The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has urged Nigerian youths to use the bank’s programmes to better their lives, pledging more youth empowerment through sports and other intervention programmes.

Mr Emefiele made the pledge at the All Financial Institutions Football Competition (AFIFC) finals played on Sunday at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

Represented by CBN director Samuel Okogbure, Mr Emefiele called on youths to explore every opportunity offered by the bank, including sports.

He urged them to key into the apex bank’s financial programmes connected to a wide range of events geared to enhancing sustainable development.

”Let me assure you that the management of the CBN remains committed to the sponsorship of this tournament. Let me also use the opportunity of this tournament to urge our teeming youths to embrace various intervention programmes of the bank to better their lots and contribute to the development of the nation,” the CBN governor explained. “I encourage you to access our various interventions in the agricultural sector, as well as the creative industry’s financial initiative (CIFI), both with a high and low-interest finance in fashion, music, and technology.”

He added, “I wish to thank the Cross River State government for hosting the finals in this beautiful sporting arena. Let me also thank our long-standing partner, the Nigeria Football Federation, for organising this tournament.”

The 24-team football competition saw Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) emerge champions following a 4 -1 penalty shootout victory over the CBN Strikers.

Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) clinched bronze after a 2-0 victory over Bubayero FC for third place.
Winners of the 34 edition of the annual tournament went home with N2 million, while runners-up received N1.5 million.

The second runners-up and the fourth-placed teams were rewarded with N1 million and N500,000, respectively.

(NAN)