From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani has signed his first Executive Order on “Financial Inclusion in Kaduna State in pursuant to the State efforts to address the exclusion of about 2.1 million poor, underserved and vulnerable citizens in the rural areas from financial services in the State and to ensure benefit from the State and Federal Government’s Social Intervention Programmes.
Signing the Order yesterday, Gov Sani said this was in line with powers conferred on him by Section 5 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)
Gov Sani added that a Financial Inclusion and Literacy Committee is hereby constituted to fashion strategies and modalities to ensure the inclusion of the poor, underserved and vulnerable in Kaduna State, as well as equip them with financial skills to enable them to make sound financial and investment decisions.
The Governor disclosed that the target of the State Government is to include about 1million poor, underserved, unbanked and vulnerable citizens in the financial services sector in the next one year.
“ The State Government, in collaboration with key stakeholders, including CSOs, NGOs and Financial Technology Companies (FINTECHS) will develop a State Financial Inclusion Strategy.
“The State Government shall develop a STATE REGISTER of the Poor, Under-Served and Vulnerable. The Register will be subjected to various stages of integrity tests.
“ The State Government shall work with banks and other financial service providers to open bank accounts for un-banked citizens, and embark on an aggressive sensitization programme to ensure the mass participation of our citizens in this exercise.
“The State Government, in collaboration with regulatory agencies in the financial sector will organize Financial Literacy Workshops to equip citizens with financial skills that will enable them to make sound financial and investment decisions.
“The State Government shall consult with key stakeholders like Traditional Rulers, Religious Leaders, Local Government Chairmen, Youth, Women and Community Development Associations to ensure the mass sensitization and involvement of the citizens in this financial inclusion drive.”
