By Rabiu Sanusi
The Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation, CREDICORP, under the leadership of Managing Director, Uzoma Nwagba, has launched a renewed drive to promote responsible borrowing and improve access to consumer credit for Nigerians, with a major focus on cultural reorientation.
Speaking at a cultural Reorientation campaign engagement in Kano, emphasized that the initiative – an economic empowerment scheme introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu – is designed to help Nigerians access essential goods and services without the burden of long-term savings.
The managing director said through community training, digital education & market activations, we’re helping everyday Nigerians see credit as a tool for economic growth.
The Cultural Reorientation campaign is the third pillar of CREDICORP’s strategy, working alongside Infrastructure and Capital to unlock access to goods, services & opportunities
“We want to end the cash-and-carry culture where people save for years to purchase basic necessities like furniture, solar systems, vehicles, or tools for their work.
Mr. Nwagba said the scheme’s core mandate revolves around three pillars: strengthening the legal and credit infrastructure, enabling financial institutions with capital and guarantees to lend confidently, and reorienting Nigerians’ mindset about credit.
“Many Nigerians still view credit as something shameful or only for desperate situations. We are here to change that narrative. Credit, when used responsibly, is a tool for improving lives—today, not ten years from now.
“CREDICORP does not lend directly to consumers, instead, it partners with banks, microfinance institutions, fintechs, and licensed finance companies to provide funding and risk-sharing mechanisms.
“These institutions already have proximity to the people they’re trusted, and people bank and save with them.”
The corporation is also attentive to the unique financial systems in Northern Nigeria. “We recognize and fully support Islamic finance. That’s why we offer Sharia-compliant, interest-free products through partners like Jaiz Bank and Alternative Bank,” said Nwagba.
“Kano, being a cultural and economic hub of the North, is the right place to drive this reorientation.”
Chairman of the Kwari Traders Association, Musa Umar Sanda, welcomed the initiative, calling it timely. “If the terms are simplified, our traders can truly benefit. This will help expand our businesses and improve livelihoods,” he said.
Mustapha Mohammed, Regional Manager of Ecobank in Kano, assured the bank’s full support.
“Ecobank is committed to economic development. With CREDICORP’s backing, we can bring credit facilities to the grassroots, especially in rural areas where awareness is low,” he said.
He emphasized that the funds available under this program are more affordable than traditional bank loans.
The manager noted that while Southern Nigeria has already seen billions of naira disbursed under the scheme, uptake in the North remains limited due to low awareness. “We are now working to change that. The funds are there. People just need to come forward,” he said.
Interested Nigerians can visit creditcorp.ng or creditcard.ng to find participating financial institutions and begin their journey toward a better life through responsible credit.
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