Bisi Bamishe
Plans have been concluded by Oriental News Nigeria to hold her first Conference on financial lnclusion in Lagos next week.
The theme of the conference is “Engaging With Critical Grassroots Groups To Develop Effective Financial Inclusion Initiative” with sub theme ‘Identifying Key Action Areas For Financial Inclusion Strategy’.
The inaugural conference according to the Editor, Oriental News Nigeria, Yemisi Izuora is scheduled to hold on June 16, 2022, at the Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja Lagos.
The Commissioner for Insurance, Sunday Thomas, has confirmed participation of National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, at the inaugural conference on ‘Financial Inclusion’ being hosted by STANMEG Communications, publishers of Oriental News Nigeria.
Thomas, who personally confirmed the Commission’s participation, also endorsed the theme of the conference, an initiative he said is a major policy drive which NAICOM is passionate about.
Given this endorsement, NAICOM would be joining other key stakeholders from the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, the National Communications Commission, First Bank Plc, who will be part of discussants at the confab.
The conference chairman is Uju Ogubunka, Chairman, Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN), while the Guest Speaker is Garba Kurfi, managing director APT Securities and Funds Limited.
According to a release signed by Izuora, the conference is being organized given that over the past couple of years, the Federal Government and stakeholders in financial sector have had to deal with expanding financial services to large community of underserved population and dealing with resilience challenges brought about by the confluence of events that have taken place.
They have had to cope with spiralling financial services prices, restricted coverage and dwindling capacity and limits in key lines such low internet knowledge of certain segments of the society like, market men and women, artisans and some physically challenged persons.
Financial services now going digital and dearth of knowledge and risen levels of data and associated costs of telecom services brings huge questions about the effectiveness of the initiative and interruption coverage when combined with the supply chain crunch.
Most underserved groups are demanding cost reductions and our challenging environment peculiarity is part of why the conference is holding to allow stakeholders take a collective view on how to create a suitable path To Advance the initiative.
STANMEG Communications using rigorous research tools observed huge gap in the financial services system with some members of other social strata excluded.
The conference is an advocacy measure that will bring together experts, policy makers and other Key agencies of government in the vanguard of closing the seeming gap to proffer solution on challenges mitigating the initiative.
According to lzuora, the conference will help to advance inclusive financial systems for identified groups which include Community Based People, Artisans, Low Income Groups, Market Men and Women, Special Persons (Disability Group) that undertake various vocations as well as displaced persons.
