Mobile Money: Steve Ayorinde Charges CBN To Give Nigerians More Confidence

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde

In the light of the attendant risks exposed to while transacting business online, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and other relevant stakeholders have been advised to ensure that the confidence of Nigerian populace is increased in order for them to embrace mobile banking in the country without further delay.
Mobile Money is an electronic payment product that enables individuals to transfer financial value through a mobile phone without using a bank account. In Mobile Money, financial value is stored in a virtual wallet which is represented by the phone number of a subscriber.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde gave this charge while speaking at the 4th Annual Conference of the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria, held on November 4, 2016 at the Chartered Institute of Bankers, CIBN, Lagos.

According to him, this could be enhanced by putting in place robust security measures to combat sharp practices that easily put off potential online bankers.
Ayorinde recalled that since the CBN introduced the mobile money (electronic payment systems) in 2011, the financial transactions among individuals and organisations have been revolutionised.
He noted that as a result, we now experience a relative ease while carrying out commercial and non-commercial transactions and other forms of monetary transactions across the country.

L-R: Goddie ofose, chairman, Brand Journalist's Association of Nigeria (BJAN);  Musa I. Jimoh, deputy director, banking & payments system department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Nkiru Olumide-Ojo, head, marketing and communications, Stanbic IBTC, and Akomen Omijeh, corporate communications manager, Nigerian Bottling Company, at the BJAN 4th annual brand & marketing conference 2016, with the theme "Mobile Money in Nigeria" in Lagos, at the weekend. PHOTO;AKEEM SALAU

The information commissioner, who was represented by Mrs Toro Adedapo, Director of Press and Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy said in view of the fast emerging world of electronic transactions, the state government, for instance, has continued to adopt necessary strategic electronic solutions for prompt and effective public service delivery in order to make government businesses and by inference services, more accessible and seamlessly delivered to the populace.
While expressing the success of the e-payment system in driving the state's revenue generation, the Information commissioner added that the state government would continue to invest and deploy information technology infrastructure to meet the challenges and expectation of the citizenry.

Toro Oladapo, director, press and public affairs, ministry of information Rep Hon Comm for Information & Strategy Lagos State; Goddie ofose, chairman, Brand Journalist's Association of Nigeria (BJAN); Mr  Francis Nwoboshi, head, mobile & acquiring channels, Stanbic IBTC; Ms. Clara Okoro, vice chairman, BJAN, and Henry Ojiokpota, principal manager, policy completion economic analysis, NCC, at the BJAN 4th annual brand & marketing conference 2016, with the theme "Mobile Money in Nigeria" in Lagos, at the weekend. PHOTO;AKEEM SALAU

Commending BJAN for organising the conference, he noted that the theme of the conference, Mobile money in Nigeria, Challenges, opportunity and threats was very appropriate as it could not have been more better chosen owing to the growth of the growth of the mobile economy across the world especially with emerging economies like Nigeria and Bangladesh among others leading the pack of countries with upsurge in mobile services.
" I must commend the initiators for the foresight, introduction and sustenance of this annual conference which has remained a veritable platform for enriching and thought provoking treatises, meeting of minds and brainstorming for brand journalists and other stakeholders on issues that can help in promoting and transforming the nation's economy.' Ayorinde said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the BJAN President, Mr. Goddie Ofose said the mobile money was chosen as a topic for discussion based on a number of reasons.
According to him, for instance, the association believe that Nigeria is at a juncture where a remodeling of the financial services system was critical as a means of enabling credit, facilitating transactions, minimising the risks associated with heavy cash movements, facilitating exchange and making access to easier, cheaper and more convenient.

Akomen Omijeh, corporate communications manager, Nigerian Bottling Company; Goddie Ofose, chairman, Brand Journalist's Association of Nigeria (BJAN);  Francis Nwoboshi, head, mobile & acquiring channels, Stanbic IBTC, and Bolaji Abimbola, MD/ CEO, Indigo, at the BJAN 4th annual brand & marketing conference 2016, with the theme "Mobile Money in Nigeria" in Lagos, at the weekend. PHOTO;AKEEM SALAU

The BJAN Chairman commended the Lagos State Government, Stanbic IBTC, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Access Bank, NCC and others for their support towards the conference as they look forward to another conference coming next year.

Among dignitaries that attended the conference included Emeka Oparah, Director, Sponsorship, events PR, Airtel Nigeria, Francis Nwoboshi, Head, Mobile & Acquiring Channels, Stanbic IBTC, Melevin Awolowo, Acting Communication Manager, Stanbic IBTC,  Demola Adesina, Business Banking Marketing Manager, Stanbic IBTC, and Ibrahim Abdulahi, Finance Officer, WHO.
Others included Toro Oladapo, Director, Press & Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, who represented the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, Emmanuel Agha, CEO, Innovatives, Sola Fanawopo, CEO, eMaginations, Aminu Bizi, CEO, Bizi Mobile Cashless among others.

November 07, 2016