DESPITE regulatory challenges and the financial crisis, policymakers are embracing mobile banking as a means of providing financial access to the unbanked poor.

TO make Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) globally competitive, entrepreneurs and small scale business owners in the country have been advised to adequately brand their products and services, especially in this period of global recession.

Mr. Tunde Lemo, deputy governor, CBN who spoke at a microfinance forum in Kano State last week said the dearth of microfinance banks in the entire 44 councils of the state is a major concern.

OJOKORO microfinance bank says it is ready to partner small scale business owners, artisans, traders, among others who are active but financially poor in Lagos and other states of the federation.

To make microfinance services accessible to all and sundry, Treasures Microfinance Bank says, it is planning to grow its capital base to N1 billion. This, the bank says, is to make it acquire a state-wide microfinance banking license.

Elim Microfinance Bank has introduced Elim Graduate Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Scheme (EGEES), a service targeted at graduates and undergraduates in the Nigerian market.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the GSM Association (GSMA), an organisation representing more than 750 of the world’s cell phone operators have unveiled  Mobile Money for the Unbanked programme (MMU).

The Grameen Foundation in collaboration with Oikocredit have developed a set of guidelines to help ensure a social impact of investments in microfinance worldwide.