Igbinedion University, Okada, took a significant step in promoting financial literacy and economic development with its annual lecture series, held on Thursday, 13th March 2025. The event, hosted by the Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi College of Business and Management Studies, attracted an audience eager to learn about the vital role of financial inclusion in Nigeria’s economic landscape.
The highlight of the event was a thought-provoking lecture given by Dr. Moses Kpughur Tule, the Chairman/Non-executive Director of Novus Microfinance Bank Limited. Titled “Impact of Financial Inclusion on Nigeria’s Economic Development,” Dr. Tule’s address captivated the audience as he emphasized the crucial need for financial inclusion to drive economic growth. He underscored the importance of entrepreneurship, portraying it as a transformative force capable of reshaping Nigeria’s economy. Dr. Tule also expressed concern over the persistent challenges posed by inflation, advocating for affordable financial products and services to empower citizens.
Drawing on his extensive experience at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Tule shed light on national financial inclusion strategies while also highlighting the barriers often created by traditional banks that hinder access to necessary financial services.
In his opening remarks, Vice Chancellor Professor Lawrence Ezemonye, Ph.D., FAS, commended Dr. Tule’s expertise and emphasized how his selection as guest speaker reflects Igbinedion University’s commitment to fostering industry-academia collaboration. Highlighting the university’s proactive approach, Professor Ezemonye took the opportunity to inform attendees about a pivotal initiative recently led by Igbinedion University in collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom. This project, known as the ‘Electronic Moni Mata (EMMA) campaign: Empowering Women in Nigeria through Financial and Digital Literacy,’ aims to enhance access to digital financial payment services for women and minority groups in Nigeria’s Niger-Delta region, supported by a research grant from Liverpool John Moores University.
In addition to this impactful project, Igbinedion University has been selected as one of the few Nigerian universities to collaborate with the Jiangxi Vocational College of Foreign Studies, in partnership with the Chinese Government. This collaboration offers remarkable opportunities for IUO students and staff, focusing on academic and cultural exchange programs.
The collaboration will kick off with a two-week short course, inviting 18 IUO students and 2 staff members to participate, with tuition and accommodation fully covered. This selection comes as a result of IUO’s quality application among many Nigerian universities.
The lecture series concluded with an engaging question-and-answer session, allowing participants to interact directly with Dr. Tule and delve deeper into the complexities surrounding financial inclusion in Nigeria.
Overall, this annual lecture series not only reinforced Igbinedion University’s role as a leader in education and community engagement but also highlighted the institution’s ongoing commitment to innovation and collaboration that directly benefits its students and the wider Nigerian society. The university eagerly anticipates the successful implementation of its various initiatives and the positive impacts they will foster in the community.
