The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria has reiterated its resolve to strengthen the banking and finance education in the country through the infusion of professional elements into the teaching and learning of the course for the enhancement of the profession.
As part of the moves towards achieving the goal, the CIBN has begun the construction of a fully equipped 160-seater lecture theater to be called ‘The CIBN Bankers Hall,’ which would come with ultra-modern gadgets, at The Polytechnic Ibadan.
Same project is also billed for launch in five other institutions in the five remaining geo-political zones in Nigeria.
In order to bolster the performances of the Banking and Finance graduates in the country, the Institute embarked on a linkage programme, which commenced at The Polytechnic Ibadan on June 21, 2012, with 68 tertiary institutions currently drafted into the scheme.
President/Chairman of Council, CIBN, Dr. Bayo Olugbemi, in an address at the groundbreaking ceremony of ‘The CIBN Bankers Hall,’ at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, on Monday, said that the project would go down in the annals of the Institute and the Polytechnic as a game changer for the profession.
He said, “This project is our modest contribution to promote banking and finance education and support the economy through capacity building.
“The great sage, Nelson Mandela, once asserted that ‘education is the most powerful weapon with which you can change the world’ and we at The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria share this opinion. In 1998, our Institute introduced a novel scheme called the Linkage Programme in collaboration with tertiary institutions.
“The objective of the programme is to strengthen and deepen banking and finance education by infusing professional element into the teaching-learning process with a view to addressing the gap between town and gown as it relates to banking profession. The linkage programme, which currently has 68 tertiary institutions on board, commenced at The Polytechnic Ibadan on June 21, 2012. The execution of the collaboration and the relationship have been mutually beneficial.
“To further deepen the collaboration, it has been the desire of our Institute to institute a learning legacy project in the linked institutions across the country. This year, the Governing Council of our Institute resolved to institute legacy projects in six institutions across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. After a rigorous and painstaking evidence-based appraisal exercise, I am pleased to announce that The Polytechnic Ibadan, came out on top as the best linkage institution in Nigeria and the best in South-West Nigeria. It is this outcome that provides the springboard for what we are doing today.
“The legacy project, which The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria is bequeathing to The Polytechnic Ibadan, is a 160-seater lecture theater that will be fully equipped with ultra-modern gadgets. The edifice, which will be known and called The CIBN Bankers Hall, will serve as the melting pot for the training and development of future-ready bankers.
“It is our considered opinion that any student from your institution who has gone through the linkage programme and has passed the Banking Professional Examinations conducted by The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, will be a competent material fit for the industry, be it public or private. You will recall that on 12th April 2021, the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation announced the inclusion of Banking and Finance degree certificates in government schemes of service with an effective date of 4th December 2021.
“According to the communique, the National Council on Establishments, at its 42nd meeting held from 30th November to 4th December, 2020 in Ikeja, Lagos State approved the inclusion of Banking and Finance degree certificate in the schemes of service for Industrial/Investment; Procurement/Commercial Officer and other relevant cadre. The approval represents a major milestone in the Institute’s efforts at ensuring that more opportunities are open to banking and finance graduates to ply their trade in public service in addition to the private sector.
“I must also mention that in recognition of the changing business landscape and the transformation that has taken place in the banking industry, the Institute developed and launched its new Syllabus for the Banking Professional examinations on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.
“The new syllabus has been fortified with contents that are contemporary and addresses emerging issues in the world of banking and finance. The Institute is also stepping forward to introduce online proctoring examinations in addition to the CBT examinations which has been running for a while. All these initiatives have been put in place to give our ‘student members’ the best in terms of training, exposure and experience.”
He congratulated the Chairman, Governing Council, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and the Rector of the institution, Prof. Kunle Akinyemi, and Prof. Kazeem Adebiyi, respectively for the progress made in the 50-year-history of the institution.
As well, he expressed appreciation to the former Presidents and the Executive Management of the institute, led by Dr. ‘Seye Awojobi; the Oyo State Chairman of CIBN, Kehinde Omotosho, and other stakeholders for their commitment towards the successful take-off of the project.
