Business
CBN Moves To Tackle Youth Unemployment
The Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) says it is partnering Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu Foundation to tackle the lingering unemployment in Nigeria and Imo State in particular.
The CBN Programme Director, Dr Osita Aniemeka, said this yesterday in Owerri when his team visited Chief Emmanuel Iwuanayanwu in his office.
The two partners signed a Memorandium of Understanding on the “New Partnership for Entrepreneurship and Employment Creation (N-PEEC)” programmme.
Aniemeka said the programme would seek to provide a robust new partnership for critical job creation that could drive Nigeria’s development indices.
He said the project would also seek to make all Nigerians responsible for job creation, adding that through the programme, unemployed Nigerians would be assisted to start small and medium scale enterprises.
Aniemeka said this would be achieved after adequate Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) and Vocational Training by the Iwuanyanwu Foundation- a non-governmental organisation with CBN –South East Entrepreneurship Development Centre (CBN-SEEDC).
“Small scale manufacturing/SMEs are very critical in our national development considering the current impact of excessive importation on our economy.
“Unemployed youths and students are also going to be trained on industry related skills spanning through the oil and gas, power sector, the agro-allied and the manufacturing, aside others,” he said.
Aniemeka said a partnership Investment Fund would be generated from individuals, financial institutions, foreign donor agencies, politicians, social organization, captains of industry, philanthropists and foundations to make the scheme workable.
Our correspondent reports that the agreement was signed by the Coordinator of Iwuanyanwu Foundation, Mr Chinedu Nsofor and Dr Aniemeka, Programme Director (CBN-SEEDC) on behalf of CBN.
Chief Iwuanyanwu, the Founder of the foundation, decried the upsurge in youth unemployment, poverty and destitution in Africa.
He said that the worrisome situation had now compelled some Nigerians to migrate to other countries desperately in search of greener pastures with disastrous consequences.
Iwuanyanwu recalled the crucial role of agriculture as the mainstay of the nation’s economy in the First Republic and expressed regret that it was abandoned by all following the discovery of oil.
“Agriculture was honourable and the main stay of the Nigerian economy.
“There were farm settlements and people lived well with it. Other Nigerians engaged in various trades and there was dignity in labour,” he said.
The politician said that all hands must be on deck to arrest unemployment through effective and judicious utilization of the nation’s natural resources.
“Seeing Nigerians languish in hunger is painful more so when the country is blessed with enough human and natural resources.
“It is time for Nigerians to rise up to tackle the challenge of unemployment.
“CBN and Iwuanyanwu Foundation is embarking on a programme that will change the scepter of life of the people and make them understand that there is dignity in labour.
“Our foundation has a programme to make the people realise that they can be rich without being professors or permanent secretaries,” he said.
He enumerated some of the achievements of the foundation to include offering scholarships to thousands of indigent students in post primary schools and universities.
Iwuanyanwu said that by the year 2008, the foundation had offered 10,000 scholarship to university students aside grants and rural infrastructure development.
He said that the foundation also gave cash worth about N6 million to some retired Anglican Church bishops, retired civil servants, old peoples’ homes and motherless babies’ homes.
Iwuanyanwu commended the CBN on the partnership and urged all Nigerians to work with the government to end poverty in the country.(NAN)
CEO/TÁ
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi
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.
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