The Kaduna State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth through financial inclusion, as it hosted the maiden Kaduna Economic and Financial Inclusion Summit.
The summit brought together policymakers, financial institutions, development partners, and stakeholders to advance efforts toward universal financial access.
In his keynote address, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, emphasized that financial inclusion is essential for sustainable development, social mobility, and poverty reduction.
“Financial inclusion is not just a policy objective—it is a necessity. Our administration is determined to make Kaduna a benchmark for financial inclusion in Africa,” he said.
Governor Sani acknowledged ongoing barriers to inclusion, such as geographic exclusion, gender disparities, and financial illiteracy, but reaffirmed the state’s commitment to tackling these issues.
“With over 2.5 million residents empowered through various initiatives, our goal is to ensure every adult has a bank account, every entrepreneur can access credit, and every household is insured,” he stated.
He highlighted several achievements under his administration, including the opening of more than 2.5 million bank accounts and the completion of 7 million National Identification Number (NIN) registrations to enhance financial identity.
Additionally, over N18 billion in targeted financial support has been disbursed to one million beneficiaries through agencies like KADSIPA, KADEDA, the Cash Transfer Office, and the Planning and Budget Commission (PBC).
Kaduna residents also benefited from the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme, with N1.168 billion disbursed to 23,382 individuals. Meanwhile, the Kaduna Residents Identity Management Agency (KADRIMA) has produced nearly 10,000 residency cards to support financial onboarding.
“These initiatives are reducing poverty, promoting social equity, and addressing insecurity by targeting economic disenfranchisement and unemployment,” the Governor said.
He announced Kaduna’s selection as a pilot state for the Federal Government’s national financial inclusion program, and committed 5,000 hectares of land to an in-grower farming scheme.
Also speaking at the summit, Vice President Kashim Shettima—represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia—praised Kaduna’s leadership on financial inclusion.
“Kaduna State has placed financial inclusion at the forefront of its development agenda, beginning this administration with the issuance of the first Executive Order on financial inclusion,” he noted.
In his welcome address, Hon. Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance and Chairman of the Financial Inclusion and Literacy Committee, described financial inclusion as the foundation for equitable economic development.
“Without financial access, economic growth is uneven, social mobility stagnates, and prosperity becomes a privilege for the few,” he said.
This year’s summit theme, “Expanding Financial Access for Sustainable Development,” reflects the state’s strategic mission to bridge economic gaps.
“When a woman entrepreneur saves securely or a young innovator receives digital payments to scale a startup, that is sustainable development in action,” Hon. Muhammad added.
The summit underscored Kaduna’s ambition not only to meet national and global benchmarks, but to exceed them—unlocking new economic opportunities and ensuring that all citizens, regardless of background, have a fair chance to thrive.
