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As part of ongoing efforts to bolster the integrity, resilience, and inclusiveness of Nigeria’s financial ecosystem, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) hosted its flagship stakeholder engagement event, the “CBN Listens Programme,” in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday.
The event, themed “Towards a Robust, Resilient and Inclusive Financial System for Sustainable Economic Growth,” convened a wide cross-section of leaders, including representatives of the Oyo State Government, traditional rulers, financial institutions, market associations, civil society organisations, academia, and the media.
Speaking at the session, the Director of the Stakeholder Engagement and Institutional Relations Department, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, reaffirmed the apex bank’s commitment to transparent dialogue, policy clarity, and collaborative governance under the leadership of CBN Governor Mr. Olayemi Cardoso.
Mrs. Sidi Ali noted that continuous public dialogue is essential to achieving macroeconomic stability, restoring market confidence, and driving inclusive economic growth.
She outlined several key policy milestones, including the unification of foreign exchange rates, the rollout of the Bloomberg BMatch trading system, and the successful completion of the banking sector recapitalisation exercise—all aimed at enhancing transparency, capital adequacy, and overall sector competitiveness.
Further highlighting recent monetary and market management innovations, she cited the implementation of a 75 per cent Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on non-TSA public sector deposits to curb inflation, as well as the creation of the Nigerian Overnight Financing Rate (NOFR) in partnership with the Financial Markets Dealers Association.
She added that initiatives like the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) and the Nigeria Payments System Vision 2028 are expanding access to financial services for Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora.
Emphasising the vital role of public feedback in refining monetary policies, Mrs. Sidi Ali urged participants to engage openly with the apex bank.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria values your diverse perspectives, experiences, concerns, and recommendations. Your contributions today will help shape future engagements and strengthen the effectiveness of our policy interventions,” she stated.
Reassuring stakeholders, Mrs. Sidi Ali noted that financial inclusion remains a core pillar of national development.
She assured that the CBN would continue to partner with fintechs, banks, mobile money operators, and state governments to bring financial services to underserved communities across Nigeria, ensuring sustainable economic growth benefits every segment of society.
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