President Tinubu <\/a>has met with a high-level delegation from Mastercard, led by its Global Chief Executive Officer, Michael Miebach, at the State House in Abuja. <\/p>\n During the Tuesday meeting, the President described Nigeria\u2019s large youth population as the country\u2019s most valuable resource, assuring foreign investors that the nation\u2019s tech-savvy workforce is fully prepared to plug into the international market.<\/p>\n The President welcomed a proposal from the technology company aimed at training five million small businesses in digital skills. According to President Tinubu, strategic policy shifts have stabilized the Nigerian economy, setting the stage for deep integration into global trade with a specific focus on small businesses and young people. <\/p>\n He noted that moving businesses from the informal sector into formal registration is opening fresh doors for technology adoption, investments, and employment.<\/p>\n Praising the Mastercard chief\u2019s long connection to the country, President Tinubu <\/a>said: He added, \u201cThe most important asset is our youth. I missed one thing in your remark: whether you met with the Bank of Industry (BOI). BOI has a database of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. Payment plans and platforms are very necessary for the inclusion of small and medium-scale businesses. What you have been doing with our young population is commendable, and we will continue to support that in every form. As the host country, the agreements we have with you are valid, and I want you to see us as partners.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n On his part, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, explained that the presidency\u2019s ongoing economic and tax reforms are driving rapid business formalization. According to the minister, more than 10,000 informal businesses apply for registration daily.<\/p>\n Oyedele stated: Responding, Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach commended the administration\u2019s fiscal and monetary policy alignment, noting that Nigeria holds massive momentum in the global system.<\/p>\n \u201cA little anecdote: I was the one who set up the Master Card business in Nigeria in 2011. I was in Lagos, and hired the employee number one. So it\u2019s a little bit like coming home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a long-standing history, and today we facilitate a big aspect of the economy. In Nigeria, we are preventing $200 million in fraud and bringing in $2 billion in foreign exchange. We are helping the SME sector thrive and, of course, partner with your banks. We recognise the moment that we are in. We spent time with the CBN Governor and had an opportunity to meet the leading bankers yesterday in Lagos, to see where everything is going and the opportunity here to unlock the power of the 40 million SMEs in Nigeria, to really connect the diaspora to the homeland and ensure Nigeria is the most thriving and biggest economy on the continent.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n The full statement from the presidency reads:<\/p>\n STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE <\/em><\/p>\n NIGERIAN YOUTHS ARE TECH-SAVVY, READY- TO-LEARN AND INTEGRATE INTO GLOBAL ECONOMY, PRESIDENT Tinubu <\/a>ASSURES MASTERCARD CHIEF EXECUTIVE <\/em><\/p>\n President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Tuesday in Abuja, said Nigeria\u2019s teeming youth population remains the nation\u2019s greatest asset, assuring foreign investors that the ready-to-learn and tech-savvy workforce can easily integrate into the global market. <\/em><\/p>\n President Tinubu, who received a delegation from Mastercard led by the Global Chief Executive Officer, Michael Miebach, at the State House, welcomed the company\u2019s proposal to train five million businesses and equip them with digital skills. <\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cI am glad that you are very familiar with the terrain. I can classify you as a Nigerian. MasterCard has a very big reputation in financial management, and opportunities are spreading in Nigeria.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cYou do more than payments, and that includes the work which you are doing in Nigeria through the MasterCard foundation to support and strengthen small businesses and the informal sector. This aligns well with the reforms of Mr President in different areas, cutting across the public and private sectors, including the ongoing efforts to digitise government services. We aim to enhance and empower at least 3 million youths in Nigeria.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/politicsnigeria.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20260623_1948089053080609680759290-1024x683.jpg\")
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