Prof. Pius Deji Olanrewaju, President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and Chairman of the Council, is currently in Delta State for an official visit. Upon his arrival at the Asaba International Airport yesterday, he highlighted that the purpose of the visit is to strengthen the connection between CIBN and its branches across the country.
Olanrewaju was warmly welcomed at the airport by Barr. Charles Ojakovo, Chairman of CIBN Delta State Branch, 1st Vice Chairman Mr. Amaechi Bayem, Mr. Joe Okolie, Manager of Keystone Bank in Asaba, Faith Omasan Edon, Scholastica Moemeke, Oji Ogbonnaya, and other members.
Speaking to journalists, Olanrewaju explained, “This is my second official visit to Asaba. I first came on May 17, 2024, as the 23rd President and Chairman of Council. I brought with me a legacy agenda focused on creating an inclusive Institute.
The ‘G’ in my agenda stands for Gender, Generational, and Geographical diversity. To achieve this, we need to understand what’s happening at our branches, and I pledged to visit all of them. I am glad to meet with the branch here, and it’s clear that banking is thriving in Asaba.”
He also emphasized that ensuring capable leadership in all branches is a key priority. “Asaba has shown excellent leadership in organizing events, engaging with the head office, and addressing shared issues. I consider Asaba to be one of CIBN’s ‘tiger branches’. Visits like this allow us to interact, discuss challenges, and identify potential opportunities within them.”
Later, Olanrewaju met with Dr. Barry Gbe, Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor and a CIBN member. He expressed his delight at discovering that CIBN members hold important positions in the state, and praised Gbe for offering office space for the branch.
Dr. Gbe expressed his gratitude, calling the visit a privilege. In a related request, Ojakovo appealed to the state government for land to establish a CIBN secretariat in Asaba, noting that the national president had assured support for branches that provide land for such developments.
The delegation also visited HRM Obi (Prof.) Epiphany Azinge, the 14th Asagba of Asaba, at his palace. Olanrewaju, a law lecturer, recalled Azinge’s time at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), fondly noting it as a distinguished period for the institution. He also prayed for a prosperous reign for Azinge as the Asagba of Asaba. Olanrewaju presented the Asaba monarch with an award of excellence on behalf of the CIBN Council.
Earlier, Olanrewaju spoke about the upcoming Annual CIBN Delta State Branch Lecture, set for December 7 at Orchid Hotel, DBS Road, Asaba, starting at 11 a.m. The event will feature an Awards/Dinner at 6 p.m.
The theme of the lecture is “Policies and Roles of the CBN and Financial Institutions in Supporting MSMEs and FGN’s Grow Nigerian Project to Achieve Economic Growth and Stability.” Olanrewaju proposed ways to revitalize MSMEs, including increasing financial support, improving electricity and infrastructure, and offering other forms of assistance to help these businesses thrive.
The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Godwin Adolor, Executive Secretary of the Delta State Micro, Small, and Medium-scale Enterprises Development Agency (DEMSMEDA), while the guest speaker will be Dr. Jonathan Ososuakpor, MD/CEO of Amju Unique Microfinance Bank.
Ojakovo concluded by urging banks to engage directly with MSMEs, explaining their lending practices, interest rates, and the challenges they face in supporting MSMEs. He emphasized the importance of MSMEs for the nation’s economic growth and stability and encouraged them to attend the event and engage with the banks to find solutions together
