The Managing Director of OSPOLY Microfinance Bank, Alhaji Dauda Adebisi-Balogun, has emerged the new Chairman of the National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB), Osun State chapter, with a call on the state and federal governments to prioritise grassroots empowerment through microfinance institutions.
Adebisi-Balogun emerged as the association chairman at its 2026 Annual General Meeting held at the state secretariat in Osogbo on Wednesday.
The new Chairman brings a wealth of both professional and leadership experience into the latest role having previously served as the secretary and vice chairman of the association at the state chapter, and first vice chairman at the southwestern zone. He was also a former National President of the Ilobu-Asake Development Union. He also has over 30 years of professional experience in the banking industry.
Speaking after his emergence, Adebisi-Balogun said microfinance banks, given their close relationship with small business owners and low-income earners, are strategically positioned to drive economic empowerment and improve livelihoods at the grassroots.
Adebisi-Balogun described his emergence as an opportunity to serve and pledged to use his wealth of experience to advance the association and strengthen its relationship with government and other stakeholders.
“My emergence as the chairman is to the glory of God. When people ask you to do something, do it diligently because they saw a purpose in you. I will do this with all sincerity and with whatever it takes to move it forward,” he said.
He said microfinance banks understand the needs of people at the grassroots and can play a significant role in helping small businesses grow and become sustainable.
“We are bankers of the grassroots and we are naturally endowed with how to deal with people effectively, make them happy and how to prosper their businesses,” he said.
He therefore urged government at both state and federal levels to involve microfinance banks in the implementation of empowerment programmes, particularly those targeted at small business owners and vulnerable members of society.
“We call on government to always engage microfinance banks whenever they want to do anything relating to people, like empowerment. They should call us. We know the antecedent and we know how to take care of them,” he said.
The new NAMB chairman also pledged the association’s support for government policies and programmes aimed at improving the economic wellbeing of residents.
“We are ready to give our adequate support to the government, both at state and Federal level, and we will continue to do everything we can to promote the name of our association,” he added.
Adebisi-Balogun also congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election.
In his remarks, the immediate past chairman of the association, Mr Charles Adedayo, commended members for maintaining unity during his tenure and highlighted the capacity-building initiatives undertaken to strengthen the association.
Adedayo urged the new administration to sustain the unity among members and build on the achievements recorded by the previous leadership.
He stressed that continued cooperation among members remained essential to strengthening the association and enhancing its contribution to the development of the microfinance sector in Osun State.
Also speaking, the electoral chairman for the 2026 activities, Mr Tunde Lawal, commended members for their cooperation and adherence to the guidelines throughout the electoral process.
Lawal said the election was conducted peacefully and without crisis, attributing the seamless exercise to the cooperation and maturity displayed by members.
He urged the new leadership to make capacity building a priority, stressing that training should extend beyond the executives to workers across all branches of microfinance banks in the state.
Lawal also advised the new administration to operate an open-door policy and consult widely with stakeholders to ensure effective administration and smooth running of the association.
The new leadership is expected to strengthen collaboration between microfinance banks, government and other stakeholders while promoting financial inclusion, grassroots enterprise development and capacity building across the state.
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