The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, South East, Chioma Nweze, on Friday spoke on strategies for eradicating poverty at the grassroots, promoting financial inclusion, and economically empowering youths and women in the region.

Addressing a large gathering of students and stakeholders during the Grassroots Leadership and Sustainable Development Summit held at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nweze said: “We recognise the immense potential that lies within our region, and as SSA to the President on Community Engagement, we are committed to unlocking it. The Skill-Up South East initiative is a four-month training programme that will equip 97 individuals with skills in tailoring and fashion designing.

“It is essential to acknowledge the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in driving this agenda. The President’s Renewed Hope Agenda prioritises economic stability, investment, and youth empowerment, with a focus on achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

“One of the key initiatives launched by the administration is the Aso Accord on Economic and Financial Inclusion, a multi-pronged blueprint designed to achieve universal access to financial services across Nigeria.

“The accord aims to bridge the significant gaps that have left millions of Nigerians, particularly underserved segments like women, youth, rural communities, and small businesses, without vital financial services.

“The Aso Accord has several key elements, including establishing a High-Level Presidential Council to spearhead reforms and drive the financial inclusion agenda, as well as innovative solutions leveraging government-to-person programmes to directly invest in underserved communities.

“It also includes financial literacy initiatives that seek to integrate financial education into the national curriculum, alongside digital infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening ICT networks nationwide to bridge the digital divide.

“As we move forward, it is crucial that we recognise the critical role financial inclusion plays in driving economic empowerment and sustainable development. By providing access to financial services, we can unlock the potential of individuals, communities, and entire nations.”

The presidential aide urged Nigerian youths and stakeholders in the region to invest in digital payment systems. “To achieve this, we need to strengthen our financial infrastructure. This means investing in digital payment systems, mobile money services, and agent banking to expand financial access to underserved communities. We must also promote financial literacy by integrating financial education into school curricula and providing training programmes for adults to enhance their financial management skills.

“As students, you have a critical role to play in promoting financial inclusion and economic empowerment. You can start by acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the financial system effectively.

“You can also explore innovative solutions to financial exclusion, such as mobile banking, fintech, and digital payments. By doing so, you can empower yourselves, your families, and your communities to participate fully in the economy.

“We must support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, MSMEs, which are the backbone of our economy. By providing access to credit, markets, and business development services, we can empower MSMEs to grow and create jobs. This, in turn, will drive economic growth and development, reducing poverty and inequality while fostering empowerment and sustainable development,” she stressed.

In his remarks, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Oguejiofo Ujam, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Dan Nwachukwu, expressed delight at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the various programmes initiated on Community Engagement, South East, to improve the lives of students.

He also commended the Students’ Union Government of the university for executing a solar panel installation project at Manual Hotel, aimed at providing electricity to the area.