NIGERIA:AMMAN to deepen financial inclusion in Nigeria

The Association of Mobile Money Agents in Nigeria (AMMAN) has pledged to support plans to extend financial inclusion to the unbanked citizens in the country.

Besides, AMMAN said there is need for more to be done in the area of awareness, aimed at ensuring that every Nigerian is financially included by 2020.

Speaking ahead of its second yearly conference in Lagos, National President, AMMAN, Victor Olojo, said the association is trying to play its role to achieve Federal Government’s target of reaching 80 per cent financial inclusion by 2020.

Olojo said agents have a whole lot of role to play because their network structure is very important for the realisation of the target, adding that “AMMAN is also looking at ways to tap into opportunities in the insurance industry where agents can issue third party insurance.”

He urged the Federal Government to make use of mobile agents in the disbursement of its social intervention funds to the unemployed Nigerians, stressing it will help deepen mobile money penetration in the country.

However, the conference, which is slated November 24th, with the theme, ‘Spurring Mobile Money and Agency Banking Activities: Opportunity Option for Financial Inclusion Growth in Nigeria’ will proffer solutions to the challenges affecting the penetration of the country’s financial inclusion rate.

Member-advisory, AMMAN, Jafaru Anudu, said poor publicity has remained the biggest challenge faced by the industry, while calling on the government to create awareness, and educate Nigerians on the importance of mobile money.

“Players in the financial industry are yet to understand the role of mobile money agents in the country’s financial space,” Anudu said.

He called on the businesses and Nigerians to embrace the mobile money platform to in rendering services to rural communities.

Speakers expected at the event include, Head, Financial Inclusion secretariat, development finance department, Central Bank of Nigeria, Temitope Akinfadeyi; Academic Director, Lagos Business School, Olayinka David West, and Commissioner Of Finance, Lagos State, Akinyemi Ashade.

SOURCE:GUARDIAN