Osun AMMBAN Chairman calls for collaborations among industry, political stakeholders to achieve digital economic prosperity

Osun State Chapter of the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN) held its 2024 Annual Symposium at the popular Aurora Conference Centre in the heart of Osogbo on Thursday, 2nd May, 2024 where over 300 registered agent delegates were trained in the proper handling of Agency Banking, Digital Economy and Financial Inclusion Services.

In his welcome address at the Symposium which was held physically and virtually, the AMMBAN State Chairman, Mr Badru Asimiyu Olawale called for more collaborations and partnerships among the industry stakeholders to achieve better results in the drive for financial inclusion and digital economic prosperity as a way of attaining financial inclusion sustainable development goals. He called on political officeholders to partner with AMMBAN to empower youths on job opportunities within the Agency Banking, Digital Economy and Financial Inclusion ecosystem.

While declaring the symposium open, the Chairman of the occasion who is also the Branch Controller of the CBN Osun State, Mr Anthony Okoro (ACA) eulogized AMMBAN for its efforts in educating agents to be regulatory compliant in their business conducts and to be patriotic in providing financial inclusion services to the people.

The representative of the Governor, Honourable Commissioner for Cooperatives and Empowerment, Hon. Bayo Ogungbangbe in his remark underscored the impactful roles POS Operators play in aiding financial inclusion and easing trade activities in the economy. He recalled his experience as a former manager of agent clusters and how AMMBAN leadership in Osun State has impacted agency business through training on POS account reconciliations.

Leading keynote presentation on the topic “Utilizing Fintech and Digital Economy Prospects to Drive Financial Inclusion, Empowerment and Wealth Creation Through Partnerships” was Mr. Fasasi Sarafadeen, National President of AMMBAN who gave an avid analysis of the gains and prospects of Fintech, digital economy and financial inclusion in Nigeria.

Joining in discussions were Mrs Adebayo Oluyemisi of the Development Finance Office of the Central Bank of Nigeria who was unavoidably represented by Mr Owolabi Abayomi; Mr. Hugo Pacheco, a Fintech Entrepreneur of the Papersoft, from Lisbon in Portugal and Mr. Micheal Ogbaa, Former Head of Agency Banking at the Access Bank Headquarters, Lagos.

The discussants took turns to train agents on the prospects of agency banking and digital economy in the Fintech future through partnerships.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Police Command, SP Yemisi Opalola also took turn to train the agent delegates on the Agency Banking and Security where she advised agents to be thorough in their approach to popular Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements to avoid litigations and embarrassments in cases that they are not supposed to be liable if KYC documentation has been done.

Hon. Omolade Tajudeen, Legislative Aide to Hon. Morufu Adebayo Adewale Gangaria, Member House of Representatives, spoke on behalf of the MHR who was one of the major sponsors of the training sessions, thanked AMMBAN for its initiative and sued for more collaborations in going forward on various empowerment Programs.

Awards of Recognition were presented to deserving individuals including the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke as the Best Business Friendly Governor in Nigeria.

Other Awardees included Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. (Rev.) Bunmi Jenyo as an Impeccable Manager and Promoter of Commerce and Industry in Osun State, a member of the House of Representatives Abuja, Honourable (Dr.) Morufu Adebayo Adewale Gangaria as a Distinguished Promoter of Entrepreneurship in Osun State, the Branch Controller of the CBN, Osun State, Mr Anthony Okoro as a Highly Industrious and Resourcesful Technocrat, Head of the Development Finance Office of the CBN, Osun State Mrs Adebayo Oluyemisi as a Patriotic Public Servant and Former AMMBAN Chairman, Osun State, Mr Alli Akeem Segun (Moladox) as an Exemplary Foundation Leader and Ambassador of AMMBAN Osun State Chapter.

Other features of the Symposium included a Special Training Session on BVN/NIN Enrolment and AMMBAN Neighborhood Financial Inclusion Centres (NFICs) Project which was formally flagged off by the representative of the Governor and supported by other VIPs.

Exhibition of Products and Services by AMMBAN partners which included Agency Banks, Mobile Money Operators, Financial Consulting Firms, NIBSS accredited BVN/NIN Onboarding Partners, among others afforded participants the opportunities to network and grow their financial inclusion businesses profitably.

Signed

Com. Gbadebo Lukman Akanji
State Secretary

Com. Badru Asimiyu Olawale
State Chairman