‘Kaduna is driving financial inclusion to grassroots’ — Shettima at KEFIS 2025 launch

Kaduna State has reaffirmed its ambition to lead Nigeria’s financial inclusion agenda, as Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday declared open the maiden Kaduna Economic and Financial Inclusion Summit (KEFIS 2025). The event, held at Yar’Adua Hall in Kaduna, signaled a major step toward expanding access to financial services for underserved populations.

Represented by Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, the Vice President described Kaduna as the most fitting state to champion financial inclusion, citing its early adoption of key policies, including the issuance of the nation’s first Executive Order on financial inclusion.

Governor Uba Sani, addressing participants, painted a stark picture of financial exclusion in the state, revealing that around 3.5 million residents—mostly in rural areas—were previously unbanked. He said the administration had taken bold steps to reverse this trend, with over 2.5 million new bank accounts opened and 7 million National Identification Numbers (NINs) registered in less than two years.

He credited his experience as a former Chair of the Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions for shaping his policy direction. During his time in the National Assembly, he sponsored the Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, which modernized the financial sector and brought fintech companies under regulatory oversight.

Kaduna’s financial inclusion efforts have yielded concrete results. Through agencies like KADEDA, KADSIPA, and the Cash Transfer Office, over N18 billion has been disbursed to more than a million beneficiaries—including farmers and small businesses—via direct transfers and targeted support. In addition, over 23,000 residents have received grants totaling N1.168 billion under the Federal Government’s Conditional Grant Scheme.

The state is also addressing identity gaps that limit access to financial services. According to Governor Sani, nearly 10,000 residency cards have been issued by the Kaduna Residents Identity Management Agency (KADRIMA), providing residents with official documentation that enhances access to public and private sector services.

In recognition of Kaduna’s progress, the Federal Government has chosen it as a pilot state for a new national financial inclusion program. To support this initiative, the state has allocated 5,000 hectares of land for an in-grower farming scheme designed to empower smallholder farmers and stimulate local economies.

Governor Sani stressed that bridging the financial divide is essential to reducing poverty, tackling insecurity, and promoting inclusive growth. He said Kaduna’s model integrates identity management, digital infrastructure, and financial literacy to ensure that no citizen is left behind.