LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT REFUNDS 145 FORMER SUBSCRIBERS OF EGAN HOUSING ESTATE
admin By Oyebola Owolabi
The Lagos State government has partnered two financial institutions – OPAY and Cowry Wise -towards making loans available to indigent women traders in the state, Special Adviser to the governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih-Awokoya, said this yesterday.
This, she said, will help them boost their business capital and they can be financially literate to key into the state’s financial inclusion system.
The special adviser, at a news conference, said it is part of her office’ mandate to promote human capital by eliminating financial exclusion.
To benefit in the programme, the women trader must have National Identification Number NIN and Lagos State Resident Registration Agency (LASRRA).
She said: “Collaboration is evidently the major approach to private partnership, and this is why the SDG approached these relevant institutions. Nevertheless, we extend an invitation to all institutions to join us in this meritorious human capital development generally.
“Human capital development matters reflect the strength and growth of the society because it is meant to ensure the growth of the society. It is going to be two sums, which are a success factor for the sustainable development growth. We can accomplish an equitable Lagos where every human thrives irrespective of their circumstances.”
Representative of OPAY financial institution Adedotun Adekunle said the programme is meant to get many people into the financial ecosystem.
“It is the nexus of what we do as a corporate financial organisation, to get as many men and women into the financial ecosystem, to get them educated and empower them to do business and so they can earn a living,” he said.
Representative of Cowry Wise, Oyeyinka Oyekan, said the firm’s core objective since establishment in 2017 is to make savings and investment accessible to Africans, regardless of their social economic background.
He said: “We are eager to partner with the office of SDG to inculcate financial integrity into indigent saturated areas of Lagos State, through the human capital development initiative. We believe that financial integrity is not a privilege but a fundamental human right.
“Furthermore, financial literacy is the sustainable part of the SDG growth, which is even more significant with this partnership. This partnership will enable us to extend financial institutions to those who need it most, because of their financial future and, by extension, contribute to our great state Lagos.”
Oyekan noted that by fostering financial literacy will remove barriers against economic participation and enable long term participation for individuals and their families, particularly underserved communities.
