Collaboration

By Perpetua Onuegbu, News Agency of Nigeria, Abuja.

An expert in the banking industry, Mr Daniel Oniko, says collaboration and a shared vision are essential to building a stronger and more inclusive financial system in Nigeria.

Oniko, the Chief Executive Officer of APICES Finance Company Ltd., said this during the grand opening ceremony of the company on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the financial sector had continued to evolve over time, presenting both opportunities and challenges.

“However, with strong governance, sound risk management practices and customer-focused services, we remain confident in the industry’s ability to deliver value to citizens, clients and stakeholders.

“Our vision is to build a reliable institution that contributes meaningfully to economic growth, empowers businesses and improves the financial well-being of individuals, SMEs and corporate entities in our communities and across the country.

“We believe that through collaboration and shared vision, we can build a stronger and more inclusive financial system,” he said.

According to him, the company was established to channel its knowledge and expertise toward contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth.

He added that the company was established to provide financial solutions for people across different economic levels, particularly those at the lower end of the market.

Oniko also said the company planned to empower young professionals and entrepreneurs by combining experienced financial experts with young employees who would be groomed as future leaders in the financial sector.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company, Mrs Ivie Ukohdiko, said the firm’s slogan, “Partnership for Prosperity,” reflected its commitment to creating shared wealth and economic opportunities for customers and partners.

“Our vision is to create prosperity for everyone — our customers, partners, stakeholders, and even the government of the nation,” she said.

Ukohdiko said the company had already begun integrating technology into its operations to improve service delivery in line with the ongoing digital transformation in Nigeria’s financial sector.

“With technology today, you can reach places your legs cannot reach on time. Our processes and applications are already digitalised to serve our customers better,” she said.

She also highlighted the opportunities the company planned to create for Nigerian youths, particularly those with skills and entrepreneurial potential but limited access to funding.

Ukohdiko, represented by Chief Moses Chukwu, a director in the firm with more than 34 years of banking experience, said many young Nigerians possess talents that could generate income if supported with the right financial backing.

“We have many youths with skills that can convert their talents into money, but because they lack opportunities and access to finance, their dreams remain unrealised.

“We intend to partner with such youths to turn their ideas into reality,” she said.

Also speaking, Ferguson Uzoma, the Chief Executive Office of the Project Management Consulting firm, said the establishment of the company was timely in view of the ongoing efforts to deepen financial inclusion in the country.

Uzoma said the development showed that Nigeria’s financial industry still had significant potential and opportunities for growth.

“The country is in a position where there are opportunities for people to come and deepen the financial industry.”

NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA