CBN set to launch account opening week for 2020 Financial Inclusion Target 

Stakeholders operating under the aegis of the Financial Inclusion State Steering Committee (FISSCO) have outlined strategies to boost the achievement of the financial inclusion target in Anambra State.

To achieve this, it has unfolded plans to hold Account Opening Week’’ geared toward achieving 80 percent adult financial inclusion rate by 2020 from the present 40 percent rate.

One of the critical components of the proposed event was sensitization tour of all major towns and markets across the three Senatorial Zones to enlighten target population on the need to embrace the banking system.

Rising from its meeting held at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Conference Hall, Awka, on Wenesday, FISSCO Members drawn from Commercial Banks, Micro Finance Banks and Partner Ministries, resolved to target unbanked customers.

Chairman of the Committee in the state, Mr Benedetti Maduagwu, said the proposed account-opening week would bring in more low-income population that were unbanked under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy.

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The event is expected to provide a roadmap to further accelerate our financial inclusion journey in Nigeria. We, FISSCO partners and other stakeholders are committed to reducing exclusion rate in Anambra State,’’ he said.

Mr Maduagwu, Branch Controller, CBN, Awka, represented by one of the Directors, Mrs Bridget Okpaleke, added that their sustained effort would improve the livelihood of the people through an exclusive financial system.

A representative of the Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Tony Nweke, pledged that the ministry would provide effective information dissemination system and support services to drive the initiative.

Mr Nweke, Acting Director of Information in the Ministry, stressed the need for partnership and synergy with other stakeholders to step down intended messages to the grassroots to achieve the desired effect.

A representative of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Mr Ferdinand Anya, said it had already trained some Corps members in the state to reach out to people on the initiative.

According to him, the agency is collaborating with financial service providers and the CBN to get at the target population.