The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and the Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) have called on banks to deepen financial inclusion, promote women empowerment and support sustainable growth through strategic frameworks aimed at closing the financial access gap and empowering more micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The call was made during a courtesy visit by ACAMB to the newly inaugurated 24th President and Chairman of the Council of CIBN, Dr Dele Alabi, to congratulate him on his investiture and to strengthen collaboration between the two organisations. The visit followed Dr Alabi’s investiture, during which he unveiled his “IMPACT” vision themed, “Consolidating Our Local Impact, Enhancing Our Global Relevance.”
The vision is built on six pillars: inclusion across geographic, gender and generational lines; membership growth and quality; professionalism and ethics; accountability; competencies and skills development; and technology, automation and innovation.
Speaking during the visit, Alabi said financial inclusion and women empowerment would be key priorities of his administration, noting that women are often the primary financial managers and caregivers in families. He said greater access to savings, micro-credit and insurance would improve living conditions and provide a safety net during periods of economic hardship.
Alabi added that the institute would collaborate with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and ACAMB on knowledge-sharing initiatives and public awareness programmes to promote financial literacy. According to him, CIBN intends to support banks and financial institutions in advancing gender-focused financial inclusion to help close the nine per cent gender gap in access to formal financial services.
ACAMB President Jide Sipe, who led the delegation, said that expanding access to financial services would help economies grow faster, reduce inequality, and encourage broader civic participation. He said the visit was aimed at congratulating the new CIBN president while also laying the foundation for stronger collaboration between both organisations.
Sipe also announced ACAMB’s 30th anniversary, describing it as a milestone marking three decades of industry collaboration, professional development and contributions to Nigeria’s banking and financial services sector.
He formally invited the CIBN president to chair the association’s Gala Night scheduled for September 30, 2026, and sought the institute’s support through attendance and the participation of bank managing directors.
The ACAMB president reaffirmed the association’s commitment to supporting CIBN activities, including this year’s Banking Conference, through media, communications, digital marketing and publicity. He said that ACAMB plans to engage the Chairman of the Committee of Banks and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on key policies affecting the financial sector and initiatives aimed at positioning the industry for future growth.
Sipe stressed that collaboration among banks in marketing and advertising would strengthen the industry and promote economies of scale, urging stakeholders to work together rather than operate individually. He thanked the CIBN leadership for the warm reception and reaffirmed ACAMB’s commitment to sustaining a productive and mutually beneficial partnership with the institute.