Chairman/founder of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, has called on the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to create enabling environment through the institution of various initiatives that support financial inclusion for the empowerment of Nigerian youths.
Mr Ovia made the call in his welcome remarks at a reception at the Civic Centre organised by the private sector in honour of the CBN Governor.
The reception followed a family thanksgiving service held on July 14 at the Catholic Church of Assumption, Falomo, Lagos.
According to Ovia, though the CBN and the Federal Government have been working tirelessly to implement various strategic development programmes, what has been done so far, is not enough.
In his opinion, there is a need to empower youths to become creators and employers of labor, as opposed to them only being job seekers.
He urged the CBN helmsman to fully encourage financial inclusion and initiate more programmes that will create employment for the Nigerian youths, empowering them to be innovative and creative in utilising their God-given talents in various industries including but not limited to agriculture, fintech, technology and the creative industries.
Ovia added that the implementation of these initiatives, which are in line with the World Bank and United Nations-backed programmes all over the world, will significantly reduce poverty and unemployment in our country.
He also thanked the CBN Governor for the recent financing and funding initiatives which banks are mandated to fully support to empower the Nigerian youths.
Emefiele was in June reappointed by President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term of five years, becoming the first CBN chief to be reappointed for a second term since the country returned to civilian rule in 1999.
