The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that its digital financial inclusion for women and youths in Ebonyi State is aimed at giving the bank opportunity to actively engage with unbanked populations and provide them with necessary tools for economic empowerment and inclusion.
The Director, Development Finance Department of the bank, Mr. Philip Yila Yusuf made the disclosure during the flag off ceremony of the Digital Financial Inclusion Drive for women and youths at the Onueke Township Staduim, Ezza South Local Government Area of the state.
Yusuf who was represented by the Branch Controller, CBN, Abakaliki, Mr. Adayo Christopher who said that the tag line for the drive is; “Open Account, Get Beta Life, noted that the proposed target for the number of persons is 25,000 at the end of the week long drive.
He noted that through out the week, financial service providers will be available to help unbanked women and youths to make informed decisions about products uptake which included savings accounts, micro pensions, micro insurance, BVN registration, NIN registration amongst others.
Yusuf said that the women and youths will also have opportunities to learn about investment opportunities and how to sustainably grow their finances.
According to him, “financial inclusion is also important for household and businesses because interacting with formal systems allows individuals keep their finances safe in saving accounts”.
“It provides businesses the opportunities to access available credit opportunities, loans and encourages the habit of investment”.
Yusuf said that the drive which will hold in 5 local government areas of the state will reduce some of the barriers which included long distance to financial access points.
He said that Central Bank of Nigeria, remains committed to the growth and development of the country’s economy as witnessed by numerous development finance interventions deployed to reduce the negative effect of the COVID 19 pandemic on businesses and interventions targeted at the youths.
