CBN Governor, Finance Minister to lead Africa Deposit Insurance conference on financial stability

By Onu Okorie

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, will this week lead discussions on strengthening financial stability in Africa as Nigeria hosts the 2026 International Association of Deposit Insurers IADI Africa Regional Committee ARC Annual Meeting and Workshop in Abuja.

Cardoso is expected to formally declare the four-day conference open, while Oyedele will deliver the keynote address at the event, which runs from July 20 to 23 under the theme, “Safeguarding Stability: Public Awareness and Crisis Readiness for a Stronger Future.”

Also expected at the meeting are the Secretary General of the International Association of Deposit Insurers, Eva Hüpkes; the Chairperson of the IADI Africa Regional Committee, Julia Oyet; and the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation NDIC, Thompson Oludare Sunday, who will serve as chief host.

The conference will bring together chief executives, directors and senior officials of deposit insurance institutions, financial regulators and other stakeholders within the financial safety net from across Africa and beyond to deliberate on strategies aimed at enhancing depositor confidence and improving institutional readiness to respond to financial crises.

According to the NDIC, the gathering will focus on strengthening public awareness and crisis preparedness in line with the revised IADI Core Principles, with participants expected to examine measures for building and sustaining public trust in deposit insurance systems.

The corporation said discussions would also explore ways to improve communication and coordination among financial safety-net institutions while equipping deposit insurers with practical tools for effective crisis management and resolution.

Organisers noted that the annual meeting would provide a platform for peer learning and the exchange of experiences among African deposit insurers as regulators confront emerging challenges arising from financial technology innovations and increasing cyber threats to the financial system.

The programme will feature technical committee meetings, plenary sessions and interactive roundtable discussions covering public awareness during both normal and crisis periods, crisis preparedness and management, system-wide response operations, as well as simulation exercises designed to test institutional readiness for potential financial disruptions.

The NDIC said the conference is expected to reinforce collaboration among African regulators, strengthen regional frameworks for responding to banking sector challenges and promote greater confidence in deposit insurance schemes across the continent.

It added that the workshop underscores the growing importance of effective public communication, institutional coordination and crisis preparedness in maintaining confidence in financial systems and ensuring the resilience of deposit insurance frameworks across Africa.