Eliminating poverty is a critical issue that should keep world leaders up at night, according to Olusegun Alebiosu, CEO of FirstBank, the leading West African financial institution and provider of financial inclusion services, in an exclusive interview with Arise TV on the fringes of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Thank you for visiting The Vestigator, don't forget to share!
Gender inequality and climate change are equally urgent challenges that call for action in addition to poverty. Alebiosu emphasised that a lack of resources and access is the root cause of poverty in all its manifestations.
He emphasised that the most important element in the 21st-century fight against poverty is money. “Having access to finance is the simplest way to escape poverty,” he said. Alebiosu listed the impact of artificial intelligence on mankind, sustainable finance, and innovative financing as some of the key debate points of the UN Global Compact Leaders’ Summit.
In order to address the growing economic divide between rich and developing countries, he emphasised the vital importance of strengthening human resources.
The UN’s emphasis on sustainable development and equality, notably in areas like gender equality, climate action, and living wages, is echoed by this emphasis on human resource development.
As an financial specialist in Nigeria and Africa, has determined that FirstBank must prioritise financial inclusion in order to meet the SDGs’ goal of reducing poverty.
FirstBank views financial inclusion as a key component of its business plan, which has led to the bank lending more than N36 billion to women by the year 2023 and creating a gender market strategy to bolster the bank’s female clientele.
Alebiosu cited FirstBank’s vast network of Firstmonie agents in Nigeria as evidence of the effectiveness of financing in furthering economic interests and fostering economic development.
The network of agents surpassed 232,000 in 2023, and over 55,000 of them were women who continued to provide financial services in their communities. “FirstBank will further be entrenched into the fabric of the society, earning a place in the hearts and minds of Nigerians as a Giant advocate for economic development in Nigeria and Africa as a whole,” Alebiosu concluded.
Finally, he shared his vision for the future. Every year, the UN Global Compact Leaders’ Summit is a one-day conference that equips leaders from the corporate sector to spearhead sustainable development and propel the 2030 Agenda.
Business executives, UN representatives, government officials, SDG stakeholders, and professionals from civil society will have a rare opportunity to come together and discuss creative solutions with practical insights at this event. The event this year took place on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, in New York.
