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Bridging Financial Inclusion Gaps Key To $1trn Economy Vision – VP Shettima

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Bridging Financial Inclusion Gaps Key To $1trn Economy Vision – VP Shettima

*** Urges stakeholders to tackle inequalities, foster inclusive financial system

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has implored development partners and other stakeholders to bridge systemic inequalities and foster an inclusive, unbiased financial system that benefits all Nigerians irrespective of gender or geography.

In this regard, he identified some unsettling gaps yawning for serious attention, including low penetration of digital financial services among women, just as he listed some socio-economic barriers behind these inequalities including low incomes, limited education, and restricted access to financial tools like credit and insurance.

The Vice President gave the charge on Wednesday during the inaugural Development Partners Roundtable on Economic and Financial Inclusion at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

VP Shettima who was represented by Special Adviser to the President on General Duties (Office of the Vice President), Aliyu Modibbo Umar, warned that Nigeria’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030 will remain an illusion except the private sector and development partners are fully engaged.

He stated: “We have come this far because we are continually assessing the extent of economic and financial inclusion in Nigeria. However, the results of this assessment reveal some disturbing gaps that demand our urgent attention. One such gaps is the low penetration of digital financial services among women—only 23% compared to 43% for men.

“This, as we have learned, is driven by socio-economic barriers such as low income, limited education, and restricted access to financial tools like credit and insurance. Women in the northwest and northeast are particularly disadvantaged. The task before us, then, is clear: to bridge these systemic inequalities and foster an inclusive, equitable financial system that benefits all Nigerians, regardless of gender or geography.”

Senator Shettima however expressed optimism that the inaugural roundtable will provide a fertile ground for meaningful conversation that would “pave the way for a future where every Nigerian is a significant part of the nation’s financial data.”

He continued: “This roundtable is yet another important opportunity to harness our collective potential and chart a sustainable path forward. It is designed to provide a holistic view of the obstacles impeding economic and financial inclusion in Nigeria.

“As we engage in discussions today, I invite all of us to join hands, collaborate, and align our efforts in crafting lasting solutions. Whatever we do as a government, we know it cannot materialise fully unless we work together with you—our development partners, the private sector, and all stakeholders committed to progress.”

The VP hinted at the inauguration of a Presidential Committee for the Implementation of the Aso Accord, saying it will guarantee the success of the initiative championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, to guarantee the success of the transformative initiatives championed by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I am pleased to announce the inauguration of a Presidential Committee for the Implementation of the Aso Accord.

“It is my honour to chair this Governance Committee, which will primarily consist of the esteemed signatories to the Aso Accord, reflecting our collective commitment to ensuring its success. The Committee will be backed by a dedicated secretariat housed within the Office of the Vice President,” he noted.

Noting that discussions on the state of economic and financial inclusion in Nigeria had become a matter of priority at the National Economic Council (NEC) since April of this year, VP Shettima said, “The committee will report to the NEC on a quarterly basis to ensure that the integrated framework we have established not only implements the Aso Accord effectively but also achieves its ambitious goals.

“Once again, I call on all development partners here today to collaborate with this team to ensure the successful implementation of the Aso Accord. Your support is critical to this mission. We will rely on your technical expertise and continued assistance in accelerating the implementation of specific programmes and initiatives. None of us can deliver on this task in isolation,” he added.

Earlier, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who spoke on behalf of the subnationals, commended President Tinubu for giving Nigeria visionary leadership.

He said the successes being recorded by the nation in the economic and other sectors show that Nigeria is on the right track.

The Deputy Governor who represented the Bayelsa State Governor maintained that rural communities should be well accommodated in the scheme of things to enhance inclusive development.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, called for effective strategies to include more farmers, petty traders and others who are in poor financial stages, in the financial inclusion programme in order to achieve its goals.

Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Yusuf Sununu, who said the ministry plays a big role in providing financial intervention and inclusion, added that the ministry will ensure social justice, environmental protection and growth through its social intervention programmes like Conditional Cash Transfer and School Feeding.

He assured beneficiaries of accountability and transparency in the implementation of all the programmes of the ministry.

On his part, Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr Nurudeen Zauro, said the roundtable was a defining moment for the financial inclusion strategy of the Nigerian government.

“Today’s gathering is a defining moment in our collective journey towards creating a more equitable, inclusive and prosperous Nigeria. In this hall, we have stakeholders comprising individuals and institutions who are united by a shared commitment to transforming lives through inclusive, economic and financial systems in Nigeria,” he said.

Dr Zauro added that the Aso Accord that seeks to promote financial inclusion is also a blueprint for action guided by the drive to unlock full potential and enhance socio-economic growth, leading to the building of a resilient and inclusive future for all Nigerians.

On her part, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Monique Nsanzabaganwa, hailed Nigeria’s reforms, which she said are feasible.

