CIBN SETS AGENDA FOR STRONGER NIGERIAN ECONOMY AMID GLOBAL DISRUPTIONS

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria has unveiled plans for its 19th Annual Banking and Finance Conference, with discussions expected to focus on strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s financial system and responding to persistent macroeconomic pressures.

The two-day conference is scheduled to hold on September 8 and 9, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, under the theme, “Building a Resilient Economy in an Era of Disruptions: Strategic Imperatives for the Banking and Financial Services Industry.”

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, the Chairman of the conference’s Consultative Committee and Managing Director of Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni, said the event was designed to move beyond discussions and produce practical recommendations that could influence economic and financial policy.

According to Oseni, the conference will bring together stakeholders from the banking and financial services industry to examine some of the major challenges affecting Nigeria’s economy and develop strategies capable of improving resilience in the face of domestic and global disruptions.

He explained that resolutions reached during the conference would be compiled into an official communiqué and presented to fiscal and monetary authorities. The document is expected to support policy discussions and encourage greater alignment with international best practices.

The conference will feature a number of business sessions covering issues affecting the future of Nigeria’s financial sector, including economic resilience, technological disruption, cybersecurity and the changing dynamics of banking.

For the first time since the conference began 19 years ago, organisers will also introduce a dedicated women-focused programme. The session will examine the contribution of women to economic development and the importance of inclusive leadership in building a stronger and more sustainable financial system.

Youth development and cybersecurity will also receive special attention, with the organisers expected to create platforms for young professionals and other emerging stakeholders to participate in conversations about the future of banking and finance.

The gathering is expected to attract senior government officials, regulators, bankers, corporate executives, technology companies and development partners.

Among those expected to participate are President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso. The CIBN President and Chairman of Council, Dele Alabi, will host the event.

The conference comes at a period when Nigeria’s banking sector is undergoing significant changes, including the impact of bank recapitalisation, rapid digital transformation, increasing cybersecurity threats and uncertainties in the global economy.

The CIBN says the gathering is therefore expected to provide an avenue for policymakers and industry leaders to examine how the banking sector can better support economic growth while remaining stable and capable of absorbing future shocks.

With the financial sector playing a central role in mobilising investment and providing credit to businesses, the institute is expected to use the conference to push for strategies that can strengthen the sector and contribute to a more resilient Nigerian economy.