March 07, (THEWILL) – The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South East), Barr. Chioma Nweze, has outlined key initiatives by the Bola Tinubu administration aimed at empowering youths and women to drive Nigeria’s economy towards the $1 trillion mark by 2030.
Speaking on Friday at the Grassroots Leadership and Sustainable Development Summit held at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC), Nweze reaffirmed the government’s commitment to unlocking the economic potential of individuals and communities, particularly in the South-East, through targeted empowerment programmes.
Nweze emphasised that financial inclusion remains a top priority for the Tinubu-led administration, noting that the Aso Accord on Economic and Financial Inclusion is a critical initiative designed to expand access to financial services nationwide.
She explained that the Accord is a multi-faceted blueprint aimed at bridging financial gaps that have left millions of Nigerians—especially women, youths, rural communities, and small businesses—without access to essential financial services.
She noted that one of its key elements is the establishment of a High-Level Presidential Council to drive financial inclusion reforms. Another component involves deploying innovative solutions that leverage government-to-person (G2P) programmes to invest directly in underserved communities.
Nweze added that financial literacy is also a major focus, with plans to integrate it into the national curriculum. She stressed that strengthening digital infrastructure to bridge the digital divide and enhance ICT access is equally vital.
“As we move forward, it is crucial to recognize that financial inclusion plays a significant role in economic empowerment and sustainable development. By ensuring access to financial services, we can unlock the potential of individuals, communities, and entire regions,” she added.
The presidential aide highlighted the Skill-Up South East initiative, a four-month training programme aimed at equipping 97 individuals with skills in tailoring and fashion design. She said the programme is part of a broader effort to ensure economic stability in the region by providing practical skills that create job opportunities.
“We recognize the immense potential within our region, and we are committed to harnessing it through strategic empowerment initiatives. The *Skill-Up South East* project is one of many steps towards ensuring economic stability for our people,” she said.
She further urged stakeholders to invest in digital payment systems, mobile money services, and agent banking to expand financial access. Stressing the importance of financial literacy, she said integrating financial education into school curricula and providing training programmes for adults would enhance financial management skills.
“As students, you have a critical role to play in financial inclusion and economic growth. Acquiring financial knowledge, exploring innovative solutions like fintech and mobile banking, and supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) will be vital in shaping Nigeria’s economic future,” she told the audience.
In his remarks, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of UNEC, Prof. Oguejiofo Ujam, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dan Nwachukwu, lauded the *Renewed Hope Agenda* of President Tinubu, particularly the administration’s focus on student-centered initiatives.
He commended the Student Union Government for its efforts in executing a solar panel installation project at Manual Hotel, aimed at improving electricity supply within the university environment.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Burundi, Ambassador Elijah Onyeagba, among others.
THEWILL reports that the summit served as a platform to discuss strategies for grassroots leadership, economic development, and financial empowerment in the South-East and beyond.
Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
