Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, on Monday, inducted 156 newly trained Financial Inclusion Centre (FIC) experts.

The aim is to equip them with wealth management skills and access to financial services.

The induction was held at the council secretariat.

The LCDA’s chairman, Akinola Idowu, said the experts from Agege Local Government and Orile-Agege LCDA were trained under the Federal Government’s FIC scheme.

He said the programme aligned with his administration’s focus on youth empowerment, education and basic amenities since assuming office in 2025.

“This feat shows our commitment to creating jobs and economic opportunities beyond road construction and infrastructure.

“We will continue to explore innovative programmes,” he said.

Mr Idowu noted that after meeting with the FIC Director-General, Sola Bickersteth, Orile-Agege became the first council in Lagos and the South-West to implement the programme at this scale.

The chairman urged the inductees to use the digital devices provided to them with integrity.

In his remarks, Mr Bickersteth said the initiative bridged communities and financial institutions.

“The agents will facilitate access to loans, grants, business registration and financial literacy,” he said.

The director-general said that each FIC expert could support over 200 businesses.

“This initiative can support over 30,000 businesses with funding above five million naira,” he said.

He said farmers, artisans, traders, market women and youths would benefit, adding that the programme would strengthen grassroots economic development across Agege.

The event featured a question-and-answer session. Council officials, community leaders, youth groups and religious leaders were in attendance. 

(NAN)