The Nigerian government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has set an ambitious goal—to grow the country’s economy to $1 trillion by 2030. To achieve this, the administration is focusing on financial inclusion, youth empowerment, and small business support.
At the Grassroots Leadership and Sustainable Development Summit held at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Chioma Nweze, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South East), spoke about these plans. She emphasized the importance of giving more people access to financial services to drive economic growth.
One of the key initiatives of Tinubu’s government is the Aso Accord on Economic and Financial Inclusion. This plan is designed to bring financial services to underserved communities, particularly women, youths, rural areas, and small businesses.
The Accord focuses on:
- A Presidential Council to oversee financial reforms.
- Expanding digital infrastructure to improve internet and banking access.
- Financial literacy programs to educate people on managing money.
- Direct government investments in underserved communities.
According to Nweze, making financial services more accessible will help individuals and businesses grow, ultimately strengthening the country’s economy.
Nweze urged Nigerian youths to embrace digital banking, fintech, and mobile payments to secure their financial future. She also highlighted the importance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in economic growth.
Supporting MSMEs through access to loans, business training, and market opportunities will help create more jobs and reduce poverty. She also stressed the need for financial education in schools so that young people can develop good money management skills early.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Professor Oguejiofo Ujam, commended the government’s focus on community engagement. He also praised the Students’ Union Government for launching a solar panel project at Manual Hotel to provide electricity for students.