She congratulated Nigeria for implementing the Aso Accord on Financial Inclusion, just as she solicited more support for women and MSMEs.

Bridging Financial Inclusion Gaps Key To $1trn Economy Vision – VP Shettima

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The Kano Model: How Faith Leaders Can Fight Disinformation in Nigeria and West Africa

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The Kano Model: How Faith Leaders Can Fight Disinformation in Nigeria and West Africa

By Senator Iroegbu

In an era where falsehoods outpace truth, Nigeria and its Sahel neighbours find themselves on a perilous digital battleground. Disinformation threatens democracy, national security, and social harmony across West Africa. False narratives, amplified by social media and coordinated networks with ties to external powers, undermine elections, stoke ethnic tensions, and corrode public trust in democracy and institutions.

As Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections, this menace has assumed sharper geopolitical contours. External powers and their allies in the Sahel have weaponised information to justify coups, weaken democracies, and polarise opinion. Yet the most potent antidote to this weaponised falsehood may not lie in new laws or sophisticated algorithms—it may reside in the pulpit, the minaret, and the palace.

Last month in Kano, a historic moment unfolded. Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, Chairman of the Kano State Council of Ulama, declared that spreading fake news is a sin in Islam, equating it with fabricating lies—an act forbidden by the Qur’an. “Islam forbids the fabrication of lies. Therefore, creating and spreading fake news is prohibited,” he said. He made this declaration at a two-day fact-checking workshop organised by Alkalanci, a Hausa-language platform dedicated to countering misinformation. The event, attended by Islamic scholars, imams, and representatives of His Highness, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, was more than a media literacy session—it was a moral awakening.

Representing the Emir, Alhaji Abbas Dalhatu reminded participants that even Prophet Suleiman verified reports before acting, as recorded in the Qur’an. The message was unmistakable: truth verification is not a Western construct but a divine injunction. This gathering reframes the battle for truth as a moral, civic, and spiritual duty, placing religious and traditional leaders at the heart of national resilience.

Religious and traditional leaders—imams, pastors, and traditional rulers—wield immense influence across Nigeria and West Africa. When they speak, millions listen. Their voices reach deeper into citizens’ hearts than any government circular or press release could. Harnessing this moral authority to promote truth, critical thinking, and responsible information sharing could be transformative. Imagine Friday sermons and Sunday homilies urging congregants to verify stories before forwarding them. Picture traditional rulers collaborating with fact-checking organisations to dispel rumours before they ignite conflict. This approach fuses cultural authenticity with digital resilience—a uniquely African response to a global problem. By rooting fact-checking in faith and tradition, truth becomes not just a civic virtue but a sacred obligation.

Across the Sahel, disinformation has evolved into a weapon of war. In Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, false narratives spread through encrypted platforms and foreign-funded networks have justified coups, vilified democratic institutions, and fostered hostility toward neighbouring states like Nigeria and ECOWAS. These campaigns, often orchestrated by external actors seeking geopolitical leverage, prey on citizens by exploiting anti-Western sentiments, poverty, and religious/ethnic mistrust. Left unchecked, they could destabilise Nigeria’s fragile unity and sow doubt ahead of the 2027 elections. This is not just Nigeria’s problem—it’s regional. A coordinated response based on the Kano Model could combat this epidemic of falsehood and ensure stability across the Sahel.

Nigeria’s most effective response must mobilise faith-based and traditional networks. The Kano initiative offers a blueprint for building collective immunity against falsehood. To protect democracy and stability, Nigeria must replicate the model nationwide by conducting fact-checking and media literacy workshops for clerics, traditional and youth leaders, ensuring that religious and cultural figures become trusted guardians of truth. Media literacy should be institutionalised by integrating digital ethics and information verification into religious education, civic studies, and community training so truth-telling becomes as routine as prayer or civic duty. Collaboration with fact-checking platforms must deepen to debunk falsehoods in local languages, ensuring truth reaches the grassroots. Promoting responsible digital citizenship is equally vital—citizens must learn to pause, verify, and reflect before sharing information online, understanding that misinformation is not only harmful but sinful and unpatriotic.

Our fight against disinformation cannot be a one-time effort, and we must be prepared to adapt our strategies as the threat evolves. We must continuously educate Nigerians on the geopolitical dimensions of disinformation and strengthen independent media. By doing so, we can ensure that our citizens are informed, vigilant, and far harder to manipulate.
The lessons from Kano are not just for Nigeria. They resonate across West Africa, where democracies face similar vulnerabilities. The region’s stability depends on its ability to immunise citizens against the poisons of falsehood. By anchoring truth in spiritual and communal values, Nigeria can lead a regional movement where faith becomes the firewall against foreign propaganda and internal division. This is a battle we must fight together, and the clerics of Kano have shown us the way.

