The Federal Government, under the leadership of Vice-President Kashim Shettima, has officially launched a free financial literacy and inclusion programme targeting 10 million Nigerians, with particular emphasis on empowering women and young people across the country.
Implemented through the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion, chaired by Vice-President Shettima, the initiative aims to equip participants with essential skills in financial management, investment awareness, and digital competencies necessary for long-term economic growth and wealth creation.
To ensure effective delivery, the Vice-President’s office signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with six professional institutions. These bodies will contribute to designing training curricula, certification standards, digital skills programmes, and mentorship platforms to strengthen Nigeria’s financial and enterprise workforce.
The collaborating professional organizations include 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), the Chartered Risk Management Institute, and the Nigerian Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
At the MoU signing ceremony, Vice-President Shettima described the partnership as more than a formal agreement, calling it a strategic national investment in human capital development. He highlighted that Nigeria’s demographic advantage could only be fully leveraged if women and youth were equipped with the right skills and ethical foundation to thrive in a digital economy.
Shettima explained that the initiative reflects a broader understanding that human capacity is as important as physical infrastructure in achieving inclusive economic growth. He noted that financial inclusion requires not just access, but also competence, trust, and capability, cautioning that a weakly skilled workforce would hinder Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy.
The Vice-President emphasised that the MoU provides a structured framework for leveraging the expertise of the six professional bodies to advance financial inclusion through capacity development, youth empowerment, digital transformation, advocacy, and support for SMEs.
Shettima further stressed the importance of professionals who understand Nigeria’s economic realities: accountants familiar with MSME formalisation, credit administrators capable of assessing risks beyond collateral, bankers committed to consumer protection, risk managers anticipating digital threats, and innovators turning ideas into viable businesses.
He reiterated that women and youth would be the primary beneficiaries of the programme, warning that the demographic dividend could only be realised if young people are adequately prepared for the digital economy. Shettima urged partner institutions and the committee to treat the MoU as an actionable, results-driven document rather than a symbolic arrangement.
“On behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, I hereby formally flag off the free financial literacy training of 10 million Nigerians, prioritising women and youth nationwide,” the Vice-President declared.
In response, Malam Haruna Yahaya, President of ICAN, praised the Tinubu administration for its bold economic reforms, noting that the initiative reflects measurable gains in the economy and assured full professional support for the nationwide programme.
The technical partner, WAWU Africa, represented by CEO Emmanuel Lennox, pledged to provide the digital platform and enabling environment required for the initiative’s successful implementation.
Dr Nurudeen Zauro, Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, stressed that true financial inclusion is achieved not only through access but also through skill development and institutional capacity, enabling individuals and organizations to use financial infrastructure responsibly, productively, and sustainably.
Gossip News Now reports that the event’s highlight was the formal signing of the MoU, marking the official commencement of the nationwide capacity-building programme for financial literacy and inclusion.
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