The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has unveiled a six-point strategic framework aimed at strengthening financial inclusion, improving professional standards, expanding its membership base, and accelerating digital transformation in the banking profession.
The roadmap, branded the IMPACT Agenda, was presented on Saturday during the investiture of Dele Alabi as the Institute’s 24th President and Chairman of Council.
The three-year agenda, which will guide the Institute’s activities from 2026 to 2028, is built around six pillars: inclusion, membership economy, professionalism and ethical conduct, accountability and enhanced financial performance, competencies and skills development, and technology, automation and innovation.
Speaking at the event, Alabi said the framework is designed to deepen the Institute’s relevance within Nigeria’s financial system while strengthening its global standing.
Under the inclusion pillar, the Institute plans to roll out community-based financial literacy clinics, establish a structured forum for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), collaborate with the Association of Professional Women Bankers on a women empowerment summit, and deepen engagement with regulators and other stakeholders.
To expand its membership footprint, the Institute plans to launch youth-focused initiatives, including a “Catch Them Young” programme and revive the Young Bankers Network. It also intends to reactivate dormant memberships and establish international outposts to strengthen global reach.
The professionalism and ethics component includes plans for an annual ethics summit, strengthened certification standards, and specialised training programmes targeting judicial officers and lawmakers.
CIBN also said it will focus on improving governance and financial sustainability through prudent resource management, tighter cost controls, and efforts to diversify revenue sources.
As part of plans to address evolving skills requirements in banking, the Institute will review its curriculum in line with global standards, expand specialised certifications, and strengthen its compulsory continuous professional development framework.
Its digital transformation strategy includes the creation of a digital library, the upgrade of its learning centre into a digital learning resource and innovation hub, and the introduction of an award recognising technological innovation in the banking industry.
The unveiling comes at a period of major transition in Nigeria’s banking sector, with lenders adjusting to new capital requirements, rapid technological shifts, and increasing scrutiny around governance and risk management.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, said the banking sector remains critical to national economic development.
“First of all, I want to thank the CIBN; they hold a place in nation-building, particularly Nigeria, as the most advanced economy in Africa,” he said.
He expressed confidence in the sector’s ongoing recapitalisation efforts and broader financial market reforms.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Commissioner for Finance Abayomi Oriyomi, described the leadership transition as significant given the current changes in the financial sector.
“At a time when the Nigerian banking sector is navigating its most consequential period, the leadership of CIBN matters enormously,” he said.
He added that Alabi’s professional background positioned him for the role. “The voters have chosen well,” he said.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, represented by Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Bunmi Jenyo, said Alabi’s emergence reflects the contribution of Osun indigenes to Nigeria’s financial services industry.
The event drew figures from the banking and regulatory community, including representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), bank chief executives, and corporate leaders.