Dickson asks Bayelsans to take advantage of CBN’s Account opening programme

Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson has called on all Bayelsans to take full advantage of a pilot programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Account Opening Week which runs from Monday December 2 to Saturday December 7.

 Bayelsa State is one of six states that will benefit from the programme, which Governor Dickson said would afford the opportunity to own accounts and be financially included, according to a statement on Friday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson.

 The governor who commended CBN for initiating the programme described as exciting, the choice of Bayelsa State among the pilot states stressing that it was a great opportunity for the people.

 Dickson said “Bayelsa is the only state in the South-South geo-political zone where the exercise will be carried out, which affords all indigenes of the state an opportunity for financial inclusion.”

 According to him, it would prime the people for benefits such as access to insurance, pension and other facilities that will make their lives better as the Secretary to the State Government, Kemela Okara is expected to flag off the programme.

 Dickson said the CBN’s latest move on financial inclusion was in line with his administration’s efforts in ensuring that Bayelsans have access to funds to establish and grow their businesses.

 He explained that the Izon Micro Finance Bank was set up in the eight local government areas for that purpose and that its testimony has been a stamp on the commitment of the Restoration Government to lift the people out of poverty.

 The governor pledged government’s support to creating an enabling environment to ensure the efficient execution of the account opening exercise across designated centres in the state.

 In his words: “I want to encourage all Bayelsans to make full use of this opportunity because opportunities like this do not swing by always.

 “The opening of accounts can be done with or without money and cuts across different Central Bank of Nigeria licensed banks. Therefore, those who do not have bank accounts should not let this chance slip by because this will set them up for greater access to government and other empowerment programmes.

 “It is very important that every resident of Bayelsa is financially included which will boost business operations in the state and set the pace for greater economic development and industrialization,” the governor added.