Vice President Kashim Shettima has inaugurated the Presidential Committee for Economic and Financial Inclusion (Pre -FI) as part of the federal government's commitment to achieve a billion economy for 2030.
The realization of the ceremony, on Monday, reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu with the economic reforms that prioritize inclusive growth and financial gaps throughout the country.
The event also witnessed the signing of an investment agreement by the interested parties of the private sector to provide the fundamental infrastructure necessary for the full operationalization of the ASO Accord initiative.
According to a statement by its spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, the agreement signed on Thursday, April 25, 2024 is a central pillar of the renewed agenda of hope of the Tinubu administration to transform the economy of the nation.
Speaking during the opening ceremony and the signing of investment commitments in the presidential villa, Abuja, the vice president asked all interested parties to support the government's effort to launch financial gaps for millions of unchanged citizens.
According to him, Nigeria's economic aspirations require more than optimism but “deliberate ideas and strategies, inspired by our desire to win.
“Our path to an economy of $ 1 billion by 2030 will continue to be a mere desire unless we say a base strong enough to bring our dreams. Dreams are not based only on hope. They are the sum of deliberate ideas and strategies, inspired by our desire to win, ”he added.
The vice president pointed out the progress made since the launch of the financial inclusion strategy in 2012, explaining that inclusion rates have improved from 60.3% to 74% from 2023, but added that under these figures are not told of millions of millions still locked in financing. system.
“We welcome this investment as an opportunity to catalyze the growth of our new companies and MSME, create jobs and boost Nigeria towards the objective of the $ 1 billion economy by 2030. This is not simply another government initiative. This It is a higher call, a national duty to close the economic division and maximize the maximum potential of our people.
“The inauguration of this committee and the formalization of this investment commitment reinforce the promise of President Tinubu before an inclusive economy, a vision that has been supported by the National Economic Council (NEC).
“We continue to mitigate the short -term effects of economic reforms, expand financial opportunities and ensure that each Nigerian, regardless of their geography or state, is integrated into our history of economic growth. However, the weight of this vision is based on all those who meet here today, ”said Vice President Shettima.
Senator Shettima also pointed out that young women, women, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), rural populations and certain regions have continued “to face systemic barriers that deny them the opportunity to achieve their maximum economic potential.”
He explained that the new presidential committee will operate through the Government Committee (Govco) and a Technical Committee (Techco) and will be supported by an implementation secretariat.
The vice president added that this framework “ensures that our approach is not only robust but also adaptable to evolving challenges and opportunities in financial and economic inclusion.”
Meanwhile, IQS Africa leads a consortium of central investors committed to providing the essential infrastructure for the implementation of ASO ACCORD.
Previously in his opening speech, the president of the president's cabinet (vice president's office), Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said the composition of the presidential committee with the membership extracted from the subnationals, key ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government, and The private sector, stressed the commitment of President Tinubu to achieve the Billón Dollar target of his administration for the economy.
For his part, the technical advisor of the President of Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr. Nurudeen Zaur pointing out that the collaboration will be critical for the update of all the established objectives.
In a goodwill, the Governor of the State of ENUGU, Dr. Peter MBAH, said that economic and financial inclusion has been fundamental to the astronomical increase of the State in the income generated internally, pointing out that the growth of the economy with The interest of the weak and vulnerable of heart is the core of what the state government is doing.
Along the same lines, Kaduna's state governor, Senator Uba Sani, said the financial inclusion for Nigeria was very late, as well as the visionary leadership of Vice President Shettima.
He pointed out that beyond poverty problems, financial inclusion will help address many problems in the northern part of the country where digital infrastructure and network connectivity are inadequate.
Delivering his comments, the president/CEO of IQS, Emmanuel Itapsy said that “the ideals of the renewed agenda of hope of the administration of Tinubu are at a time when visionary leadership, policies and moments of history are found In a confluence.
“The agenda is a bold movement to redefine the contours of opportunity and possibilities before the nation,” he added.
Praising the exemplary leadership of President Tinubu, Itapsy said: “No nation has achieved a great leap in its movement towards greatness without leadership that paints a vision that summons and takes advantage of the best and most important thing of its people.
“The leadership provides the challenge of the moon and inspires the country to ascend to that challenge. It also creates an environment in which interested parties, especially the private sector, will bring their ingenuity and unleash their business energy for common and national development.
“The renewed agenda of hope for Nigeria with its economic objective of billions of dollars is the moment of the moon for Nigeria and IQS Africa is excited to play a role in this great national challenge of renewal.”
In his comments, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of the Economy of Coordination, Wale Edun, said that the Ministry of Finance remains committed to the tasks assigned to the Presidential Committee, noting that he will assume the responsibility of translating the vision of the ASO agreement in Reforms and processable and shocking programs.
For his part, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the Ministry will be the greatest beneficiary of efforts to improve economic and financial inclusion throughout the country, noting that Agencies under their ministry support the presidential committee to close the gap in financial inclusion, especially among vulnerable groups in the country.
In addition, the national security advisor, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, praised the leadership of the vice president of efforts to accelerate the current reforms in different sectors of the country.
He said that administration's financial inclusion efforts are a vehicle that will help Nigeria take life to dead capital, adding that all interested parties must take it more seriously, promising the support and commitment of the security community and Intelligence of Nigeria.