BY ONYEKA AJUMOBI ONOCHIE
The Managing Director/CEO of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Umaru Ibrahim, has called for closer partnership and collaboration with the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) for the rapid economic development of the country.
* L-R Front Row; ED Ops, NDIC, Prince Aghatise Erediauwa; MD/CEO, NDIC, Umaru Ibrahim; Alumni President, M.D. Abubakar; VP, Alumni Institute, Haj Aisha Dakani; R-L Second Row ; Director Admin, Kabir A. Bashir; Comrade Isa Aremu; Publicity Secretary, Dr Ogbonna Onyeisi; Welfare Secretary, Amb. Christy Mbonu; S. A. to President, Bar. Kenmi Olomida; Dr. Nat Adeyemi; Legal Adviser, Air Commodore Ademola Onitiju*
The NDIC boss made the call while receiving the alumni association which paid him a courtesy visit at the head office of the corporation on Tuesday, 10th of March, 2020.
Briefing his visitors on the corporation, he disclosed that it was established in 1989 to promote public confidence in the banking industry; contribute to the stability of the financial system, as well as ensure orderly resolution of failed financial institutions.
According to the CEO, about40% of Nigerians are presently either financially excluded or operating outside the formal financial system, and therefore, urged the association to partner with the corporation to accelerate the pace of financial literacy and financial inclusion among the Nigerian public, stressing that the corporation, in close collaboration with the Central Bank (CBN), will continue to support the introduction of affordable products and services not only to the general public, but also to vulnerable women and dwellers in rural communities.
In furtherance of its elaborate initiatives towards achieving the desired level of Financial Inclusion in the country, the NDIC boss expressed the commitment of the Corporation to support the introduction of new channels of providing financial services such as Agency Banking, Payments Service Banks, and mobile banking, among others, suitable to enable small depositors have access to financial services across the country.
In that respect, he called on the general public, especially retired senior public servants and retired bankers to acquire Agency Banking and MFB licences in order to make modest contributions to the growth and promotion of these services in their respective communities.
Responding to the welcome address, the AANI’s President and former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, stressed that the purpose of the courtsey call was to identify with the way the MD/CEO, Umaru Ibrahim, who is also an alumni of the National Institute, has been piloting the affairs of the corporation since his appointment.
He eulogised him for the remarkable strides the corporation had made under his exemplary leadership, assuring him that the association will not leave any stone unturned in his quest to partner with the NDIC to sensitize its (association’s) members on the importance of financial inclusion to achieve the corporation’s goals for the rapid socio-economic development of the country.