CIBN to become specialised post-graduate degree awarding institution

Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN has announced that in the near future it will seek to become a specialised post-graduate degree awarding Institution through the Centre for Financial Studies recently set up.

The Institute is also making arrangements to deploy e-learning technology with a view to delivering a series of subjects which will further improve its services as well as provide flexibility for study and examination.

Segun Aina, president/chairman of Council disclosed this at world press conference to flag off the activities commemorating 50 years of existence of professional Banking Institute in Nigeria held in Lagos.

According to him, the Institute is working hard in collaboration with various stakeholders including the media, to not only sustain the progress and achievements but also confirmed its determination, commitment and resolve to position CIBN as a world class professional body through: strengthening the quality of knowledge and skills in the banking and finance industry; strengthening compliance with ethical codes and professional standards in the banking and finance industry among others.

Over the period of fifty years, the Institute, as a self regulatory body has registered more than five thousand (5000) chartered bankers most of whom sat for the examinations conducted by the Nigerian Institute. It also has a total membership strength of over 103,000 members of various categories, Aino said.

However, the challenges the Institute faced in the early years of its formation included the low level of banking education in Nigeria; lack of qualified professional bankers to impart knowledge, teach and mentor upcoming ones; dearth of tertiary institutions offering banking programmes; paucity of indigenous published literatures in banking; inadequate encouragement for bank workers to sit and pass the examination among others.