The Federal Government has thrown open the doors to a massive, free nationwide training programme aimed at boosting financial inclusion and literacy for 10 million Nigerians.
The initiative, driven by the Office of the Vice-President through the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI) chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, is tailored to arm Nigerians—especially women and young people—with practical financial know-how, investment insight and digital skills for lasting wealth creation.
To turn vision into action, the Vice-President’s office, via PreCEFI, sealed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with six leading professional bodies to jointly develop the curriculum, certification routes, digital skills programmes and mentorship platforms, all geared towards fortifying Nigeria’s financial and enterprise workforce.
The professional bodies include the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), National Institute of Credit Administration (NICA), Chartered Risk Management Institute (CRMI) and the Nigeria Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NIIE).
Speaking at the event, Shettima described the MoU as far more than ink on paper, stressing that Nigeria’s much-talked-about demographic dividend would only pay off if young people and women are properly equipped with relevant skills and strong ethical grounding in a fast-moving digital economy.
“It is a strategic national investment in capacity as infrastructure which is the human, institutional, and ethical foundations upon which inclusive growth must rest,” he stated.
The Vice-President also referenced the Aso Accord on Economic and Financial Inclusion, which PreCEFI is mandated to implement, noting that “financial inclusion is not achieved by access alone, but by competence, trust, and capability.”
According to him, Nigeria cannot dream of a one-trillion-dollar economy while standing on shaky skills, disjointed standards and isolated professional ecosystems.
“This MoU therefore establishes a working framework to harness the collective expertise of ICAN, CIBN, CIS, CRMI, NICA, and NIIE to advance inclusion through capacity building, advocacy, digital transformation, youth empowerment, and support for small and medium practitioners.
“It establishes a structured mechanism for joint training programmes, policy dialogue, digital skills development, and professional standards that align market practice with national inclusion goals,” Shettima said.
He added that true financial inclusion goes beyond slogans, warning that without accountants who understand MSME formalisation, credit administrators who can assess risk beyond collateral, and bankers who prioritise consumer protection, inclusion would remain an empty refrain.
“And bankers who embed consumer protection, risk professionals who anticipate digital threats, and innovators who translate ideas into enterprises, inclusion remains a slogan rather than a system,” he added.
Reinforcing the focus of the programme, Shettima insisted that young Nigerians and women must take centre stage.
“Importantly, this collaboration prioritises women and youth inclusion and digital transformation, recognising that Nigeria’s demographic dividend will only materialise if young people are equipped with relevant skills and ethical grounding for a fast-evolving digital economy,” he said.
He urged PreCEFI and the partner bodies to treat the MoU as a living tool for delivery, not a ceremonial document.
“Accordingly, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, I hereby flag off the free training of 10 million Nigerians with priority for women and youth across the country,” Shettima declared.
Earlier, ICAN President, Malam Haruna Yahaya, praised the Tinubu administration for what he described as bold economic reforms, saying they paved the way for the launch of the free financial inclusion training for 10 million women and youths.
According to him, the decision to embark on the programme was driven by visible economic improvements resulting from the Federal Government’s reform policies. He assured the Vice-President of ICAN’s full professional backing, describing their participation as an institutional honour.
Also speaking, the Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr Nurudeen Zauro, noted that exclusion is often rooted not just in lack of access, but in weak skills, fragile institutions and inadequate professional support.
“Consequently, financial inclusion is not achieved by infrastructure alone; it is achieved when people and institutions are equipped to use that infrastructure responsibly, productively, and sustainably,” he said.
The event climaxed with the formal signing of the MoU between the Federal Government and the six professional bodies, setting the stage for what officials described as a game-changing push to put financial knowledge in the hands of millions.
