BY NNAMDI OJIEGO
Credit Awareness Nigeria, a financial non governmental organisation based in Lagos has disclosed that more than 79 per cent of Nigerians, comprising mostly those at the lower strata in the society do not properly understand the workings of the financial sector.

Speaking at an interactive session in Lagos, the Executive Director, Credit Awareness, Mr Ladi Smith said; “of the over 185 million Nigerians, only about 21 percent of the population were literate on the workings of banks.

“Our main challenge now is to reach out to the remaining 79 percent and in simple terms and methods, teach them how they can richly benefit from the various services being offered by micro-finance and other grassroots banks in the country”.

Buoyed by the need to empower a larger percentage of Nigerians through various available and accessible credit facilities in the country, Smith hinted that his organisation has concluded plans to shoot a film titled “The Story of Gold” to educate and enlighten Nigerians particularly, those at the bottom of the pyramid on financial matters.

He said this has become pertinent in view of the low literacy level among Nigerians on the workings of the various financial institutions principally established to provide accessible credit facilities to owners of micro, small and medium enterprises in Nigeria.

According to the Credit Awareness boss, they will also use this platform and many other catchy grassroots platforms as means of eradicating poverty in the country.

Speaking on the rationale for choice of film to pass the message across, the financial expert explained that it was the best medium to reach out to people where majority of them cannot read or write. “Why we choose movie is because, people at the bottom of the pyramid are not literates. Now if somebody is not literate, you can’t bring him book to read. So we thought that one of the medium to speak to such is by drama.

“And by this film, we believe that we are going to reach out to many people who do not have a very good understanding of how the financial sector works. The lessons people who watch this movie will learn will enable them change their value system”, he explained stating that the film was designed in a way that people will emulate characters who behave well in the movie.

He also explained that the film will use a very simple language to pass its message most especially as it is targeted at those living in the rural and semi-urban areas, and would be aired free of charge at various Nigerian cities during a pan-Nigeria town storming programme.

Backed by the World Bank and with strong alliance with the financial regulatory agencies in Nigeria, Credit Awareness Nigeria has set up a working group to facilitate the achievement of its mandate, which is to enhance access to credit facilities among Nigerians.

The film when produced, will be distributed free of charge through groups like Market Women Association, Motorcycle, taxi and bus drivers associations, amongst others.