To empower young Nigerians and build their capacity to contribute to the country’s economic growth and innovation.
the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it is planning to roll out youth-friendly credit policies in the country.
Speaking at the Youth Action Event in Abuja on Friday, the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said the apex bank was dedicated to providing young people with the necessary financial tools to make them succeed in their chosen fields of endeavour.
The Governor who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, said the bank’s policies would support youth entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly in emerging sectors, such as the green economy and digital transformation.
“We will harness our economic policies to create opportunities for youth to thrive as entrepreneurs, innovators, and key drivers of economic development,” the CBN governor said.
“Initiatives such as youth-friendly credit policies and capacity-building programmes will be enhanced to equip young Nigerians with the tools they need to succeed, especially in emerging sectors, like the green economy and digital transformation,” he added.
Nigerian youths, Cardoso noted, were not just the leaders of tomorrow, but also key stakeholders in shaping economic policies and transformations today.
He said the CBN was focused on ensuring that young Nigerians had access to opportunities that would allow them thrive as entrepreneurs, innovators, and job creators.
The governor underscored the strategic importance of financial inclusion as the Bank’s central mission, adding that the CBN would continue to design and implement policies that bridge financial access gaps, particularly for young people and underserved communities.
He said these policies would empower the youth to actively contribute to building a sustainable future by ensuring they had access to financial services that support their aspirations and economic participation.
The bank, he maintained, was committed to strengthening partnerships with civil society, international organisations, and the private sector to amplify the impact of youth-led solutions to the country’s economic issues, drive job creation, and promote innovation at both national and global levels.
He added that fostering collaboration among the nation’s would enhance the effectiveness of economic policies targeted at young people and create an environment conducive to sustainable development.
Cardoso also highlighted the importance of integrating youth voices into policy formulation, pointing out that the CBN was committed to establishing platforms that allow young Nigerians to engage meaningfully in economic decision-making.
He explained that by ensuring the inclusion of young people in policy discussions would help shape strategies that aligned with their realities and aspirations.
The Youth Action Event, the governor noted, was more than just a forum for discussion, but a call to action on its resolutions.
He urged participants to take concrete steps towards turning ideas into tangible outcomes, stressing the importance of setting measurable targets and timelines for youth-focused initiatives.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, restated government’s commitment to youth welfare in the country and commended the CBN for considering youth-friendly policies to give the young ones the opportunity to contribute their quota to national development.
The Vice President of the Joint Consultative Council of the CBN, Jamilu Ado, who spoke on the significance of the event, described the Youth Action Event as a crucial step in advancing the goals outlined in the Pact for the Future.
He said the summit provided an opportunity to share valuable insights, inspire greater participation, and mobilise Nigerians towards achieving these ambitious targets.
He reiterated the CBN’s commitment to providing staff with platforms to showcase their skills, ideas, and leadership on the global stage, noting that this effort was essential to inspiring Nigerian youth towards meaningful global action.
Ado highlighted the importance of collaboration in achieving sustainable development, pointing out tthat unlocking the wealth of talent within the CBN and engaging with civil society organisations, dedicated individuals, and key stakeholders would drive meaningful change in the society.
He described the CBN’s participation in the United Nations General Assembly’s Pact for the Future summit as a historic milestone, emphasising that it showed the bank’s dedication to fostering an empowered and dynamic workforce.
He noted that as the bank navigated changes in leadership and strategic direction, empowering staff to engage with global platforms was not just beneficial, but also essential to shaping economic transformation in Nigeria.