in the cybersecurity and compliance technology sector to formally contribute to the development of the world's most influential payment data security standards.
Smartcomply's Role in Payment Security
The PCI SSC leads a global, cross-industry effort to enhance payment security by providing flexible, industry-driven, and effective data security standards. The Council brings together over 700 Participating Organisations from more than 60 countries, including major payment networks, financial institutions, and technology providers. Smartcomply's membership extends the African voice within this global community.
Smartcomply's flagship platforms, Adhere for AML, KYC, and fraud detection, and Seequre for GRC and cybersecurity automation, serve over 100 financial institutions across Africa. The company was named a verified member of the Mastercard Engage Partner Program earlier this year and recently expanded into the United Kingdom.
CEO's Statement
Gbemisola Osunrinde, Chief Executive Officer of Smartcomply, stated: "Joining the PCI Security Standards Council is an important milestone for Smartcomply as we continue building secure and scalable compliance infrastructure for financial institutions across emerging and global markets. As digital payments continue to grow, collaboration around payment security standards becomes more critical. We are excited to contribute to the future of secure payment ecosystems while helping businesses across Africa strengthen trust, compliance, and fraud prevention."
Benefits of Membership
As an Associate Participating Organisation, Smartcomply will add its voice to the PCI Security Standards development process, collaborate with a growing community to improve payment security worldwide, and gain the opportunity to recommend new initiatives to the PCI Security Standards Council. The company will share cross-sector experiences and African market insights at the Council's annual community meetings.
Africa's Payments Market Growth
Africa's payments market has grown sharply over the past decade, with mobile money, instant payment infrastructure, and cross-border corridors expanding faster than the compliance frameworks designed to govern them. Smartcomply's participation in the Council positions the company to bring African operational realities into the global standards conversation and to translate global standards back into actionable compliance for African financial institutions.
Executive Director's Remarks
Gina Gobeyn, Executive Director of the PCI Security Standards Council, said: "In an era of increasingly sophisticated attacks on systems, PCI Security Standards and resources help organizations secure payment data and prevent, detect, and mitigate attacks that can lead to costly data breaches. By joining as an Associate Participating Organization, Smartcomply has the opportunity to play an active part in improving payment security globally by helping drive awareness and adoption of PCI Security Standards."
Year of Milestones
Smartcomply's PCI SSC participation adds to a year of milestones for the company. Earlier in 2026, Smartcomply was named a verified member of the Mastercard Engage Partner Program. In May 2026, the company registered to operate in the United Kingdom, with its Adhere platform serving as the flagship for a pilot programme supporting UK financial institutions operating across African payment corridors.
