CBN Sensitises Businesses At ACCI Fair To Boost Economy, Inclusion

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting financial inclusion, strengthening the economy, and ensuring monetary stability through sustained engagement with stakeholders across all sectors.

Speaking at the CBN Special Day during the 20th Abuja International Trade Fair last week, the Acting Director of Corporate Communications at the bank, Hakama Ali, said the apex bank’s annual participation in the fair is aimed at deepening public understanding of its policies and programmes designed to boost economic activities and inclusion.

Ali said that under Governor Olayemi Cardoso’s leadership, the central bank remains committed to addressing identified challenges in the economy to strengthen productivity, enhance investor confidence, and safeguard the domestic economy against external shocks.

“The CBN annually participates in the fair to raise awareness and sensitise our numerous stakeholders about its policies and programmes, which are essential for boosting economic activities, inclusiveness, and achieving global recognition,” she said.

Ali noted that the fair’s theme aligns with the Bank’s push to diversify Nigeria’s productive base, emphasising non-oil exports and a more resilient financial system. According to her, achieving sustainable economic growth rests on three critical pillars — a strong financial system, a stable foreign exchange market, and effective collaboration between fiscal and monetary authorities.

Highlighting the bank’s achievements, Ali disclosed that Nigeria’s external reserves rose to $43.05 billion as of September 11, 2025, from $40.51 billion at the end of July 2025, reflecting the positive impact of ongoing monetary reforms and restored investor confidence.

She also said the bank has continued to ensure that the nation’s banking sector remains robust and resilient, with most financial soundness indicators within prudential limits. “As recently disclosed by the CBN Governor, fourteen banks have met their recapitalisation requirements.

The Bank is closely monitoring the remaining ones to ensure successful completion of the exercise,” she added.

On the payments system, Ali reiterated the CBN’s commitment to innovation through the Payment Systems Vision 2028, a bold initiative designed to future-proof Nigeria’s digital payment ecosystem. The initiative, she explained, aims to broaden financial inclusion in rural areas, enhance payment security, and reduce transaction downtimes for faster and safer operations.

The CBN spokesperson also used the occasion to restate the Bank’s commitment to ensuring the availability of clean and fit Naira notes and urged Nigerians to handle the national currency with care and dignity.

“We urge you to see the Naira as a vital symbol of national identity. Respect it and keep it clean. Do not spray, hawk, mutilate, or counterfeit the Naira. Be ambassadors of the Bank’s clean Naira policy. Our Naira, Our Pride,” Ali said.

She appealed for continuous stakeholder cooperation, stressing that collective effort remains key to achieving inclusive and sustainable growth.

Earlier in his goodwill message, the president of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Chief Emeka Obegolu, described the CBN’s celebration at the fair as timely, noting that it underscores the vital connection between monetary policy, financial stability, and private sector growth.

Obegolu commended the apex bank for its consistent role in stabilising the financial system and supporting the real sector through interventions that have benefited businesses, particularly Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

“For the business community represented by ACCI, the CBN is not just a regulator but a vital growth enabler. Through access to credit facilities, intervention funds, forex management, and financial inclusion strategies, the Bank has opened opportunities for our members to thrive,” Obegolu said.

He lauded the CBN’s ongoing reforms and innovative programmes such as the Open Banking Framework, expansion of contactless payments, and regulatory sandbox for fintech innovation, which, he said, have improved financial access, transparency, and digital inclusion.

The ACCI president further noted that the Bank’s focus on youth empowerment, capacity building, and targeted sectoral interventions in agriculture, housing, healthcare, and education has de-risked critical sectors for private investment and fostered a more resilient economy.

Obegolu reaffirmed the readiness of the Chamber to partner with the CBN in advancing financial literacy, policy advocacy, and sectoral linkages that would enhance inclusive growth and national development.

“Together, we can build a more stable, dynamic, and prosperous economy that meets the aspirations of Nigerians,” he added.

The CBN Special Day at the Abuja International Trade Fair is part of the bank’s continuous efforts to engage with stakeholders and the business community on its monetary policies, programmes, and initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion.