‎CBN Fair: A Timely Financial Inclusion Strategy for Northern Nigeria, by Zekeri Idakwo Laruba

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‎When the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) opened its Fair in Kano on September 16, 2025, it was more than just another stop on the Bank’s outreach calendar. It was a deliberate choice of venue, the commercial heart of northern Nigeria, to showcase reforms that are shaping the nation’s financial future. By continuing in Kaduna on September 18, the Fair also underscored a broader regional commitment: that the North, with all its economic potential and challenges, must be central to the story of financial inclusion.
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‎The theme, “Driving Alternative Payment Channels as Tools for Financial Inclusion, Growth and Accelerated Economic Development,” speaks directly to realities on the ground. Millions of northerners, from farmers in Zaria to traders in Kano’s Kurmi Market, still operate largely outside the banking system. For decades, this has meant limited access to credit, insecurity in transactions, and missed opportunities for investment. By highlighting mobile money, USSD codes, and digital wallets, the CBN is not only modernising Nigeria’s payment system but also offering northern communities a pathway into the formal economy.
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‎The choice of Kano and Kaduna is no accident. Both cities are gateways of commerce and industry, drawing traders and businesses from across West Africa. They are also places where financial exclusion has been stubbornly high. Holding the Fair in these centres signals recognition that Nigeria’s growth story cannot be complete if the North remains financially underserved.
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‎Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, Acting Director of Corporate Communications at the CBN, was right to remind participants that reforms already underway, exchange rate unification, bank recapitalisation, and the Nigeria Payments System Vision 2028, are not abstract policies. They are producing tangible results: increased foreign investments, improved trade balances, and stronger consumer confidence. When these gains filter down to Kano and Kaduna, the impact will ripple across the entire northern economy.
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‎Equally important are the consumer-protection measures unveiled at the Fair. Systems like the Unified Complaints Tracking tool and USSD verification may sound technical, but they provide peace of mind for everyday Nigerians who fear fraud or failed transactions. For a tomato seller in Kaduna or a small-scale manufacturer in Kano, knowing that the financial system offers both opportunity and protection is a powerful incentive to embrace formal banking.
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‎Beyond the statistics, what stands out is the CBN’s proactive spirit. The Fair is not a one-way lecture; it is a dialogue where citizens learn their rights and responsibilities while also voicing their concerns. This mix of education and engagement builds trust, and without trust, no financial reform can succeed.
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‎By extending the Fair to Kaduna and situating it firmly in the North, the CBN has shown that inclusion is not just a slogan but a commitment to every Nigerian. The message is simple: whether in the crowded markets of Kano or the growing tech clusters in Kaduna, the future of finance must belong to all.
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‎The Fair reminds us that financial inclusion is not charity; it is strategy. A more connected North means a stronger Nigeria. And in bridging the gap between policy and people, the CBN has taken a timely step that deserves both recognition and replication.
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‎Zekeri Idakwo Laruba is the Assistant Editor Economic confidential and PRNigeria.