The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, says plans are underway to establish a Banking School to train and equip graduates to become employable in the banking, finance and business industry.
Dr Ken Opara, President/Chairman of Council, CIBN, made the disclosure at the ground-breaking ceremony of a 160-seater auditorium, named ‘CIBN Bankers Hall’, at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, NAU, Awka, on Friday.
Mr Opara said: “Plans are underway to establish a Banking school in Nigeria.
“As soon as a student who has undergone the CIBN linkage programme graduates and finishes the National Youth Service Corps programme, he will be given the privilege to attend the banking school at no cost.
“You will be trained and made ready for employment in banks and other financial institutions. Banks have also agreed that the banking school will become a pool where they will be recruiting young bankers.”
Mr Opara said that the CIBN Linkage Programme which was initiated in 1998 in collaboration with 76 tertiary institutions in Nigeria, had continued to transform and change the narrative of banking education.
He said that the Linkage Programme which commenced at NAU in 2008, deepened banking, finance and allied programmes through infusion of professional elements in the teaching and learning processes.
According to him, the linkage programme is also addressing the gap between the industry and the academia in terms of quality graduates produced from higher institutions.
“The Nnamdi Azikiwe University emerged one of the best linkage programme institution for creating value and building capacity. Hence, the donation of the 160-seating capacity lecture hall.
“The CIBN Bankers Hall for students of the department of Banking and Finance, is a legacy project bequeathed to NAU and will be delivered in four months.
