| dc.description.abstract | The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the rollout of a nationwide financial inclusion and literacy programme targeting 10 million Nigerians, with a focus on women and youth. The initiative is being implemented through the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, in partnership with organisations such as WAWUAfrica and professional bodies, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). The programme aims to enhance economic participation by equipping beneficiaries with financial, digital, and entrepreneurial skills through structured training, certification, and mentorship platforms.
While the initiative represents a significant investment in human capital development and financial inclusion, several policy concerns arise. The scale of the programme raises questions about implementation capacity, particularly regarding how training will be delivered across diverse regions, including rural and underserved communities with limited digital access. Issues also persist around quality assurance, as the standards for certification, accreditation, and assessment of
outcomes are not clearly defined. In addition, there is no publicly available monitoring and evaluation framework to track participation, completion rates, or long-term impacts such as employment and financial access.
Further concerns relate to policy alignment and inclusivity. It remains unclear how the programme integrates with existing national frameworks such as the National Financial Inclusion Strategy and digital economy policies, raising the risk of duplication or fragmentation. Moreover, while the focus on women and youth is appropriate, additional safeguards may be required to ensure that other vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, rural populations, and older citizens, are not excluded.
Given its constitutional oversight responsibilities, the National Assembly has a critical role in ensuring that the programme is effectively implemented, transparent, and aligned with national development priorities. Legislative engagement is necessary to clarify funding, governance structures, delivery mechanisms, and expected outcomes.
Accordingly, the National Assembly, through its Committees on Finance, National Planning, Women Affairs, Youth Development, and Communications/ICT, may consider the following actions:
1. Invite the PreCEFI Secretariat and implementing partners to present a comprehensive implementation strategy, including delivery models, outreach plans, and funding sources.
2. Seek clarification on access for rural and underserved populations, including offline participation options and provisions for persons with disabilities.
3. Request details from partner professional bodies on training curricula, certification standards, and quality assurance mechanisms.
4. Call for the establishment of an independent monitoring and evaluation framework, with periodic reporting on participation, completion rates, and post-training outcomes.
Ensure alignment with existing national policies on financial inclusion, digital economy development, and workforce skills to enhance coordination and avoid duplication. | en_US |
