Business
Nigeria, Focused On Vision 20:2020 Attainment – Envoy
Nigeria is focused to become one of the world’s top 20 economies by the year 2020, Nigerian Ambassador to China, Aminu Wali, said in Beijing on Thursday.
Wali said at a reception organised for friends of Nigeria and Nigerians resident in China to mark Nigeria’s golden jubilee that the Federal Government had mapped out strategies for the achievement of the vision.
“I believe we will be there,” a correspondent quotes him as saying.
The ambassador said it was a matter of pride for Nigeria to celebrate its golden jubilee and appealed to Nigerians resident in China to be good ambassadors of their fatherland.
“Every Nigerian in China is an ambassador because he or she is duty bound to promote the interests of the country as well as keep the good name of Nigeria.
“We ought to be proud to be Nigerians. A lot of things are happening in China which we need to address and see how best to give our country a good reputation,” he said.
Wali also urged Nigerians in China to cooperate with the staff of the Nigerian Embassy in order to promote the good image of their country.
“You have to support us in order to move our country forward and promote the good image of the country.
“I want us to learn from China. We know where the country was 25 years ago; we were in the same category but today they are ahead of us.
“We have a lot to learn and emulate from them (Chinese). They have been able to achieve progress in making life better for their people; we hope to aspire and be like China,” he said.
Wali later explained to newsmen the reason for the delay in marking the national day.
“It was not possible for us to celebrate on October 1 because we share the same birthday with the host country.
“If we want to get the attention of the Chinese Government, we have to organise our celebration after the Chinese must have resumed from their holidays,” he said.
The highlights of the celebration included cultural display, songs and music with the theme, “Music of our fatherland”, rendered by the Lagos-based Muson Cultural Group.
Meanwhile, some Nigerians in China told Tide source that they would wish their country to be like the U.S. and help other African countries to come out of poverty.
Maryam Mohammad, a 300 level student of Shenyan Aerospace University, said she was happy to witness the celebration of Nigeria at 50.
“I’m proud of my country. I want Nigeria to be number one country in the world and by the time we are celebrating our centenary anniversary, I want Nigeria to be greater than America.”
Pastor Andy Obiora, a businessman based in Beijing, said Nigeria had the potential to be greater than China or any developed country.
He stressed the need for the Federal Government to develop the country’s abundant resources in order to have success stories to tell when the nation celebrates its 100 years of existence.
The three-day activities to mark the golden jubilee began with a novelty match on October 12 and ended with a gala night for members of the diplomatic corps.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said 33 banks have met new minimum capital requirements under its recapitalisation programme, raising a combined N4.65 trillion to strengthen the financial system.
The apex bank disclosed this in a statement marking the end of the exercise, which commenced in March 2024 and drew participation from domestic and foreign investors.
The statement was jointly signed by the Director of Banking Supervision, Olubukola Akinwunmi, and the Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali.
The statement said “Over the 24-month period, Nigerian banks raised a total of N4.65tn in new capital, strengthening the resilience of the financial system and enhancing its capacity to support the economy.”
The regulator said local investors accounted for 72.55 per cent of the funds, while international investors contributed 27.45 per cent, reflecting continued confidence in the sector.
Commenting on the outcome, the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said in the statement, “The recapitalisation programme has strengthened the capital base of Nigerian banks, reinforcing the resilience of the financial system and ensuring it is well-positioned to support economic growth and withstand domestic and external shocks.”
It added that while 33 banks have complied with the new thresholds, a few others are still undergoing regulatory and legal processes.
The statement noted, “The CBN confirms that 33 banks have met the revised minimum capital requirements established under the programme.
“A limited number of institutions remain subject to ongoing regulatory and judicial processes, which are being addressed through established supervisory and legal frameworks.
“All banks remain fully operational, ensuring continued access to banking services for customers.”
The apex bank stressed that the exercise was executed without disrupting banking operations, ensuring uninterrupted access to services nationwide.
It further stated that key prudential indicators have improved, particularly capital adequacy ratios, which remain above global Basel benchmarks.
The minimum ratios were set at 10 per cent for regional and national banks and 15 per cent for banks with international licences.
The bank also said the recapitalisation coincided with a gradual exit from regulatory forbearance, a move it said improved asset quality, strengthened balance sheet transparency, and enhanced overall stability.
To preserve these gains, the CBN said it has reinforced its risk-based supervision framework, mandating periodic stress tests and adequate capital buffers for banks.
It added that supervisory and prudential guidelines would be reviewed regularly to strengthen governance, risk management, and resilience across the sector.
“The successful completion of the programme establishes a stronger and more resilient banking system, better positioned to support lending, mobilise savings, and withstand domestic and global shocks,” the statement said.
The Tide learnt that foreign capital inflows into Nigeria’s banking sector rose by 93.25 per cent year-on-year to $13.53bn in 2025, up from $7.00bn recorded in 2024, amid the ongoing recapitalisation drive by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics capital importation report showed that the banking sector remained the dominant destination for foreign capital, accounting for $13.53bn of the total $23.22bn recorded in 2025, representing 58.26 per cent of total inflows, up from 56.81 per cent in 2024.
The surge reflects heightened investor interest in Nigerian banks as they raised fresh capital to meet new regulatory thresholds introduced by the apex bank, with industry-wide recapitalisation activities driving large-scale inflows across all quarters of the year.
However, the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) recently raised concerns over weak credit flows to small businesses despite recent banking sector reforms.
The CPPE, led by a renowned economist, Dr Muda Yusuf, acknowledged that the ongoing bank recapitalisation exercise by the CBN has strengthened the financial system, but warned that the benefits have yet to translate into meaningful support for the real economy.
The facility will be disbursed through participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which will in turn extend the loans to their customers, particularly SMEs, as they directly interface with businesses at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director of COMCIN, Mr. Micheal Ogbaa who represented the Chairman, Dr. Iredele Oyedele (FCA, FCCA), said the initiative is designed to strengthen micro-lending institutions and expand access to finance for grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths in the informal sector.
Ogbaa explained that COMCIN does not lend directly to individuals but works through its network of microfinance and cooperative institutions, which in turn provide loans to end users.
“We came together to advocate for the microfinance ecosystem. Commercial banks often exclude people at the grassroots, but our members are positioned to reach them. This facility will empower them to do more,” he said.
He noted that the loan scheme offers low interest rates and flexible repayment plans, making it more accessible to small business owners.
According to him, about 90 percent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, who play a key role in sustaining families and driving economic activities at the local level.
“Our focus is on traders, service providers, and players in the informal sector. These are the real movers of the economy. By supporting them, we are strengthening families and contributing to national development,” he added.
Ogbaa disclosed that eligible SMEs with proven integrity and business track records could access up to N5 million each through participating micro-lending institutions. The rollout has commenced in Lagos and will extend to Abuja, Enugu, and other regions, including the South-West, South-East, and North-East.
He said 12 micro-lending institutions have already benefited from the scheme, while 85 applications are currently being processed under the pilot phase.
“Our target is to reach at least 100,000 SMEs nationwide. We are building a platform that connects funding partners with credible micro-lending institutions, creating a reliable channel for financial inclusion,” Ogbaa said.
He added that COMCIN is also working to attract larger funding pools from development finance institutions and private investors, noting that successful implementation of the pilot phase would boost confidence and unlock more capital for SMEs.
“We have seen encouraging testimonies from early beneficiaries. As we demonstrate transparency and efficiency, more institutions will be willing to channel funds through us,” he said.