Sheikh Khalil’s pronouncement transforms the fight against fake news from a technical challenge into a moral crusade. When verification becomes worship and fact-checking becomes an act of faith, information warfare meets an adversary it cannot easily defeat: the human conscience guided by truth. The workshop in Kano may have seemed modest—a few dozen clerics gathered for two days—but history often turns on such quiet revolutions. By awakening moral authorities to the dangers of disinformation, it has lit a spark that could protect not only Nigeria’s democracy but also the integrity of the entire Sahel.

As the 2027 elections approach and the Sahel remains unstable, the task before Nigeria’s leaders—political, religious, and traditional—is straightforward. This is not merely about regulating speech or policing the internet; it is about defending truth itself, the foundation upon which democracy, peace, and unity stand. The clerics of Kano have shown the way. The question now is whether the rest of Nigeria—and indeed West Africa—will follow. The battle for truth has found its warriors. May their voices multiply.

Senator Iroegbu is a security, geopolitics and development analyst. Email: Senator.iroegbu@yahoo.co.uk

The Kano Model: How Faith Leaders Can Fight Disinformation in Nigeria and West Africa

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FreeNnamdiKanuNow Movement: NSCDC warns protesters against vandalis

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FreeNnamdiKanuNow Movement: NSCDC warns protesters against vandalis

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has cautioned protesters of the FreeNnamdiKanuNow movement to desist from vandalising Critical National Asset and Infrastructure (CNAI) in the federal capital territory, Abuja.

The NSCDC FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu, said that there are plans by Mr Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara reporters, to organise a protest on Monday for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Odumosu called on citizens, in support or against the planned rally to adhere strictly to the provisions of the court order.

He said: “The corps will not condone any form of destruction, vandalism or theft of public and private facilities in the name of protest.”

According to him, the Corps has massively deployed officers and men to protect all CNAI as well as ensure the protection of residents across the FCT before, during and after the protest.

“We are prepared as always to ensure there are no incidents of destruction of properties or threats to Infrastructure and the peace in the territory.

“The deployed officers and men were drawn from specialised units, including Area Commands and Divisions, and have been properly briefed on the assignment as well as precautions to adhere to during the rally,” he said.

Odumosu said personnel had been warned not to shoot, harass or intimidate any law abiding citizen, but criminals and vandals trying to hijack the situation will not be condoned.

He further urged the deployed men to be civil by adopting the non-kinetic approach while carrying out the mandates of the corps.

The commandant, however, warned those with the intention of hijacking or disrupting the proposed peaceful protest to desist as anyone caught with criminal intents will be arrested and dealt according to the extant laws.

He urged all law abiding citizens to go about their normal activities as deployment has been made to strategic locations and identified flash points to maintain peace and order.

FreeNnamdiKanuNow Movement: NSCDC warns protesters against vandalis

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Dogara Commends Tinubu’s NELFUND, educational policies

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Dogara Commends Tinubu’s NELFUND, educational policies

By: our reporter

Former Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has hailed President Bola Tinubu for his education policies particularly the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND)

Dogara spoke at the Federal University of Lokoja while delivering a Special Public Lecture, titled “Empowering the Future Generation: The Founders’ Vision and Legacy.

The Public Lecture was part of the week long activities for the institution’s 9th Convocation.

According to Dogara, “the President deserves commendation expecially for the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) which he stressed has giving hope to students whose educational dreams would have been cut short for lack of funds.

“Education remains our most powerful weapon against poverty, ignorance and underdevelopment. It is the idea of planting seeds of hope, creating pathways to opportunity, and building a place where talents are refined and human potential is unlocked.

“NELFUND – a program designed to remove financial barriers to higher education for indigent Nigerian students with interest -free loans had disbursed N99.5billion to fund tuition and upkeep allowances.

“As we speak, and as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Mr. President has prioritized inclusivity and equity in access to education. We are witnessing the gradual dismantling of systemic barriers, particularly for marginalized grounds such as women and persons with disabilities. No one doubts Mr. President’s commitment to ensuring that every young Nigerian, regardless of background, has access to quality education.

“To those who have often wondered why I promote President Tinubu s education policies – you have found one of the answers. Why would any sensible person who has benefited immensely from education do otherwise?”

The Former Rep Speaker however enjoined the graduands to take advantage of their knowledge to solve Nigerian problems, urging them to develop a global mindset with local relevance.

“Think globally but act locally. While embracing international best practices, never forget your roots. The solutions to Africa problems must be African- led, though globally informed. Weather you become engineers, doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs or public servants, always ask: How can I apply global knowledge to solve local problems?”

He also tasked them to seek innovation and entrepreneurs, embrace lifelong learning, commit to ethical leadership and be a good steward for the university.
End

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