Business
Ministry Trains 70 Officials On Change Management
The Ministry of Budget and National Planning has organised a workshop for no fewer than 70 officials to build their capacity on change management to enhance service delivery in the ministry.
The Tide source reports that the training was organised for the staff to build their capacity on various reform initiatives of the Federal Government.
Some of the participants, who spoke with our source after a five-day Specialised Change Management Training Workshop on Friday in Abuja, commended the government for organising the programme.
The participants, who preferred anonymity, said they were equipped with knowledge to be drivers of change in their various offices.
A participant from one of the parastatal agencies said that he learnt how to improve on service delivery by changing his attitude to work and be a good example in his office.
“We are lead reformers of change, agent of change; we have to be creative, add value to our work and be efficient,’’ he said.
Other participants also described the workshop as great and impactful.
They, however, expressed concerns that such workshop should be organised for management staff.
A female participant from the ministry said that the management staff should be trained on change management because they were the main drivers of change.
“We will not be able to implement what we have learnt here effectively if the management staff are not also equipped with same knowledge,’’ she said.
Similarly, a female participant from the ministry said that it was a great experience attending the workshop, saying: “presenters were great and resource persons were excellent as well.
“When we talk about change, it should start from management staff and go down to other staff.
“For example, there is a yearly meeting in the ministry – Joint Planning Board – I think every planning officer should be given privilege to attend it.’’
She, however, promised to share the lessons learnt from the workshop with her colleagues to see how they could be drivers of change in the ministry and national as a whole.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Olajide Odewale, said Nigeria had been undergoing a period of change to restore the value of governance and adopt the best practice of doing business for the benefit of the country.
Odewale said that the need to change the old order and institute a more progressive, transparent and accountable leadership had made it imperative to embark on various reforms initiatives.
According to him, the various reforms initiatives by the government are driven by the ministry.
“ As a leading policy making and implementing institution in Nigeria, it is important that the ministry is properly equipped with human capital resources.
“It is important in order to be able to deliver on its mandate. This understanding has led to the various reform initiatives currently going on in the ministry.’’
The 70 participants on the change management workshop are from the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and its parastatal agencies.
They are National Bureau of Statistics, Centre for Management Development, Budget Office and Nigerian Institute for Social Economic Research. (NAN)
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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