Welcome Address by the National President
Welcome Address/Opening Remark of the National President of NAMB Mr. Rogers Augustine I. Nwoke on the Occasion of the Extra Ordinary Meeting of the Members of the National Association of Microfinance Banks held on March 24, 2018 at Merit House, Abuja
Protocols!
Distinguished members of NAMB, Nigeria.
1. It is with great pleasure that I welcome all of us Chairmen and Managing Directors of Micro Finance Banks in Nigeria to this very important meeting called for the purpose of giving approval to the Amendment of NAMB Constitution. I most sincerely thank the Almighty GOD JEHOVAH for bringing you all safely to the meeting and I pray that HIS presence will guide us through all our deliberations this morning in Jesus name. Amen!
2. When this administration was given your mandate in August 5, 2017, we set out on a rescue mission to restore NAMB to a strong united professional Microfinance apex Organization committed to its vision to be one of the top 10 microfinance networks in the world by the year 2020. Our promise was to strengthen all the organs of administration of NAMB and so ensure a solid foundation to build on a future for NAMB. We also promised to reconcile all our members and re-unite all stakeholders, hence our policy of ALL for ONE and ONE for ALL, ONWARD TOGETHER.
3. It has been seven months since we were elected and we have concentrated our efforts at ensuring we keep our promises to you who have trusted us with your votes. As at today, we can assure you of the completion of the following deliverables.
a. Relocation of our National Secretariat to Abuja city Centre, easily accessible and proudly befitting.
b. We have commenced the furnishing and equipping of the office to international standard
c. With the support from APPZONE/BANKONE and INLAKS/NAMBUIT, the office automation process has begun. In a few weeks from now, members will be able to login into NAMB database through a world–class standard website and update their records, pay dues and other financial obligations, have a common email address (i.e. yourbank@nambnigeria.org), and send messages through web-assisted broadcasts.
d. Our reconciliation efforts have yielded very positive results as can be seen today where all state/zonal chapters are in attendance unlike our last meeting where there were boycotts. We have had four NEC meetings in our seven months of administration with attendance in excess of 80% at all times.
e. We have obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria approval for a 40% subsidy to purchase BVN machines. As at today, approximately N50 million has been received and refunded to our members. If any member has not sent in the subsidy claim forms, please don’t leave this arena without doing so.
f. We have successfully registered NAMB on the SEEP Network for Access to the largest international microfinance network. Our members can now have access to subsidized trainings anywhere in the world organized by SEEP member organizations.
4. Our meeting today has been called to fulfil the Constitutional provision of a general meeting of members to give approval to the amendment of the NAMB Constitution. The process of review and amendment of the constitution began at NEC September 2017 meeting where NEC resolved to amend the constitution and a 17 member committee was constituted. The committee was inaugurated on December 2, 2017 and submitted its report to NEC on February 24, 2018 at which meeting NEC considered and approved the amendments as proposed by the committee. The Board of Trustees subsequently met on February 26, 2018 and also considered and gave consent to the approval by NEC.
5. Let me use this opportunity to once again thank Dr. Dan Ogun and all members of the Constitution Review and Amendment Committee for all the work that has been done. My gratitude also goes to all NEC members for the serious attention that has been given to the constitution review and amendment process. NAMB has been united in the pursuit of this course and we are indeed grateful.
6. The National Secretariat is in receipt of a letter of complaint from the First National Vice President to the Central Bank of Nigeria and copied to Inspector General of Police, Director General of DSS, NDIC, CAC etc. this is a huge embarrassment to the leadership of NAMB as Mallam Nasiru Audu Baba (the Complainant) has fully participated in the process. We have responded to CBN and other agencies while matters have been referred to NEC for consideration.
7. Let me also report that on Thursday March 1, 2018 court Bailiffs stormed the secretariat and carted away office equipment and furniture in execution of a court judgment obtained by Chief Jethro M. Akun (NAMB President 2012-2014 and current BOT member). The said court judgment was obtained on a purported debt of N1, 720,000 (One Million Seven Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) being owed by NAMB to Chief Akun for expenses he incurred while serving as President of NAMB. We have made the said payments to the Registrar of FCT High Court, while we have challenged the judgment and are hopeful of recovery of the said sum in full.
8. Let me conclude by thanking you all again for all your support. There is no NAMB without you. Let us all join hands today to approve the constitution and by so doing we cross this hurdle which has taken us 8 years to achieve. We shall leave no stone unturned in keeping to our promise to deliver true accountable service to our great association.
Thank you all and may Almighty God bless our enterprise.
ROGERS A.I. NWOKE FCA, HCIB,MCIB
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
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