The IMF boss also donated N1.5 million ($7,500), to the Mother Teresa Children’s Home, in Gwarimpa, Abuja, during her visit to the orphanage.
Briefing the media in a short session after a closed-door meeting with some top chief executives of banks, who along with the regulators make up the Bankers’ Committee, Lagarde said she held discussions with bank CEOs to encourage them to lend more and at concessionary interest rates to the real sector of the economy to boost economic growth and development.
“We had a chance to debate together how the financial sector can contribute to financing the economy and supporting the business and development of group in Nigeria. From my perspective, it was a very productive meeting, very open to really exchange and consider how we can improve further the financial sector in Nigeria is strong and solid and it also needs to continue to be so but it also need to lend to the real economy and provide the needed credit for businesses.”
CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele thanked the IMF boss for reiterating the apex banks call and said the bankers have given their word to improve lending to the real sector.
“Had a meeting with the bankers’ committee, Want to thank Lagarde for visiting Nigeria and the Central Bank of Nigeria today. We had very fruitful discussions and indeed she gave support to the efforts of the CBN by also trying to encourage Nigerian banks to continue to support the real sector, support the small scale enterprises in Nigeria and indeed also try as much as possible to do those lending activities at very concessionary interest rates. The banks gave their word that they will try their best notwithstanding the challenges in the environment now.”
Lagarde, who commenced on a four-day visit to Nigeria since Monday this week, departs today to visit Cameroon as part of her visits to Africa.
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