Data & Financial Inclusion | |
Data & Financial Inclusion | |
2937 VIEWS | |
![]() |
Sunday, September 15, 2019 / 08.00AM / Bukola Akinyele for Proshare WebTV / Header Image Credit: Guardian Nigeria
Keynote speaker at the recent Capital Market Conference organized by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in collaboration with the University of Lagos, Mrs Toyin Sanni made a strong case for Nigeria to deepen its financial literacy level.
Mrs Sanni an investment banker and Group CEO of Emerging Africa Capital Group said that the lack of financial literacy in the country, was responsible for the low level of money management skills in families and homes, as it concerns business and retirement.
According to her, research studies on financial literacy revealed that most individuals including entrepreneurs do not understand the concept of investments, while some consumers don't seek out financial information before taking decisions.
She noted that financial literacy enables people to understand what is needed to achieve a decent lifestyle and work-life balance, while ensuring their investments are sustainable and conducted in an ethical manner.
Sanni emphasised the need for increased awareness in financial literacy in the country, which will inform Nigerians on issues of investments, risks and setting financial goals.
Citing a 2015 Nigerian financial survey, Sanni highlighted the following;
Speaking further she identified the following as the effects of Low Level of Financial literacy in the country;
The financial literacy advocate in Nigeria called for the leveraging of Digital Finance, through mobile phones and personal computers to develop a reliable digital payment system.
Sanni also stressed the need for all stakeholders to work assiduously to achieve the 80% financial inclusion target by 2020.
Financial inclusion she noted was vital for Nigeria as it is a key to uplifting millions from poverty.
Digital finance according to her encompasses all products, services, technology, and infrastructure that enable individuals to deepen financial activities like savings and accessing credit.
She called for collaboration between policy makers and the academia to enhance finance literacy and inclusion in the country.
Innovations like mobile money are examples she cited of how East Africa has achieved scale in financial inclusion.
She tasked Nigeria to deepen mobile money penetration, so as to enhance the financial inclusion level improve across the country.
Serving as the Chairman of the SEC Financial Literacy Committee, Mrs Sanni believed leveraging technology driven platforms, continuous advocacy for financial education and financial inclusion will result in efficient personal finance and an increment in democratization of wealth in Africa.
Related News
1. Assessing The Maturity Of Data and Analytics Capabilities In Nigeria - KPMG
2. EFINA, SANEF Host North Central Quarterly Financial Services Agents Forum In Abuja
3. Firstbank Is Reducing Poverty, Deepening Financial Inclusion Through Its 31,000 Agent Network
4. EFINA Partners SANEF And NIBSS To Deepen Financial Inclusion In Nigeria
5. National Identity Management In Nigeria: NIMC and Matters Arising
6. Promoting Financial Inclusion Through Payment Service Banks in Nigeria
7. FSDH Holds Roundtable on "Women, Money and Building a Financial Legacy" with Dolapo Osinbajo
8. First Country Office of Western Africa (WBAF) opens in Ghana
9. EFInA Hosts Discourse on Increasing Opportunities for Women in Agent Banking in Nigeria
10. AfDB and Partners Launch New Fund To Boost Digital Financial Inclusion
11. Firstbank Demystifying Financial Inclusion with Xplorefirst
12. Pre-University FREE Python and Introductory Machine Learning Classes