The Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has flagged off a free nationwide training program for 10 million Nigerians on financial inclusion and literacy.
The training, which is being undertaken by the Office of the Vice President through the Presidential Committee on Economic & Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI), aims to equip Nigerians, particularly women and youths, with essential financial skills, investment knowledge, and digital competencies for sustainable wealth creation.
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, while flagging off the training program at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, emphasized that Nigeria can reap bountifully from its demographic dividend only if young Nigerians and women are equipped with the needed skills and ethical grounding required for a speedily progressing digital economy.
He noted that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Federal Government and six professional bodies was a strategic national investment in capacity building, institutional, and ethical foundations upon which inclusive growth must rest.
The six professional bodies that partnered with the Federal Government on the training program are the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), National Institute of Credit Administration (NICA), Chartered Risk Management Institute (CRMI), and Nigeria Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NIIE).
The partnership aims to jointly design training programs, certification pathways, digital skills initiatives, and mentorship platforms that would strengthen Nigeria’s financial and enterprise workforce
Vice President Shettima emphasized that capacity building is critical to financial inclusion, noting that without accountants who understand MSME formalization, credit administrators who can assess risk beyond collateral, bankers who embed consumer protection, risk professionals who is anticipating digital threats, and innovators who translate ideas into enterprises, inclusion remains a slogan rather than a system.
He charged the PreCEFI and the professional bodies to prioritize young Nigerians and women in the training program, recognizing that Nigeria’s demographic dividend will only materialize if young people are equipped with relevant skills and ethical grounding for a fast-evolving digital economy
The training program aims to equip 10 million Nigerians with financial literacy, digital skills, and investment knowledge, enabling them to make informed financial decisions and participate in the country’s economic growth.
The program will also provide a platform for joint training programs, policy dialogue, digital skills development, and professional standards that align market practice with national inclusion goals.
The President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mallam Haruna Nma Yahaya, applauded the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for its bold economic reforms and the initiative to train 10 million Nigerians on financial inclusion. He assured the Vice President of their professional support in the realization of set objectives.
The CEO of WAWU Africa, Mr. Emmanuel Lennox, assured of the company’s readiness to deliver on the project, particularly in providing the digital platform and overall enabling environment for its success.
