Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
**Opens New Branch in Osun
In order for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to meet up with its 80 percent financial inclusion target by 2020, over 40 million Nigerians without proper access to financial services must be reached and put under the banking net.
It is because of this Access Bank is doing everything within its means to expand its banking operations to some rural areas in the country and one of the newest targets is Osun State, which boasts of rural communities.
The Group Head of Retail Operations at Access Bank, Mr Abraham Aziegbe, while speaking at a recent function, noted that the country has suffered from lack of adequate economic growth.
According to Mr Aziegbe, the best approach to such economic defect was to institutionalise financial inclusion in all the communities of Nigeria to give opportunities for small business owners to grow and contribute immensely to national economy.
During his address at the opening of a new branch of Access Bank at Apomu, in Isokan Local Government Area of Osun State, Mr Aziegbe said, “We recognise the fact that there are still many Nigerians who are still under-banked. By estimation, over 40 million Nigerians do not have bank account.”
“It is on this note that our bank embarked on aggressive branch network to redirect the mindsets of many Nigerians towards active banking activities,” he added.
He further noted that the banking sector had a huge role to play in transforming both the micro and macro economy of the nation into posterity and sustainable growth.
“Asides millions of individuals who involve in daily economic activities outside banking system, there are thousands of small and medium business owners who are transacting without banks,” the banker said.
He called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reposition Nigeria’s economy through the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
“We are working in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria to transform the economy and make people, especially small and medium business owners to see a brighter future of huge prosperity through active banking,” he stated.
On the part of government, Osun State Deputy Governor, Mr Olugboyega Benedict Alabi, stressed that the relative peace in the state has attracted many investors, including banks to choose Osun as a business destination.
He then called on the people of the community to patronise the bank in order to create a good environment for business to thrive.
