The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, has restated the Bank’s commitment to promoting financial inclusion and strengthening Nigeria’s economy through key policy initiatives.
Speaking at the CBN Fair held in Kaduna on Thursday, September 18, Governor Cardoso—represented by Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, Acting Director, Corporate Communications—said the event serves as a vital platform to engage the public on CBN policies designed to foster sustainable economic growth.
The Fair, themed “Driving Alternative Payment Channels as Tools for Financial Inclusion, Growth and Accelerated Economic Development,” focused on the role of digital innovations and SMEs in achieving price stability and economic transformation.
Governor Cardoso urged Nigerians to rely on verified information from official CBN channels and to treat the naira with respect by avoiding spraying, hawking, or mutilating the currency.
“The core objective of this engagement is to sensitise members of the public on how the Bank’s policies enhance their lives and livelihood and contribute to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy,” he said.
He highlighted key achievements, including:
- Exchange Rate Unification – to reduce market volatility and arbitrage.
- Clearing $7bn FX Backlog – restoring investor confidence.
- Bank Recapitalisation Programme – strengthening the banking sector to support Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy ambition.
- Non-Resident BVN Initiative – connecting Nigerians abroad with local banking services.
- Nigeria Payments System Vision 2028 (PSV 2028) – to deepen financial inclusion and advance digital transformation.
- Unified Complaints Tracking System (UCTS) and *USSD verification code (959#) – enhancing consumer protection and trust in the financial system.
Cardoso stressed that these reforms have already yielded positive outcomes such as higher foreign investment inflows, improved trade balances, and growth in financial inclusion rates.
Earlier, Ahmad Dalhatu, the Kaduna Branch Controller of CBN, noted that the CBN Fair remains one of the Bank’s most effective public enlightenment initiatives.
“It serves as a platform to deepen financial literacy, promote transparency, and strengthen trust between the Bank and the Nigerian people,” Dalhatu said.
He encouraged participants to engage actively and share feedback, emphasizing that mutual communication helps the Bank refine its policies to suit Nigerians’ needs in a rapidly changing global economy.
