Sanwo-Olu, CIBN urge youths to embrace innovation, skills, integrity

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By Cynthia Alo & Kafayat Kokumo

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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Dele Alabi, and other financial sector leaders have urged Nigerian youths to embrace technology, practical skills, discipline and integrity to become active contributors to economic development.

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They spoke at the fourth edition of the CIBN Generation Next Forum in Lagos, themed: “Building Tomorrow Today: Youth as Catalysts of a Digital, Inclusive, and Sustainable Economy.”

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Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi, commended CIBN for placing young people at the centre of discussions on the country’s economic future.

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He said young innovators, fintech entrepreneurs and remote workers were already shaping the nation’s economy, but warned that technology without integrity and discipline could undermine the financial system.

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“The financial sector in particular cannot afford to compromise on integrity. Banking is built on trust. As technology changes the way financial services are delivered, that trust becomes even more important,” he said.

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The governor disclosed that the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) had disbursed more than N15 billion in affordable loans to over 20,000 micro, small and medium enterprises, supporting the creation of more than 320,000 jobs.

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He added that Lagos Innovate had issued over 750 workspace vouchers, supported 240 startups and trained nearly 1,000 young people in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and software development.

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