Yemisi Izuora
The Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria’s (FICAN) 36th Anniversary Annual Conference, will gather top policymakers, financial regulators, banking executives, fintech innovators, economists and capital market operators in Lagos on September 19 and 20, 2026, to speak to key economic transformations that are driving the national economy.
The two-day event, themed “Building on the Gains of Recapitalisation, Tax Reform and Fintech Revolution,” will hold at Orchid Hotels, Dreamworld Africana Way, Lekki. It aims to examine sweeping reforms reshaping the country’s financial landscape and explore how they can deliver stronger economic growth, higher investment inflows, wider financial inclusion and greater resilience.
Dr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Deputy Governor for Corporate Services at the Central Bank of Nigeria, will deliver the keynote address. Dr. Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa, will serve as guest speaker. Panel discussions will feature representatives from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, the Fintech Association of Nigeria, Opay Digital Services Limited, Providus Bank and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria.
These sessions will address sub-themes linked to banking recapitalisation, tax reforms and the rapid expansion of financial technology.
FICAN Chairman Chima Titus Nwokoji described the conference as a strategic platform for reviewing ongoing reforms and identifying practical steps to sustain growth. “This year’s conference comes at a defining moment for Nigeria’s economy. Banking recapitalisation, tax reforms and the rapid expansion of financial technology are reshaping the financial services landscape. Our objective is to bring together policymakers, regulators and industry leaders to assess the gains recorded so far and develop practical recommendations that will deepen financial stability, promote inclusive growth and enhance investor confidence,” he said.
Nwokoji noted that the association, which brings together about 150 journalists and editors covering the financial industry across print, electronic and online platforms, has for 36 years promoted responsible financial journalism and informed public discourse on economic policy. He said participants would examine strategies for sustaining investor confidence, strengthening financial stability, accelerating digital innovation and ensuring that reforms translate into tangible benefits for businesses and ordinary Nigerians.
The programme will include keynote addresses, panel discussions and interactive sessions involving experts from banking, insurance, the capital market, fintech and the public sector. Topics will cover the implementation of the banking recapitalisation programme, the impact of Nigeria’s new tax regime, the evolution of financial technology, the future of digital payments, financial inclusion, capital market development, insurance penetration, foreign investment and long-term economic resilience.
FICAN expects the conference to produce a communiqué with concrete recommendations for government, regulators and industry operators on sustaining reforms, attracting investment, accelerating financial inclusion and strengthening the financial sector. Beyond formal sessions, the gathering will serve as a networking forum where policymakers, regulators, investors, financial institutions, corporate executives, development partners and media practitioners can exchange ideas and explore collaborative solutions.
Organisers said the country stands at a pivotal point in its economic transformation. Reforms in banking, taxation, financial technology and broader macroeconomic management are creating both new opportunities and fresh policy challenges. The association believes robust engagement among regulators, operators, investors and policymakers is essential to consolidate the gains and support sustainable national growth.
The annual FICAN conference has evolved over the years into one of Nigeria’s leading platforms for high-level policy dialogue on issues affecting the financial system and the wider economy