By Abdullahi Yusuf
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, convened a Town Hall Meeting in Kano as part of its nationwide initiative to engage key stakeholders on pressing economic and financial issues.
The event brought together leaders from the banking sector, financial institutions, academia, businesses, and the general public to discuss Nigeria’s economic policies and ongoing banking reforms.
The meeting aimed to foster dialogue on non-oil export promotion, infrastructure development, and enhanced financial inclusion—particularly in underserved regions.
Speaking at the meeting, members of the Bankers’ Committee reaffirmed their commitment to supporting economic development programmes that prioritized industrial growth, SME funding, and increased banking access across the country.
The meeting gave special attention to regional challenges such as foreign exchange repatriation and agricultural financing.
Panel discussions featured thought leaders and banking executives addressing strategies to stimulate non-oil export growth and revitalize the economy.
The meeting also placed emphasis on boosting SMEs in cities like Kano as a pathway to regional economic resilience.
One of the key highlights of the session was a paper presented by Prof. Aliyu Dahiru, who stressed the need to diversify Nigeria’s economy by investing more in the non-oil sector.
Aliyu identified barriers such as limited access to credit and inadequate raw material supply as major hindrances to growth, calling for targeted interventions to unlock the sector’s full potential.
The town hall meeting underscored the Bankers’ Committee’s ongoing efforts to drive inclusive growth and ensure that economic policies are shaped by the voices of all stakeholders.