As part of the Kaduna State Government’s ongoing efforts to address the exclusion of approximately 2.1 million poor, underserved, and vulnerable citizens in rural areas from financial services, Governor Uba Sani has today signed his inaugural executive order on financial inclusion.
The financial inclusion order is to ensure residents benefit from the state and Federal Government’s Social Intervention Programmes.
In his address during the ceremony at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna, the Governor explained that the Financial Inclusion and Literacy Committee is constituted to fashion out strategies to ensure the inclusion of the poor, underserved and vulnerable in Kaduna, as well as equip them with financial skills to enable them to make sound financial and investment decisions.
According to him, the target of the state government is to include about one million poor and vulnerable citizens in the financial services sector in the next year.
Sani disclosed that the state government, in collaboration with key stakeholders including CSOs, NGOs and Financial Technology Companies (fintech) will develop a State Financial Inclusion Strategy.
He further mentioned that the state government shall develop a STATE REGISTER for the poor, underserved and vulnerable, which 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 unbanked citizens and also 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 Governor promised.
He assured that his administration 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 the financial inclusion drive.
“The Committee on Financial Inclusion and Literacy is hereby directed to liaise with all relevant Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies in ensuring the full implementation of this order.”
