By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
The Director General (DG) of Bauchi State Agency for Sustainable Microfinance, Alhaji Nura Muhammad Danmadami has disclosed that the Agency is now fully digitalised in its operations in line with global best practices.
Danmadami said that the Agency was able to achieve that feat through the deployment of the Savings Groups Information Exchange (SAVIX) system to collect accurate data on all existing VSLAs in Bauchi State.
The DG, who was speaking at the just concluded capacity building training for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in bauchi, said that they are working around VSLAs in Bauchi State, adding that the SAVIX platform is web-based system for collecting and analyzing data from saving and loan groups across all communities of Bauchi State.
While expressing his enthusiasm for leveraging on the SAVIX system in the Agency’s operations, Danmadami commended CARE Nigeria for partnering with the Agency in achieving the milestone.
“The partnership between the Agency and CARE Nigeria has led to the generous grant of $50,000 made by CARE Nigeria which had enabled the Agency to deploy the SAVIX Management Information System to deepen the Agency’s performance inline with global best practices.
“I want to inform you that Bauchi State Microfinance Agency is the first Government Agency in Nigeria that has adopted the use of SAVIX technology for its operations. Bauchi State has become a reference point in the use of SAVIX technology for VSLAs data management” The DG said
Also speaking, Fa’iza Muntaka, CARE Nigeria’s Partnership and Advocacy Coordinator congratulated the participants for being selected for the SAVIX system training stressing that they are going to be master trainers that will cascade it to down to the community level.
Muntaka said that the objective of the training was to build the capacity of Bauchi based CSOs working with Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), on how to use the Savings Groups Information Exchange (SAVIX) system to collect accurate data on all existing VSLAs in Bauchi State.
She reiterated CARE Nigeria’s commitment to partnership and collaboration towards improved service delivery aimed poverty reduction in Bauchi State and Nigeria at large.
One of the key outcomes of the training was the practical hands-on simulation of the use of SAVIX system.
Our Correspondent reports that, at the end of the training, the 50 participants drawn from CSOs also resolved to float a VSLA on the spot to demonstrate their commitment towards the implementation of the SAVIX system in their respective communities.