The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a free nationwide training programme to equip 10 million citizens with core financial literacy and inclusion skills. The programme was officially flagged off by the government this week and is intended to strengthen financial competence across the population.
The initiative is being delivered through the Office of the Vice President under the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI). The Vice President chairs the committee and is leading the rollout of the training modules.
The programme prioritises women and young people. It aims to supply essential financial skills, digital competencies, investment knowledge and practical understanding of financial systems. The objective is to support sustainable wealth creation and improve economic participation in Nigeria’s expanding digital economy.
As part of the launch, the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with six professional bodies. The agreement sets out a framework for collaboration on curriculum design, certification pathways, mentorship platforms and digital skills initiatives.
The professional bodies involved are the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), the National Institute of Credit Administration (NICA), the Chartered Risk Management Institute (CRMI) and the Nigeria Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NIIE).
Vice President Kashim Shettima highlighted the strategic significance of the MoU. He said it goes beyond a formal agreement and constitutes “a strategic national investment in capacity as infrastructure.” The Vice President emphasised that this capacity encompasses human, institutional and ethical foundations necessary for inclusive growth.
Shettima explained that financial inclusion cannot be achieved by access alone. It requires competence, trust and capability. The MoU, he said, is designed to harness the collective expertise of the professional bodies to advance inclusion through capacity building, advocacy, digital transformation, youth empowerment and support for small and medium practitioners.
The training initiative targets a broad cross-section of Nigerians. Although exact implementation details are still emerging, the programme is expected to combine in-person sessions, digital training platforms and community outreach to reach participants nationwide.
ICAN’s President, Mallam Haruna Nma Yahaya, commended the government’s economic reforms. He pledged his institute’s professional support and engagement in the programme. The collaboration with professional bodies is intended to ensure the training meets recognised standards and delivers measurable outcomes.
The technical partner for the initiative, WAWU Africa, committed to providing a digital platform and enabling environment to support the delivery of the training. Its role is to assist in scaling the programme and ensuring broad access to digital learning tools.
Dr Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, explained why the initiative matters. He noted that financial inclusion is not simply about access to financial services infrastructure. It also depends on equipping individuals and institutions with the skills to use financial tools responsibly and sustainably.
The programme launch comes against a backdrop of persistent challenges in Nigeria’s workforce development. Recent labour data indicate a substantial portion of young Nigerians are neither in school nor employed or in training. Many lack advanced learning or specialised skills that boost employability in a competitive job market.
Additionally, millions of young Nigerians lack basic digital skills. This gap limits their access to opportunities in the growing digital economy. The new training programme aims to begin addressing this deficit by equipping participants with digital competencies alongside foundational financial knowledge.
For the government, the launch represents a significant investment in human capital. It aligns with other ongoing initiatives aimed at expanding education, reducing unemployment, and deepening financial inclusion. The success of the programme will be measured by its reach and impact on participants’ ability to navigate financial systems, build wealth and participate effectively in the modern economy
