Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has called on the banking sector to finance the innovative ideas of young Nigerians to prevent them from seeking opportunities in foreign digital ecosystems.
Edun made the call at the 2025 Investiture Ceremony of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos, where he was conferred with an honorary fellowship.
He commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), led by Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, for implementing monetary policies that have stabilized the nation’s economy. “The fight against inflation is one in which we all have to participate. Those tight monetary policies are necessary, and we appreciate the teamwork driving them,” he said.
Reflecting on the keynote address delivered by Dr. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Co-founder of Andela, Edun urged financial institutions to create inclusive systems that provide access to credit, jobs, and digital growth opportunities for Nigeria’s youth. “If we fail to meet their aspirations, they will turn to crypto and virtual platforms, and that will create new challenges,” he cautioned.
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Edun highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, which includes expanding digital infrastructure through the rollout of 90,000 kilometers of fibre optic network to foster economic inclusivity.
In his remarks, the Group Managing Director of UBA, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, applauded recent CBN reforms for easing foreign exchange pressures and urged bankers to “bridge the digital gap with a human touch,” ensuring technology enhances inclusion rather than exclusion.
