FG LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE TRAINING FOR 10 MILLION NIGERIANS ON FINANCIAL INCLUSION

The Federal Government of Nigeria has flagged off a free nationwide training programme for 10 million Nigerians on financial inclusion and literacy, prioritizing youths and women as key beneficiaries.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Office of the Vice President through the Presidential Committee on Economic & Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI), is designed to equip Nigerians with essential financial skills, investment knowledge, and digital competencies for sustainable wealth creation.

Speaking at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima described the programme as a strategic investment in human capacity and ethical foundations, which are critical for inclusive growth in Nigeria’s evolving digital economy.“

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Government and six of Nigeria’s foremost professional bodies is more than a formal agreement.

It is a strategic national investment in capacity as infrastructure the human, institutional, and ethical foundations upon which inclusive growth must rest,” VP Shettima stated.

The MoU, signed during the event, formalizes collaboration with six professional bodies, including: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)Nigeria Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NIIE).

The partnership aims to jointly design training programmes, certification pathways, digital skills initiatives, mentorship platforms, and professional standards that will strengthen Nigeria’s financial and enterprise workforce.Senator Shettima emphasized that financial inclusion requires competence, trust, and capability, not just access.

“We cannot build a one-trillion-dollar economy on weak skills, fragmented standards, or disconnected professional ecosystems,” he said.

He added that the programme will ensure accountants, bankers, credit administrators, risk professionals, and innovators are adequately prepared to support inclusive economic growth.

Highlighting the importance of demographic priorities, VP Shettima said, “This collaboration prioritizes women and youth inclusion and digital transformation, 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 President of ICAN, Mallam Haruna Nma Yahaya, lauded the government for its bold economic reforms, describing the initiative as an institutional honor and committing the institute’s professional support to the programme.

Technical partners WAWU Africa, represented by CEO Emmanuel Lennox, pledged to deliver on the project, particularly by providing the digital platform and enabling environment for the training’s success.Dr. Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, explained that exclusion is not only about lack of access but also limited skills, weak institutional capacity, and insufficient professional support. “Financial inclusion is achieved when people and institutions are equipped to use 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, officially launching the nationwide training programme for 10 million Nigerians.