CBN to enrol 25,000 unbanked rural women in Gombe

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it will enrol over 25,000 unbanked women and youth in Gombe rural communities. Director of CBN’s Development Finance Department, Yusuf Yila, said this during the launch of the ‘Digital Financial Inclusion Drive for Women and Youth’ in Yamaltu/Deba LGA of the state. Represented by the CBN Branch […]

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it will enrol over 25,000 unbanked women and youth in Gombe rural communities.

Director of CBN’s Development Finance Department, Yusuf Yila, said this during the launch of the ‘Digital Financial Inclusion Drive for Women and Youth’ in Yamaltu/Deba LGA of the state.

Represented by the CBN Branch Controller in Gombe, Shehu Alhaji Goringo, the director said the apex bank, through the tag line for the drive, ‘Open Account, Get Beta Life,’ proposed to engage and deploy products to about 25,000 women and youth across five LGAs of Akko, Billiri, Dukku, Kaltungo and Yamaltu/Deba.

Yila explained that the financial inclusion drive is an initiative of the CBN, and other stakeholders to improve access of unbanked Nigerians to financial services.

According to him, during the pilot account opening drive in December 2019, over 82,000 new accounts were opened across six states of Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kano, Nasarawa, and Ondo.

The director added that the CBN embarked on the digital financial inclusion drive for women and youth, “to consolidate on the previous efforts to implement the Framework for Advancing Women’s Financial Inclusion in Nigeria.”

“Throughout this week, financial services providers will be available to help unbanked women and youth make informed decisions about product uptake including savings accounts, micro pensions, micro insurance, BVN registration, and NIN registration amongst others.

“There will also be opportunities to learn about investment opportunities and how to sustainably grow your finances,” he said.

Flagging off the event, Emir of Deba Alhaji Ahmed Usman commended the CBN for bringing banking closer to the people, especially those living in the rural areas.