Pan-African mobile banking and payment services company eTranzact and MasterCard have, at the Mobile World Congress, announced a new partnership that will boost remittance service in Nigeria, making it accessible to millions of customers in Africa's biggest remittance market.

In a statement, MasterCard said Nigerians can now securely receive international remittances into their eTranzact mobile money wallets or select bank accounts through the international transfer hub, HomeSend.

HomeSend is a joint venture between MasterCard, eServGlobal and BICS; it is bridging the gap between various entities globally such as financial institutions, non-financial entities and mobile network operators, enabling Nigerians living and working abroad to send money from mobile money accounts, payment cards, bank accounts or cash outlets back home.

Omokehinde Ojomuyide, Vice President and Area Business Head for West Africa, MasterCard, said: "For millions of Nigerians, the receipt of funds from friends and family is an important lifeline. HomeSend provides senders across the globe and the recipients in Nigeria with a convenient, safe, and cost effective money transfer channel."

When funds are received into eTranzact mobile wallets, Nigerians can use PocketMoni, eTranzact's mobile money platform, to pay bills, top-up airtime, pay select merchants, cash out at agents or at participating bank ATMs, and send money to any bank account, PocketMoni user, eTrazact card or mobile phone user.

Valentine Obi, Chief Executive Officer, eTranzact International Plc, said: "Our partnership with MasterCard enables us to bring a new, cost-effective, cross-border remittance service to Nigerians, many of whom have previously struggled to access such facilities as they do not have formal bank accounts.

"Instead of travelling long distances and waiting in long lines, Nigerians will now be able to electronically receive cash transfers from family overseas with the convenience of their mobile devices."