Shettima Launches Free Financial Literacy Programme for 10 Million Nigerians

The Federal Government has officially launched a free nationwide financial literacy and inclusion training programme targeting 10 million Nigerians, with a special focus on women and youths.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Office of the Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, through the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion, is designed to equip Nigerians with practical financial skills, investment knowledge and digital competencies to support sustainable wealth creation and inclusive economic growth.

As part of the rollout, the Federal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with six professional bodies to jointly develop training modules, certification pathways, digital skills programmes and mentorship platforms. The agreement is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s financial and enterprise ecosystem and improve professional standards across key sectors.

The professional bodies involved are the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), the National Institute of Credit Administration (NICA), the Chartered Risk Management Institute (CRMI) and the Nigerian Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NIIE).

Speaking at the event, Vice-President Shettima described the MoU as more than a ceremonial agreement, calling it a strategic national investment in Nigeria’s human capital. He stressed that the country could only harness its demographic advantage if young people and women were equipped with the right skills, ethical grounding and digital capabilities.

According to him, financial inclusion goes beyond access to financial services and must be anchored on competence, trust and capability. He warned that Nigeria’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy would be unattainable without strong skills, coherent standards and well-integrated professional ecosystems.

Shettima explained that the MoU provides a structured framework for joint training programmes, policy engagement, digital transformation initiatives and professional capacity building aligned with national inclusion goals. He added that without skilled professionals who understand MSME formalisation, risk assessment, consumer protection, digital threats and enterprise development, financial inclusion would remain a slogan rather than a functional system.

Reiterating the programme’s focus, the Vice-President said women and youths would be prioritised, noting that Nigeria’s demographic dividend would only materialise if young people were adequately prepared for the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy.

On behalf of President Bola Tinubu, Shettima formally flagged off the free financial literacy training for 10 million Nigerians across the country and urged stakeholders to treat the MoU as a living document focused on execution rather than paperwork.

Earlier, ICAN President, Malam Haruna Yahaya, commended the Tinubu administration for what he described as bold economic reforms, saying the policy direction had contributed to visible improvements in the economy and inspired the launch of the programme. He assured the Vice-President of ICAN’s full professional support, describing the institute’s participation as an honour.

The Chief Executive Officer of WAWU Africa, the programme’s technical partner, Mr Emmanuel Lennox, pledged the organisation’s readiness to deliver the project, stating that it would provide the digital platform and enabling environment required for effective implementation.

Also speaking, the Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr Nurudeen Zauro, noted that financial exclusion was driven not only by lack of access but also by limited skills and weak institutional capacity. He emphasised that inclusion is achieved when individuals and institutions are equipped to use financial infrastructure responsibly, productively and sustainably.

The highlight of the event was the formal signing of the MoU between the Federal Government and the six professional bodies, marking the official commencement of the nationwide capacity-building programme.