The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, has reiterated the Bank’s commitment to developing the next generation of leaders in the financial and social sciences sectors.
He has also emphasized the necessity of addressing the scarcity of skilled professionals in finance-related fields within Nigerian universities.
Mr. Cardoso made this statement recently during a strategic engagement with the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES), Professor Adeola Adenikinju, who led a team of NES officials and members of the Nigerian Economics Students Association (NESA) to the CBN Head Office in Abuja.
Underscoring his belief in the collective effort needed for youth development, he stressed that special consideration should be given to creating opportunities for youths and providing them with the tools to thrive in their respective sectors, making them globally competitive.
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According to him, the meeting, which he regarded as a demand-driven conversation, has set the stage for a robust pipeline of talent that will drive Nigeria’s Financial System Strategy.
Following presentations by members of NES and NESA on research topics, recommendations, and ongoing activities that could assist the CBN in achieving its mandate, Governor Cardoso emphasized the need to organize mentorship collaborations with NES and NESA to enable both associations to achieve their objectives.
Furthermore, the Governor noted the importance of communication, stating the need to simplify dense and complex economic concepts, which have always been challenging when communicating monetary policy.
He highlighted the role of young economists in demystifying the subject and providing a clearer perspective.
While reaffirming the CBN’s readiness to work with NES and NESA and to encourage significant female representation, Cardoso expressed optimism that the collaboration with these groups marks an essential step toward building a resilient and inclusive financial sector that thrives on talent, innovation, and diversity.
He noted that this sentiment should instill hope for the sector’s future.
In his remarks, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES), Professor Adeola Adenikinju, highlighted areas of concern for the team and the need for collaboration with the CBN.
While noting that the association has the largest number of economists who can transfer such knowledge, he cited a gap in mentorship programs. According to him, other areas of concern include research support, internship opportunities, workshops/conferences, and leveraging social media for communication.
Also speaking, the National President of the Nigerian Economics Students Association (NESA), Comrade Bakre Israel Boluwatife, expressed gratitude to the CBN Governor for the opportunity to engage.
He stated that NESA looks forward to contributing to the body of research on inflation and money supply.