By Ifeanyi Onuba, punch – Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday said that microfinance banks and majority of the local government councils have failed to achieve their mandate. Jonathan, who said this in Abuja, while declaring open the leadership conference organised by Leadership Newspapers, specifically frowned at the series of sharp... 

By Idris Ahmed, Daily Trust – All the approved 941 Microfinance Banks (MFBs) in the country would now be subjected to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s examination at least once in a year to identify and correct problems with them. CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said this yesterday at a Leadership conference on “Developing Local Governments... 

by Fehmeen, Microfinance Hub – Microfinance-based mobile banking, is a high-penetration service, with plenty of growth potential in various economies, such as Kenya, Philippines, Uganda, Ghana, and now Pakistan. Success in this field is not so much the result of luck, as it is a result of environmental factors and well-thought out strategies... 

The award for Best Microfinance Institution reward those microfinance institutions (MFIs) thatconstantly improve their financial products and delivery mechanisms to reach important numbers of microentrepreneurs and other low‐income clients. The award recognizes institutions that apply adequate transparency and client protection practices while maintaining... 

by Daniel Khalil, Helium – Microfinance has often been lauded as an honorable action that can lead to long-term prosperity within a community. Even the United States of America, with the 100,000+ banks located within its borders, has areas in serious need of economic reconstruction. The widening gap between rich and poor in recent years has served... 

Conference: 3-4 August 2010. Workshops: 5 August 2010 Investing in Low Premium Products for the BOP Market Whilst Achieving Financial Sustainability & Growth It is estimated that about 135 million low-income people worldwide are now covered by microinsurance – as commercial firms recognize that insuring the poor is not just good public... 

By Giovanni Legorano, Global Pensions – Only 11.8% of respondents to the Global Pensions 100 Panel said they have made or are considering making investments in microfinance vehicles. The results, come after the California State Teachers’ Retirement System began this month a discussion surrounding the merits of microfinance investments. According... 

By Rick Cohen, The Nonprofit Quarterly – Why should we be surprised that all-but-loansharking-loansharks have apparently moved into the formerly charitable sacred cow of microlending? Commercial banks and finance firms are only 39 percent of the microfinance institutions in the world (NGOs are 36 percent and credit unions and rural banks are... 

Banks have been cautious about lending start-up capital to small firms like these because of their perceived credit risks. Photo/FREDRICK ONYANGO By Winfred Kagwe, Daily Nation – The Kenya Institute of Management is seeking to partner with local banks, microfinance institutions and insurance companies to help small firms survive. The link up... 

Graphic Ghana – Nineteen taxis have been impounded by the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) from owners who are said to have defaulted in the payment of loans for their purchase. The move by the centre, in its quest to recover loans from the micro credit and taxi beneficiaries, was executed mainly in the Greater Accra Region between...