BY COBHAM NSA – For their towering contributions to good corporate governance and rule of law in Nigeria’s banking industry, the Managing Director of Access Bank Group, Dr Herbert Wigwe and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, are proud recipients of the Juris Law awards.
The prestigious award was presented by the Juris Law Office, in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI), at a workshop for judicial officers on recent reforms of the banking financial services sectors in Nigeria: Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act (2020) in Focus.
The workshop titled: ‘The Role of the Judiciary in Financial System Stability in Nigeria’ saw Wigwe, who is also the Chairman, body of Bank Chief Executive Officers, being appreciated for his immense contributions to banking sector growth in Nigeria.
Similarly, the apex bank boss, Mr Emefiele was also recognized for his support towards the development of law for Nigeria’s economic and banking sector growth.
In his goodwill message at the event, Mr Wigwe said the Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020 would continue to promote a “stronger, more transparent, and efficient financial system” in Nigeria.
According to him, the additional powers for CBN and the other salient provisions introduced by the Act will assist improve the system; prevent bank failures; and other systemic issues, even as he challenged lawyers to consider contemporary issues within Nigeria’s banking sector and come up with workable ways of resolving financial disputes.
The Access Bank Chief Executive said; “It is my hope that my Lords will be emboldened in the future to implement the provisions of this Act, admit their errors where necessary, and do inestimable good to the banking and financial sector in the country.
“I am, without doubt, that your lordships’ decisions are a vital part in determining how fast and high the economy of this country can grow. It is my hope that future cases will be decided in tandem with the spirit of this Act and the rule of law. No nation’s economy can develop faster than its rule of law.”
He charged judicial officers on fully utilising the workshop opportunity and other relevant forums to access the right knowledge and attitude about contemporary issues in the nation’s financial and banking sector as major stakeholders in the country.
