By Bassey Udo
For Africa’s economy to grow, industrialise, create jobs, expand opportunities, lift millions out of poverty, decarbonise and build climate resilience, banks and development finance institutions (DFIs) have important roles to play, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, has said.
Mr. Cardoso stated this in his keynote speech at the Egypt 30by30 Programme organised by the Central Bank of Egypt and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Cairo.
He said the collaborative ambition behind the 30by30 initiative embodies a shared continental vision that Africa’s future must be resilient, climate-aware, and economically sustainable.
Through closer collaboration with the Central Bank of Egypt and partners across the World Bank Group, Cardoso said the CBN remained dedicated to building a resilient, risk-aware financial framework, advancing green finance, strengthening cross-border cooperation, and positioning Africa not just to withstand shocks, but to thrive in a changing global economy.
The CBN Governor who also emphasised that resilience begins with credibility, pointed out that in Nigeria, disciplined and transparent reforms were strengthening macroeconomic fundamentals and boosting confidence in the financial system, laying the groundwork for sustainable growth.
“To build resilient financial systems, we must anchor our economies on trustworthy institutions, credible policies, transparent markets, and risk-aware innovation,” he added.
In addition, Cardoso noted that climate risk was financial risk that affects sovereign ratings, cost of capital, inflation dynamics, food security, insurance markets, and fiscal sustainability.
Arguing that despite that Africa contributes the least to climate change, the continent bears some of its highest costs.
He, however, noted that Africa also offers some of the world’s greatest opportunities in renewable energy capacity, biodiversity, a young population, and rapidly evolving financial markets.
“To seize these opportunities, we must innovate for resilience, not as isolated nations, but as a continent. By working together deliberately, transparently, and with unwavering commitment, we can build the resilient, sustainable, and inclusive financial systems that Africa needs not only to withstand future shocks but also to thrive in the decades ahead,” Cardoso said.
The engagement underscored a defining imperative for the continent: Africa’s financial future depends on a dual commitment to stability and sustainability.
