Help empower youth, Veep tells financial institutions

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 10:53:17 +0000

By SANDRA MACHIMA

FINANCIAL institutions are an integral partner in national development who can play a role in youth empowerment to counter unemployment, says vice President Inonge Wina.

Mrs Wina has since called on financial institutions to partner with government in the implementation of e-voucher and the current titling exercises that were in process.

The vice President said it was imperative that the banking sector in Zambia engaged government in its effort to ensure that there was financial inclusion among various groups, in particular the farmers.

She called on the bank to promote intra trade in Africa which the United Bank of Africa pledged to follow up as this formed the cornerstone of the bank’s business in Africa.

The vice-president was speaking when the United Bank of Africa country officials paid a courtesy call on her.

And permanent secretary, administration, in the office of the vice President Stephen Mwansa said the United Bank of Africa was the pride of Africa because it was run by Africans for Africans.

He dared the bank to extend its services in Zambia in order to capture the great number of people that remain unbanked.

And the United Bank of Africa CEO  Emeka Dimanochie reiterated the need for empowerment and said his bank was targeting women because they proved to be a serious business partner with a successful record of payback in as far as loan repayments were concerned.

Mr Dimanochie said the bank had a presence in 19 countries and would increase to 25 countries in the next three-years.