World Post Day: NIPOST partners Wema Bank, launches agency banking scheme

THE Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has launched an agency banking scheme among its existing pool of services.

In the spirit of marking the World Post Day, celebrated every October 9, NIPOST, in partnered with Wema Bank with the unveiling of the new agency banking scheme at Oyo town, to ensure effective financial inclusiveness for all the unbanked and underbanked through the vast network of post office outlets across Nigeria especially to serve the people in rural communities.

While explaining the strides of the postal agency and ensuring NIPOST stay on top of digital advancement, the Postmaster General, Barr Bisi Adegbuyi, enthused that “The people of Oyo town and indeed, all communities in Nigeria will soon begin to enjoy the benefits of all banking related services such as opening of savings accounts, electronic transfer and receipt of money, students exams registration (WAEC, NECO, JAMB, NBTE etc), utility bills payment as well as placement of order on all categories of e-Commerce merchandise in the post offices nearest to them.

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“World Post Day is celebrated in 192 countries… we are here today to flag off our agency banking in partnership with Wema and Keystone banks. We intend to bring basic financial service to the people in semi-urban areas, the financially excluded, the underbanked and unbanked; they have been estimated to be around 41 per cent of adult population in Nigeria.

“In the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, governance is not for the rich, it is for the poor who live in the rural areas.”

Adegbuyi explained that the choice of Oyo as a kickoff venue is predicated on him opening his first account at the Oyo post office when he was in secondary school, way back in 1976.

“It is symbolic to return here and demonstrate to Nigerians that NIPOST has moved beyond letter delivery,” he said.

Representative of the Managing Director of Wema Bank, Mr Dotun Ifebogun expressed delight in the partnership, stating that the “Postmaster General has transformed NIPOST to an e-commerce and digital ready organisation. We are digitally ready to give support with all the required stride to add extra incentives to their services.”

Also speaking on behalf of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu affirmed that “NIPOST played a major role in connecting all our communities in Nigeria and indeed all other communities of the world. They connect and fasten communication… it is a pleasure to continue to identify and relate with NIPOST and embrace all their products because they’ve earned it.”