The Annual Banking & Finance Conference 2017 theme: 'Making Financial Inclusion a Reality in Africa: Connecting people to Banking & Financial Service' couldn’t be timelier. The 2016 edition was held in Ghana and the 2017 edition will be a continuation of the discussions and a preview of the implementation strides made thus far, as we continue to push the Financial Inclusion agenda in the continent.

Banking and financial services must seek ways to increase their mass and tap into the financially excluded population (which is more than 60 %). The agenda to deliver financial services to those that banks have traditionally not reached should now more than ever be at the top of corporate growth strategy.

The conference will also look at new and innovative financial technology solutions that will make financial inclusion possible and profitable. The agenda will include a broad range of case studies, discussions and debates by top speakers from across Africa bringing theoretical and practical experiences on how various sectors can work together to promote financial inclusion.

Key stakeholders will include traditional banks, insurance; NGOs, telcos; retail stores, donors, investors, policymakers, regulators, MFI, FMCGs. Financial institutions must collaborate, partner and learn from non-financial players to expand their products and services to new customer segments. The question then is how do they do this?

The event will be a catalyst for debate, best practice, knowledge exchange and partnerships among the practitioners, policy-makers and other stakeholders seeking to achieve significantly greater financial inclusion in the region.