For Microfinance Banks to remain strong in the banking industry, the National Association of Microfinance Bank, Osun State Chapter, host the Board of Directors and Managing Directors for a workshop in order to train them on new innovations in the banking world.
The training tagged “Code of Ethics and Corporate Governance Fundamentals” was held on Thursday at the NAMB Secretariat, Osogbo.
The Chairman of NAMB, Osun State Chapter, Alhaji Tunde Lawal while welcoming members of the association, urged banking chiefs to be ready to learn new things that will not only increase their capacities but also help their jobs and in extension, their banks.
Lawal said he believes the scope of the seminar would reshape the Microfinance Bank in many ways, thereby translating into quality service delivery.
“The topic is going to reshape the microfinance banks in many ways, there’s a popular saying that when a lecture or a training is held for a set of people like this, they will get back to their desk and step down the training. And more importantly, they won’t remain the same at job”, Lawal said.
He stated that Central Bank of Nigeria is passionate about the topic, adding microfinance bank that is going to remain sustainable must be able to practice the ethics and corporate governance of the bank.
Speaking on the Naria Scarcity that struck Nigeria before the Presidential election, the banking chief berated Central Bank of Nigeria for what he described as planning error.
“The problem of naira scarcity arose from the Central Bank of Nigeria. The planning did not cover the microfinance banks but the Microfinance Banks were professional and they try as much as possible to live within their limits at that time. Even commercial banks also received their injury”.
Managing partner of NAVAS Consulting, Dr. AbdulRasheed Abdullah, who was also the facilitator of the seminar, said in solving problems , microfinance banks are expected to finance initiative to help the poor enterpreneurs in the society.
“The poor who have businesses, who have ideal who are always looking for finance are very important. So when I say microfinance bank on its own doesn’t create problem, that’s what I mean that if there are poor people with means of livelihood who don’t money to expand their businesses, the MFBs should come to their aids. That’s essentially why microfinance bank must expand.”
He urged the MFBs management to ensure their staff are up and doing to avoid using the system to commit frauds.
The Secretary of NAMB and Chairman of the Training committee, Alhaji Dauda Adebisi-Balogun urged microfinance banks from other States learn from the innovation of the Osun chapter as their quarterly seminar has helped build the capacity of staff.
“Our association is the first to have National Secretariat in Nigeria. This is as a result of our forward thinking. This type of seminar has helped our members by increasing the capacity of their staff. Other states should emulate us.”
Some of the participant who spoke with InsightMedia appreciated the seminar.
Dr. Mrs Adedoyin Adewumi said she has learned more about legal perspective of the bank, how to avoid litigation, among other salient things from the training.
Another participant, Mr Abu said his take-home from the training would help him change from what he does to what he should be doing. He said he was able to understand corporate governance with integrity.
“We must have integrity in every thing we do in the bank to add more value to corporate governance. So when I get back to my bank, I will be able to change something we do in the past with what I learnt so far.
“I will make use of the five intelligent skills on the type of situation I found myself. Beside all the intelligent skills are all relevant and we will make sure we motivate our staff so that they can add more to the level of productivity” he said.
