The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is currently targeting a total of 25,000 persons to enrol in its digital financial inclusion drive for women and youths in Ebonyi State.
The bank’s Director, Development Finance Department of the bank, Mr. Philip Yila Yusuf who made the disclosure during the flag of ceremony of the Digital Financial Inclusion Drive for Women and Youths at the Onueke Township Staduim, Ezza South Local Government Area of the state.
He was represented at the event,tagged, “Open Account, Get Beta Life”, by the Branch Controller, CBN, Abakaliki, Mr. Adayo Christopher.
He explained that the exercise was aimed at giving opportunity to actively engage with unbanked populations and provide them with necessary tools for economic empowerment and inclusion.
He disclosed that through out the week, financial services providers would be available to help unbanked women and youths to make informed decisions about products uptake which includes savings accounts, micro pensions, micro insurance, BVN registration and NIN registration amongst others.
He said the exercise is targeting 25,000 persons at the end of the weeklong drive,adding that the women and youths would also have opportunities to learn about investment opportunities and how to sustainably grow their finances.
“Financial inclusion is also important for household and businesses because interacting with formal systems allows individuals keep their finances safe in saving accounts.
“It provides businesses the opportunities to access available credit opportunities, loans and encourages the habit of investment,” Mr Yusuf added.
He noted that the Nigeria’s apex bank remained committed to the growth and development of the country’s economy as evidenced in its numerous development finance interventions deployed to reduce the negative effect of the COVID 19 pandemic on businesses and interventions targeted at the youths.
Yusuf further added that the bank had also embarked on improving the agricultural sector through interventions aimed at improving food security in Nigeria.
The exercise, according to Yusuf, targets five LGAs in the State, namely: Ezza-South, Ivo, Ishiylu, Ohaozara and Ebonyi, to reduce some of the barriers which includes long distance to financial access points.
