.Shettima: initiative poised to position Nigeria as global model

The Presidency has opened registration for a nationwide programme aimed at training 10 million Nigerians in financial literacy and inclusion, marking a major push to deepen economic participation across the country.

The initiative, a flagship of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reform agenda, will deliver free training in financial skills, digital literacy, entrepreneurship and other critical competencies needed for wealth creation and improved livelihoods.

Registration for the programme is being coordinated by WAWUAfrica, with participants expected to onboard through its dedicated portal.

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, formally flagged off the registration during a virtual engagement with the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI), six professional bodies and key development partners, including the World Bank, African Union (AU), ECOWAS and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr. Tope Fasua, Shettima described the initiative as a transformative intervention that could elevate Nigeria into a global reference point for financial inclusion.

He said the programme is designed not only to empower millions of Nigerians but also to demonstrate how large-scale human capital development can drive inclusive growth.

“This upskilling initiative will stand out as one of the defining programmes of this administration, with the potential to evolve into a global model from Nigeria,” he said.

According to him, the training will span multiple sectors, including digital and IT literacy, financial and economic literacy, healthcare and wellness, creative industries, entrepreneurship, vocational trades, engineering, as well as hospitality and tourism.

Shettima commended the collaboration between government and development partners, noting that sustained partnerships would be critical to expanding the programme’s reach and impact.

“We expect this initiative to continue scaling through stronger collaboration until it achieves maximum impact,” he added.

Also speaking, the Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion in the Office of the Vice President, Dr. Nurudeen Zauro, emphasised that the programme is entirely free and warned against any attempt to exploit prospective participants.

He said efforts were ongoing to ensure Nigerians are properly guided through the registration process and protected from fraud.

“This training is free of charge. No one should be asked to pay any fee. We are also ensuring that citizens are properly guided on how to register and participate successfully,” he said.

Development partners and participating professional bodies, in separate goodwill messages, pledged to ensure that the training delivers practical, high-value skills while maintaining transparency, credibility and accountability in the registration process.

The programme builds on a February 2026 Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Office of the Vice President, through PreCEFI, with six professional bodies to develop structured training, certification pathways, mentorship platforms and digital skills programmes.

The partner institutions include the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), National Institute of Credit Administration (NICA), Chartered Risk Management Institute (CRMI), and the Nigeria Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NIIE).

The initiative is expected to prioritise women and youths, equipping them with financial knowledge, investment skills and digital capabilities to drive sustainable wealth creation and broader economic inclusion.