Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
**Says 40% of Nigerians Operate Outside Formal Financial System
Managing Director of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr Umaru Ibrahim, has urged retired bankers and senior public servants to acquire agency banking and microfinance bank (MFB) licences in order to make modest contributions to the deepening of financial inclusion in the country.
Mr Ibrahim, in a press statement issued by the agency’s Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Mr Sunday Oluyemi, stated that presently, only about 40 percent of Nigerians are either financial excluded or operate outside the formal financial system.
He said to bridge this gap, the corporation will work closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to support the introduction of affordable products and services not only to the general public, but also to vulnerable women and dwellers in rural communities.
According to him, in furtherance of its elaborate initiatives towards achieving the desired level of financial inclusion in the country, the NDIC will continue to support the provision of financial services such as agency banking, payments service banks, and mobile banking among others, which will enable small depositors have access to financial services across the country.
The NDIC boss, who received members of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) at his office in Abuja on Tuesday, called on the group to support his agency’s efforts to bring rapid economic development to the country.
He, therefore, urged the association to partner with the corporation to accelerate the pace of financial literacy and financial inclusion among the Nigerian public.
During the visit, President of AANI and former Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, explained that the purpose of the courtesy call was to identify with the way the NDIC boss, who is also an alumni of the national institute, had piloted the affairs of the corporation since his appointment. He eulogised Mr Ibrahim for the remarkable strides the corporation had made under his exemplary leadership.
He concluded his remarks by assuring him that the association will heed his call and was ready to partner with the NDIC to sensitise its members on the importance of financial inclusion to achieve its goals for the rapid socio-economic development of the country.
