The Federal Government of Nigeria on Monday launched a free nationwide initiative to train 10 million Nigerians in financial inclusion and literacy, while signing a Memorandum of Understanding with six professional bodies to develop training programmes, certification pathways, digital skills initiatives, and mentorship platforms.
The initiative, flagged off by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, is being implemented through the Office of the Vice President under the Presidential Committee on Economic & Financial Inclusion, PreCEFI, which Shettima chairs.
The programme specifically targets young Nigerians and women, aiming to equip them with essential financial skills, investment knowledge, and digital competencies for sustainable wealth creation.
“The signing of the MoU between the Federal Government and the six of Nigeria’s foremost professional bodies was more than a formal agreement. It is a strategic national investment in capacity as infrastructure which is the human, institutional, and ethical foundations upon which inclusive growth must rest,” the Vice President said.
The six professional bodies involved 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.
Senator Shettima explained that the Aso Accord on Economic and Financial Inclusion, which PreCEFI implements, recognises that financial inclusion is not achieved by access alone, but by competence, trust, and capability.
“This MoU establishes a working framework to harness the collective expertise of ICAN, CIBN, CIS, CRMI, NICA, and NIIE to advance inclusion through capacity building, advocacy, digital transformation, youth empowerment, and support for small and medium practitioners,” he said.
He added that the programme prioritises women and youth, emphasising that Nigeria’s demographic dividend will only be realised if young people are equipped with relevant skills and ethical grounding for a fast-evolving digital economy.
“Accordingly, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, I hereby flag off the free training of 10 million Nigerians with priority for women and youth across the country,” VP Shettima declared.
The President of ICAN, Mallam Haruna Nma Yahaya, commended the Federal Government for its bold economic reforms that enabled the programme. He assured the Vice President of the institute’s full support, calling their involvement an institutional honour.
Similarly, Emmanuel Lennox, CEO of WAWU Africa, the programme’s technical partner, promised to provide the digital platform and enabling environment necessary for successful training.
Dr. Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, stressed the importance of the programme.
“Exclusion is not only by lack of access, but by limited skills, weak institutional capacity, and insufficient professional support. Financial inclusion is not achieved by infrastructure alone; it is achieved when people and institutions are equipped to use that infrastructure responsibly, productively, and sustainably,” he said.
The event culminated in the signing of the MoU between the Federal Government and the six professional bodies, formalising the nationwide capacity-building initiative.
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