BY  PROVIDENCE OBUH

National Association of Microfiannce Banks (NAMB) is leveraging on the forthcoming International Investors conference to make funds available to local microfinance banks, and in turn make them available to the rural poor at very small interest rates.

The conference would be used to raise stabilisation funds for Nigerian micro-finance banks, and also expected to enable Nigeria through Rural Finance Institution Building Programme RUFIN, to access fund that would be made available to local microfinance banks that would in turn make them available to the rural poor, says   President of the Association, Mr Jethro Akum.

Akum made this statement at a briefing with newsmen on the forthcoming conference billed for 18th and 19th July, an initiative of the Rural Finance Institution Building Programme (RUFIN) supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

“The funds from the investors would be registered as private funds that would be accessed by microfinance institutions dealing with grass root people as well as Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

The goal of the programme is to improve the income, food security and general living conditions of poor rural households, particularly women-headed households, youths and the physically challenged.

As a platform for attracting foreign investors, he said that it would also enable the international micro-finance investors’ communities that have interest in Nigeria, to have firsthand experience of the sector.

In the same vien, Mr Nuhu Danjuma, a consultant with RUFIN, said that research has shown that that the micro-finance sector could be developed through a string of initiatives and partnerships by various stakeholders and actors. “Some of the initiatives include: ensuring a sound macro environment by sound regulations and development strategy.”