Polaris Bank deepens financial inclusion in Niger State

AS part of commitment to ease access to banking services for more people, Polaris Bank has entered into a strategic partnership with the Niger State Government, to ensure participants in the supply value chain of the National HomeGrown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), can open accounts with less hassle.

Managing Director, Polaris Bank, Tokunbo Abiru, was quoted in a statement as saying that the decision to partner with the state govern- ment aligned with the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure more children have access to education especially those from the less-privileged ( underprivileged) and most vulnerable segments of the society. Reiterating that human capital development is dear to the bank, Abiru said the partnership with the state government is in consonance with Polaris Bank’s commitment to bridging the gap in the number of unbanked Nigerians.

He disclosed that since the feeding programme commenced in 2016, over 7,500 people across the supply value chain have been engaged in Niger State, while Polaris has opened bank accounts for 1,500 cooks.

“When you take into consideration a recent survey, which shows that about 40 per cent of Nigerians are unbanked, and the financial inclusion target of the Central Bank of Nigeria, you will see the importance of the work we are doing with the Niger State Government. This will also ensure that we stimulate the economy in the state by providing banking services to the various chains of food suppliers, transporters, food stuff sellers, farmers, and all other components involved,” Abiru said.

The NHGSFP is an initiative of the Federal Government designed to encourage mass education to the less-privileged and the most vulnerable. The scheme also provides a viable balance diet for school children to fulfill all their basic nutritional needs.