The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday said it was targeting 25,000 women and youths in Ebonyi, during its one-week digital financial inclusion drive.

The Director, Development Finance Department of the bank, Mr Philip Yusuf stated this at Onueke, headquarters of Ezza South Local Government Area of the state during the launch of the digital financial inclusion drive for women and youths in the state.

Yusuf represented by the Controller, Abakaliki branch of the bank, Mr Christopher Adayi, said that the drive would offer the bank opportunity to reach the non-banking population of the state.

“We would provide them with necessary tools for economic empowerment and financial inclusion.

“Financial service providers would assist the unbanked women and youths make informed decisions about banking products uptakes.

“These uptakes include: savings accounts, micro pensions, micro insurance, Bank Verified Numbers, National Identification Number among others.

The CBN branch controller said that the women and youth would also be enlightened on investment opportunities and how to sustainably grow their finances.

“Financial inclusion is also important for households and businesses because interacting with formal systems allows individuals keep their finances safe in saving accounts.

“The intervention also provides businesses the opportunities of accessing available credit opportunities, loans and encourages investment habits,” he said.

He disclosed that the drive would hold in five LGAs of the state to reduce some inherent barriers such as long distance to financial access points, among others.

Gov. David Umahi urged women and the youth in the state to identify with the programme due to its inherent benefits.

Umahi, represented by Mrs Chinwe Okah, state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development said financial inclusion will enable them to access several economic packages of the government.

“The government will support the programme and I direct that this message be propagated to all parts of our rural areas to achieve intended objectives,” he said.

Mr Ken Eze, Chairman of Ezza South LGA, commended the CBN for the initiative and pledged that women and youths of the area would massively identify with it.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the drive is: ‘open an account, get better life’.