The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially launched a nationwide financial inclusion training program aimed at equipping 10 million Nigerians with essential financial literacy, investment knowledge, and digital skills.
The initiative was flagged off by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The program is implemented through the Presidential Committee on Economic & Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI), chaired by VP Shettima. Its primary goal is to empower youths and women, ensuring they are prepared to thrive in Nigeria’s rapidly advancing digital economy.
As part of the rollout, the FG signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with six leading professional bodies: 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), Chartered Risk Management Institute (CRMI), and the Nigeria Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NIIE). These organizations will provide technical expertise, mentorship, and certification pathways to strengthen Nigeria’s financial and enterprise workforce.
Speaking at the event, VP Shettima emphasized that the initiative is more than a formal agreement. He described it as a strategic national investment in human and institutional capacity, the foundation upon which inclusive economic growth must rest.
He further noted that financial inclusion is not achieved through access alone, but through competence, trust, and ethical capacity. “A one-trillion-dollar economy cannot be built on weak skills or disconnected professional ecosystems,” the Vice President said.
The MoU establishes a framework for joint training programs, policy dialogue, digital skills development, and professional standards, aligning market practices with national inclusion goals.
VP Shettima highlighted the importance of financial literacy among accountants, credit administrators, bankers, risk professionals, and innovators, stressing that without such skills, inclusion remains merely a slogan.
The training program prioritizes women and youth, ensuring Nigeria’s demographic dividend translates into economic growth. VP Shettima said the collaboration ensures young people are equipped with the skills and ethical grounding required for a fast-evolving digital economy.
The President of ICAN, Mallam Haruna Nma Yahaya, commended the FG for its bold economic reforms and pledged the professional body’s full support for the success of the initiative. Technical partners, including WAWU Africa, confirmed their readiness to deliver the digital platform and infrastructure necessary for effective nationwide training.
Dr Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, stated that exclusion is not only due to lack of access but also limited skills, weak institutional capacity, and insufficient professional support.
Financial inclusion is fully realized when people and institutions are equipped to use financial infrastructure responsibly and productively.
The flag-off event marked the formal start of the program, which will train 10 million Nigerians across the country, with special focus on empowering women and youth to participate actively in Nigeria’s growing economy.
