The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is partnering with Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) Microfinance bank for the provision of financial inclusion services for people Living with Disabilities (PLWD) in the country.
Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele made the disclosure in Benin-City on Monday in a his keynote address during the 2015 LAPO Institute’s annual conference on microfinance and enterprise development with the theme, “Microfinance development and challenges of social inclusion in Nigeria”.

Emefiele, who was represented at the occasion by the director, development finance of CBN, Olaitan Mudashiru, noted that the Financial Inclusion Secretariat established by the apex bank in 2012 was currently working on producing a roadmap for the provision of financial inclusion services for people living with disabilities.
Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor
He pointed out that the roadmap would entail ease of access to the premises of financial service providers, supportive transaction processes and service channels.
He urged microfinance practitioners to devise strategies to accommodate the vulnerable groups in the society including women and youths in the design of their financial products.

The CBN governor however said that the nation’s attainment of vision 2020 and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) would be a mirage if the microfinance initiative that sought to integrate the poor and the economically active low income households into the national financial system are not treated with levity.
The implementation of microfinance initiatives, he said, have serious impact on the rural populace in terms of reducing poverty, generating employment, access to health care, education and improved living conditions.

Earlier in his address, the managing director of LAPO, Godwin Ehigiamusoe said since establishment of the institute in 1996, it has trained over 23,570 Nigerians in basic entrepreneurship techniques, basic business management, business development services and information and communication technology skills.
He also said that the institute provided capacity development programmes for states like Rivers, Delta, Kogi, Bayelsa and other federal government agencies such as the CBN noting that the organization has been able to provide such services for about 2,098 participants.
He listed some other achievements of the institute to include the provision of interventionist programmes such as consulting, micro enterprise development training, technical assistance, credit administration and management to about 4,762 clients of international organizations.
Ehigiamusoe also listed some of the clients of the institute as Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), German Technical Co-operations (GTZ), Chevron, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Oxfam Novib, RUFRAM among others.

Goodwill messages were delivered at the occasion by Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN), RUFFIN, ITF, SMEDAN, Partners for Development (PTD), Centre for Management Development (CMD) and Bank of Industry.

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