Sanwo-Olu, CIBN Urge Nigerian Youths to Embrace Skills, Innovation and Integrity
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, alongside the President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr Dele Alabi, and other financial sector stakeholders, has called on Nigerian youths to embrace technology, practical skills, discipline and integrity to play a greater role in the country’s economic development.
They made the call at the fourth edition of the CIBN Generation Next Forum held in Lagos, with the theme, “Building Tomorrow Today: Youth as Catalysts of a Digital, Inclusive, and Sustainable Economy.”
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Abayomi Oluyomi, commended CIBN for putting young Nigerians at the centre of conversations about the country’s economic future.
He noted that young innovators, fintech entrepreneurs and remote workers were already contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economy.
However, the governor cautioned that technological advancement must be accompanied by discipline and integrity, particularly within the financial sector.
“The financial sector in particular cannot afford to compromise on integrity. Banking is built on trust. As technology changes the way financial services are delivered, that trust becomes even more important,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also highlighted some of the Lagos State Government’s initiatives aimed at supporting young people and businesses.
According to him, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has disbursed more than ₦15 billion in affordable loans to over 20,000 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, contributing to the creation of more than 320,000 jobs.
He added that Lagos Innovate had provided more than 750 workspace vouchers, supported 240 startups and trained nearly 1,000 young Nigerians in areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and software development.
The governor urged young Nigerians to take advantage of emerging opportunities in technology and innovation while maintaining the values needed to build a sustainable and trustworthy economy.
