World Savings and Retail Banking Institute conducts Nigeria mission and kicks off climate-smart finance pilot with LAPO Microfinance Bank

The World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) carried out a five-day mission to Nigeria from 14 to 18 July, engaging institutions in Lagos and Abuja on financial inclusion and sustainable development and launching a new pilot project with LAPO Microfinance Bank on climate-smart adaptations for women smallholders and women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. A day-long kick-off workshop with LAPO Microfinance teams from 10 states focused on identifying practical climate-resilient agricultural practices and how microfinance can support female smallholders, drawing on discussions of climate impacts such as shifting rainfall patterns, soil degradation, pests and disease. Reported outputs included tailored credit for women-led agribusinesses, on-farm benefits of biochar adoption, and improved small-plot irrigation and drainage techniques. Alongside the pilot launch, the WSBI delegation led by Chief Executive Officer Peter Simon met the Central Bank of Nigeria on advancing the Women Entrepreneur Finance Code, and held discussions with UNESCO Abuja on aligning skills development with agricultural sector needs, with additional engagements involving the Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria, ECOWAS and other organisations.