Global stocks sank Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said he was not satisfied with talks that are aimed at averting a trade war with China. Equities were also dented by poor eurozone economic data, and as Trump cast doubt on a planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “Trump (is) continuing to drive uncertainty over global trade,” said analyst Joshua Mahony at trading firm IG. “European markets are following their Asian counterparts lower, as a pessimistic tone from Trump is compounded by downbeat economic data,” he added. Markets had surged Monday after US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said they had agreed to pull back from imposing threatened tariffs on billions of dollars of goods, and continue talks on a variety of trade issues. However, Trump has declared that he was “not satisfied” with the status of the talks, fuelling worries that the world’s top two economies could still slug out an economically pain
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that financial inclusion was an important factor for the growth of the nation’s economy.
He also noted that the federal government was committed to ensuring that all Nigerians have access to financial services and credit facilities, no matter where they are.
Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Wednesday when a delegation, led by Her Majesty, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, in her capacity as the United Nations’ Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Prof. Osinbajo, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande last night, further said that Nigeria will continue to do more in the area of financial inclusion and ensure more Nigerians get access to credit facilities, loans.
He said, “Financial inclusion is not an option for us, it is absolutely
important for us and our economy. The convergence we are having in the Social Investment Programmes of this administration, as well as in agriculture, with smallholder farmers, is an indication of our commitment.
important for us and our economy. The convergence we are having in the Social Investment Programmes of this administration, as well as in agriculture, with smallholder farmers, is an indication of our commitment.
“In the past two years, we have been working hard to ensure that more Nigerians are financially inclusive. We are looking at engaging 500,000 unemployed graduates; we are also looking at getting the private sector more involved. We want to achieve more.
“We need to be able to ensure that all of our people no matter where they live, no matter how far away they are, can be reached with financial products, have bank accounts; payment can be made to them, they also can make payments. In other words, they can participate in the entire financial architecture that the country and international community offer. That is really important for development, and for their development as individuals and communities.”
In her remarks, Queen Maxima stated that she was pleased to visit Nigeria for the second time in five years.
She also expressed satisfaction with nation’s progress, going from 23 per cent to 48 per cent of financial inclusion since 2008, but urged Nigeria to renew its commitment and leadership in financial inclusion.
While noting the administration’s Economic Growth and Recovery Plan (EGRP), she stressed that financial inclusion was a key element to support the economic plan.
“Nigeria is a country of enormous potential where financial inclusion should be playing a great role for your development. Having access to savings, insurance, payments, credits can really move people out of poverty.
“We have three years to get to a target of 80 per cent of financial inclusion in Nigeria and it will need a realistic strategy with a concrete action plan with real priorities being set up,” she said
Queen Maxima’s delegation included the Ambassador of Netherlands to Nigeria, Mr Robert Petri; the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Edward Kallon; as well as partners from the World Bank, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Others at the meeting were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Hajia Zainab Ahmed; Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Jumai Alhassan; Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung; and the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment, Maryam Uwais.
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