CBN to establish special court for Microfinance loan defaulters

From Business Day Online The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has re-stated its commitment to establish special court to hear cases on loan default in microfinance banks. Olufemi Fabanwo, the Director of... 

Other News

Indian Microfinance Provider Finalist For Global Green Energy Award

LONDON, May 15 (Bernama) — A microfinance provider in south Indian state Karnataka has been selected alongside seven other organisations from Peru, Indonesia, Cambodia and Afghanistan as... 

SMEs Tipped to Anchor Growth of Nigeria’s Economy

By Crusoe Osagie, This Day Live The Federal Government has commenced moves to position the Small and Medium Enterprise sub-sector in Nigeria as growth drivers for the economy. The Minister of... 

MFB Directors to get training from CBN, others

By Hope Moses-Ashik, Business Day Online As a follow up to the certification programme for microfinance banks, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the Nigeria Deposit Insurance... 

• ‘No hiding place for fraudulent borrowers’
• USA: Accion Staff Recognized for Help in the Economic Recovery of Distressed Neighborhoods in Miami
• Successful microfinance stories: Watch repairman struggles to save his forgotten profession

Around Africa

Sudan: Decision to Form a High Council for Microfinance in Blue Nile State

The government of Blue Nile issued a decision forming the high council of Microfinance in the state. The decision was supported by the federal government by allocating 2 billion pounds for Microfinance.... 

Sudan: Workshop to Prepare Microfinance Strategy Organized

Khartoum: Khartoum State workshop organized to prepare Microfinance strategy has called for formulating a strategy consistent with the national strategy. The speakers at the yesterday’s workshop,... 

Zimbabwe: Is debt the new drug in Zimbabwe?

By Tafirenyika Makunike, New Zimbabwe WHEN I was in Zimbabwe recently, I could not help but notice a resurgence of activity in the microfinance sector which had largely gone aground during the... 

• Kenya: Micro-financiers set to blacklist serial loan defaulters
• Bank of Ghana blacklists 4 Microfinance Institutions
• Kenya: Airtel mobile loan deepens telcos’ foray into finance

Technology & Mobile Money

MTN Partners Stanbic IBTC on Mobile Money

By Emma Okonji, This Day Live MTN and Stanbic IBTC Bank- a member of Standard Bank Group- have signed an agreement on the provision of mobile money services to Nigerians. Speaking at the signing... 

Western Union, MTN Announce Launch of Mobile Money Transfer Service in Uganda; Provides 9,000 Branded Mobile Phones

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. & KAMPALA, Uganda, Mar 28, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The Western Union Company and MTN Group today announced the launch of a mobile money transfer service in Uganda, allowing... 

Paga receives $2m grant from EFInA

Zebulon Agomuo, Business Day Online Paga, a financial services platform, has said it aimed at bringing financial services to over 40 million Nigerians by 2015, even as it received a $2 million... 

• CGAP, Grameen Foundation, and MTN to Invest in Mobile Money Products for the Unbanked
• Kenya to host Banking and Mobile Money conference
• Comviva to Lead MasterCard’s Worldwide Mobile Money Partnership Program

Events

Kenya to host Banking and Mobile Money conference

By Michael Ouma, The East African Kenya is set to host the sixth edition of Africa IT Exhibitions and Conferences’ (AITEC) Banking & Mobile Money COMESA meeting from March 7 to 8 at the... 

First round speakers announced for Mobile Money West Africa summit

Mobile Money Africa, Africa’s leading resource for mobile financial inclusion today announced  that  executives  from EcoBank International, Africa centre for mobile financial inclusion,... 

Sustainable Microenterprise and Development Program-Ghana 2012

March 12-23, 2012, Accra, Ghana The SMDP Ghana is an intensive training program offering critical skills for African microfinance and enterprise development leaders. Five Learning Tracks 1. Microfinance... 

• CBN hosts 6th microfinance conference
• Sudan: 2nd Microfinance Conference to be kicked off next Sunday
• Microfinance: Is there really a Crisis? Interactive webinar on October 4, 2011

Microinsurance

ID Summit: Microinsurance can empower women

From Insurance Today The rise and growth of microinsurance in developing parts of the world can play a central role in the empowerment of women, according to Mark Byrne, founder and chairman... 

NAICOM condemns insurers’ foreign drive

By Favour Nnabugwu, Vanguard National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, has condemned the expansion drive of the country’s insurance companies in foreign countries over and above their spread in... 

Microinsurance requiring effective system to benefit vulnerable poor

By Modestus Anaesorony, Business Day Online The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on January 1, 2012 flagged off mobile money in Nigeria, with Lagos as the starting point. The policy decision was... 

• World Bank’s Results-Based Financing for Healthcare Improvements to Benefit 3.8 Million
• Microinsurance coverage expanding at breathtaking pace according to ILO and the Munich Re Foundation
• UBA Metropolitan Life offer polices to secure MSMEs

Views & Opinions

Microfinance in Nigeria two years after CBN’s intervention

By Graham Orodje Prior to CBN’s intervention, Microfinance in Nigeria was taking a swift decline into the abyss. The sector was riddled with fraud and mismanagement of funds. Some of the mismanagement... 

Microfinance Dependency on Government Funds

By Graham Orodje In March the Ag Chairman of Lagos National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB) Mr Olufemi Babjide announced that 183 Microfinance Banks (MFBs) had applied for access to... 

Where is the data to support Delta State’s Microfinance Programme Success

By Graham Orodje - As a native of Delta State I was extremely proud to read that the State had won the award as the best at supporting Micro-credit financing at the recently concluded 5th... 

• Depositors do not trust Microfinance Banks
• Where Next for Microfinance Investors?
• Microfinance Banks should take reponsibility for the state of the sector

Interviews

Microfinance Africa Interview with Kopo Kopo

“Sulay, the Hope Micro MIS Administrator, tests Splash Mobile Money” (image provided by Kopo Kopo) Kopo Kopo recently announced the launch of Mobile Microfinance in Sierra Leone... 

Operators’ lack of knowledge is ruining microfinancing —Oyekanmi

From National Daily - Microfinance banks in the country have been generating much controversy of late following the report from the Central Bank of Nigeria that most microfinance banks (MFBs)... 

Microfinance banks can do better than commercial banks – Wale Adeduro

By Chima Nwokoji, Daily Sun  - Following recent revocation of licences of some microfinance banks, there have been calls from various quarters for the ... 

• ‘An Older Husband Is More Caring, Understanding’

Jobs

Managing Directors, Heads of Operations (HOPs)/Bank Accountants jobs at Microfinance Banks nigeria 2012

Managing Directors, Heads of Operations (HOPs)/Bank Accountants jobs at Microfinance Banks nigeria 2012 Vacancies: Managing Directors, Heads of Operations (HOPs)/Bank Accountants Applications... 

ACCION Microfinance Bank Limited, AMfB, Massive Graduate Recruitment

ACCION Microfinance Bank Limited (AMfB) is one of the largest microfinance banks in Nigeria with a capitalization of N1.2bn. Its shareholders include three of the leading commercial banks... 

Procurement Job in ACCION Microfinance Bank Limited (AMfB) for procurement officer

Procurement Job in ACCION Microfinance Bank Limited (AMfB) for procurement officer(jobs@accionmfb.com) Job Title: Procurement Officer Location: Lagos Application Deadline 22nd March, 2012 Company... 

• Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), DRC
• Fortis Microfinance Bank Job Recruitment (over 18 positions)
• FINCA: Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in the Democratic Republic of Congo