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International Financial Inclusion Conference 2022

The National Financial Inclusion Governance Committee headed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is hosting the maiden International Financial Inclusion Conference 2022 scheduled to take place between the 24th and 25th of November 2022 in Abuja, Nigeria. With the theme “Financial Inclusion for all: Scaling Innovative Digital Models”, the conference is the first to be held since the launch of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) in 2012. The NFIS set the target of reducing the percentage of adult Nigerians that do not have access to financial services from 46.3% in 2010 to 20.0% in 2020.

Since the launch of the NFIS, stakeholders have achieved great strides in achieving financial inclusion objectives which have resulted in the exclusion rate dropping from 46.3% in 2010 to 35.9% in 2020. Presently, the financial sector has undergone waves of rapid development through the emergence of the digital economy. The rapid expansion and ever-increasing diversity of financial services and products deployed within the Fintech ecosystem present significant opportunities to further fast-track the expansion of financial inclusion to a greater number of Nigerians to have access to financial services that would address their needs and enhance their quality of life.

The International Financial Inclusion Conference 2022 brings together delegates, experts and speakers from within and outside the country who will examine the challenges, gaps and opportunities with a view to identifying concrete solutions and interventions that would fast-track the achievement of the Nation’s Financial Inclusion objectives. The conference will feature the launch of the revised National Financial Inclusion Strategy, the Nigeria Financial Services Map (NFS Map), the Women Agent Framework and the Fintech Strategy. It will also feature the Financial Inclusion Awards in recognition of digital financial services (DFS) ecosystem actors contributing to the advancement of financial inclusion in Nigeria.

To support the Financial Inclusion Strategy, GIZ collaborated with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to develop a financial literacy e-learning platform – SABI MONI. We also collaborated with CBN and SANEF to develop the SANEF Agent Banking Online Course to promote responsible financial inclusion in Nigeria.

The International Financial Inclusion Conference 2022 presents a unique opportunity to showcase advancements in financial inclusion in Nigeria, spotlights other jurisdictional experiences, and will serve as a platform for policymakers, financial institutions, and other stakeholders to engage on contemporary issues such as innovation, digital technology, and the role of collaboration in achieving financial inclusion for all Nigerians.