Yemisi Izuora
Top finance institutions and government Agencies have expressed their support to enhance financial journalism in Nigeria.
Among them are the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and leading commercial banks including United Bank for Africa (UBA) and ProvidusUnity Bank.
They have pledged stronger support for capacity building in financial journalism amid sweeping reforms reshaping Nigeria’s banking, tax, capital market and financial technology sectors.
These institutions believe that strengthening journalists’ ability to interpret and report complex economic policies is critical to improving public understanding, transparency, investor confidence and accountability across the financial system. The commitment was made in Lagos as other stakeholders rallied behind initiatives aimed at equipping financial journalists with specialised knowledge, better access to data and professional mentorship to enhance coverage of banking, public finance, investments, taxation and financial technology.
Other participating banks and institutions include Fidelity Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Union Bank, Zenith Bank, Ecobank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Coronation Group, Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS). Equally involved are Tatum Bank, GTCO, Strategic Effects Limited, PenCom, Moniepoint and Dangote Group.
The development comes as Nigeria enters a new phase of financial-sector reforms following the banking recapitalisation exercise, the implementation of major tax reforms and the rapid expansion of fintech and digital financial services. Stakeholders note that the growing complexity of economic policies makes specialised financial journalism more important than ever, particularly where regulatory changes have direct consequences for businesses, investors and households.
There is broad consensus that effective reporting must go beyond merely announcing policy decisions. It should explain their economic consequences, identify implementation challenges and provide the public with sufficient information to make informed financial decisions. The reforms currently reshaping the financial sector have significantly expanded the responsibilities of banks, especially in tax administration, foreign-exchange monitoring, financial transparency and electronic payments. These developments, stakeholders emphasise, reinforce the need for journalists capable of interrogating financial policies and accurately explaining their implications.
Against this background, the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) is convening policymakers, regulators, banking executives, fintech innovators, economists and capital-market operators at its 36th Anniversary Annual Conference in Lagos. Scheduled for 19 and 20 September 2026, the conference carries the theme “Building on the Gains of Recapitalisation, Tax Reform and Fintech Revolution.” The two-day event will hold at Orchid Hotels, Dreamworld Africana Way, Lekki, Lagos, and is expected to focus on how ongoing reforms can be consolidated to promote stronger economic growth, attract investment inflows, deepen financial inclusion and build a more resilient financial system.
The conference takes place as the banking industry adjusts to the outcome of the recapitalisation exercise, the Federal Government implements a new tax regime, and fintech continues to transform payments, lending and the delivery of financial services. The Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, will deliver the keynote address, while the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Dr Oliver Alawuba, will serve as guest speaker.
Panel discussions will feature representatives of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), OPay Digital Services Limited, ProvidusUnity Bank, Coronation Group, The office of the Tax Ombud and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
Sessions will examine the gains and outstanding challenges associated with banking recapitalisation, tax reform and the fintech revolution, as well as their implications for financial stability, investment and economic growth. In a jointly signed statement, FICAN Chairman Chima Titus Nwokoji and Secretary General Sam Diala described the conference as a strategic platform for reviewing the progress of the reforms and identifying practical measures to sustain economic growth.
Nwokoji said the convergence of banking recapitalisation, tax reforms and fintech expansion had created a defining moment for the Nigerian economy.
“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,” he stated.
The objective, he added, is to bring together policymakers, regulators and industry leaders to assess gains recorded so far and develop practical recommendations that would deepen financial stability, promote inclusive growth and enhance investor confidence. The conference would also examine how Nigeria could sustain investor confidence, strengthen financial stability, accelerate digital innovation and ensure that the benefits of the reforms translate into tangible improvements for businesses and ordinary Nigerians.
FICAN, 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 debate on economic policies. The association said the annual conference would continue to provide a platform for stakeholders to examine major developments affecting the financial system and the wider economy. The 2026 edition is expected to strengthen the link between financial journalism and economic policymaking by giving journalists direct access to policymakers, regulators and industry operators.
FICAN stressed that sustained engagement among the media, regulators, financial institutions, investors and policymakers would be crucial to consolidating the gains of current reforms. Stronger institutions, increased investment, greater financial inclusion and sustainable economic growth would depend not only on the quality of policies adopted but also on effective implementation, public understanding and continuous scrutiny.
The capacity-building support from NDIC, NSIA, AMCON, Fidelity Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Union Bank, Zenith Bank, Ecobank, FCMB and the other listed institutions is therefore expected to complement FICAN’s broader effort to strengthen financial journalism as an instrument for transparency, accountability and informed economic decision-making.