The President/Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr Ken Okpara, has said the institute will partner with the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB) to further project and protect the image of the banking sector in the country.

The CIBN boss stated that the partnership became necessary to further reposition and sanitise the banking industry as well as guide it against fraudsters tarnishing the names of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) in the country.

Okpara, who took over CIBN’s leadership on May 21, said this on Wednesday while receiving the ACAMB executive committee visit at the Bankers House, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

Speaking, Okpara called for synergy between the CIBN and ACAMB to further reposition the banking industry for increased impact.

According to him, it is high time bankers took narrative of the developments in the industry by showcasing its strides and also reorienting the public on how to avoid fraudulent pitfalls in their daily banking transactions.

The CIBN President said to achieve this, the institute will partner ACAMB to explore running a specialised radio programme that will provide verified information and enlightenment to members of the public.

He stated that the proposed radio programme will be owned by all the banks, thereby using it as a voice for continuous projection of their interests.

“The need to showcase the positive strides and image of the banking industry and the re-orientation of the public on this is now paramount. We will have a forum to speak on and correct issues as they unfold through different avenues including radio programmes.

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“With that, we will be able to provide information, enlightenment, happenings in the industry, financial inclusion, financial literacy, cybercrimes, frauds, etc to the general public,” Okpara added.

The CIBN boss said in the long run, the institute would consider the establishment of a bankers’ radio station to the advantage of the banking sector.

“Going forward, we would explore the possibility of floating a Bankers Radio through the CIBN. This will provide continuous public enlightenment, Banker-Customer forum/platform, customers’ protection, consumer advocacy, etc,” Okpara said.

Commending ACAMB as “a worthy partner” over the years, Okpara said the association has been living up to its expectation of projecting the banking industry positively despite the challenges.

He further appreciated ACAMB for the strong visibility support it gave the last Annual Banking and Finance Conference just as he asked for more initiatives his administration will undertake. He added that the institute would partner ACAMB to host CIBN-ACAMB regular media engagement.

According to him, the engagement will help cover issues ranging from bank charges, malpractices, humongous profits and other issues of concern to the banking public.

Okpara, therefore, urged ACAMB to continue to give their support to the institute as well as the banking sector at large.

Responding on behalf of the excos, the ACAMB President, Mr. Rasheed Bolarinwa, affirmed the association’s strong commitment to the advancement of the institute and the banking sector.

Bolarinwa further informed the CIBN President about ACAMB’s forthcoming signature 1st National Stakeholders’ Conference between the Banking Industry and Organised Private Sector (OPS) slated for August 3.

According to him, the conference is aimed at developing a synergy between the two sectors to rebound the national economy.

Bolarinwa equally thanked the CIBN boss for the institute’s support for ACAMB over the years and for accepting to be a Guest Speaker at the forthcoming OPS Conference.

The Star