The Governor of the Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG), Ms Elizabeth Genia, has called on Papua New Guineans to embrace responsible financial management and make full use of formal financial services, describing financial literacy as a foundation for stronger families, resilient communities and a more prosperous nation.
Ms Genia made the remarks during the combined Retail Financial Literacy Training graduation ceremony held on Thursday, 9 July 2026, at the United Church in Kurere Asiaro Village, where 239 participants (105 women) from Kurere Asiaro and Mogubo villages graduated after successfully completing two days (7-8 July) of Retail Financial Literacy Training.
The graduation marked the successful conclusion of the Currency Awareness and Financial Inclusion Programme, held from Tuesday 7 July to Thursday 9 July 2026, in Amazon Bay, Abau District, Central Province.
Organised by the Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI) with support from Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG), the programme combined Currency Awareness, Financial Inclusion Awareness, Retail Financial Literacy Training, bank account opening services and financial product promotion.
Participating financial institutions included MiBank, Women’s Micro Bank and TISA Bank.
“TISA Bank is proud to support the Currency Awareness and Financial Inclusion Program led by CEFI and BPNG. During our visit to Amazon Bay, we have been opening new accounts and identifying potential banking agents so we can bring banking services closer to the people.” – Ei Thu Thu Myint Myat-Head of Agency Banking, TISA Bank
“It has been a privilege for MiBank to be part of this financial inclusion outreach. MiBank has already identified a local banking agent for Amazon Bay. We will complete the necessary training and onboarding so the agent can begin providing banking services to the community. This will make it easier for people to save their money safely and access banking services closer to home.” – Jackson Tasi-Team Leader- Customer Service, MiBank
“Our mission is to take banking services to the doorsteps of people who have previously been excluded from the formal financial system. The response from the people of Amazon Bay has been encouraging. We have already opened new accounts, and many more people have expressed interest after learning about the products and services available to them.” – Quinten Thomas – Project Loan Officer, Women’s Micro Bank
The programme was delivered across three locations: Magarida Primary and High School, Magarida Marketplace and Kurere Asiaro Village. Running concurrently with the awareness programme were two Retail Financial Literacy Training sessions conducted by CEFI at Mogubo Village and Kurere Asiaro Village.
The graduation ceremony was attended by Governor Ms. Elizabeth Genia, CEFI Acting Executive Director Mr Peter Samuel, Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Goroka and owner of Eisa Inn, Dr Gairo Onagi, Amazon Bay LLG President Mr Gideon Dauge, together with team leaders from the participating financial institutions, Mr Jackson Tasi of MiBank, Mr Quinten Thomas of Women’s Micro Bank and Ms Ei Thu Thu Myint Myat of TISA Bank.
Delivering the keynote address, the BPNG Governor encouraged the graduates to continue applying the financial knowledge they had gained beyond the classroom and into their everyday lives.
She said financial literacy was about far more than earning an income, explaining that it equips individuals and families with the knowledge to plan ahead, save regularly, make informed financial decisions and prepare for future expenses and emergencies.
“Financial inclusion is about giving every Papua New Guinean the opportunity to access safe, affordable and responsible financial services,” she said.
Governor Genia urged participants to take advantage of the banking services introduced during the programme, including savings accounts and digital financial services, while also using them responsibly by protecting their personal identification numbers (PINs), understanding banking fees and maintaining proper financial records.
She also reminded participants of the importance of respecting Papua New Guinea’s national currency by keeping banknotes clean and free from damage.
“The Kina and Toea belong to every Papua New Guinean. Looking after our currency is one way we demonstrate respect for our country and for one another,” she said.
Governor Genia reaffirmed BPNG’s commitment to extending financial services to rural and remote communities through the National Financial Inclusion Strategy, noting that strong partnerships between government agencies, financial institutions and local communities were essential in ensuring no one was left behind.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, CEFI Acting Executive Director Mr Peter Samuel congratulated the graduates for successfully completing the training and challenged them to transform the knowledge they had acquired into practical action.
Mr Samuel said the graduation represented the beginning of a lifelong journey towards financial independence rather than the end of a training programme.
He encouraged participants to practise budgeting, save consistently, spend wisely and make informed financial decisions that would strengthen their households and improve their quality of life.
“Financial knowledge only creates value when it is put into practice,” he said.
Mr Samuel urged graduates to use the banking services introduced during the programme and reminded them that opening a bank account was only the first step towards building long-term financial security.
He thanked the Bank of Papua New Guinea, Dr Gairo Onagi, local community leaders, the United Church and the participating financial institutions for their support in delivering the programme, reaffirming CEFI’s commitment to expanding financial literacy and financial inclusion to rural communities throughout Papua New Guinea.
He also encouraged graduates to become ambassadors for financial literacy by sharing their knowledge with their families and communities, helping others adopt positive financial habits and build stronger local economies.
Former Vice-Chancellor and owner of Eisa Inn Dr Gairo Onagi, described the occasion as a proud milestone for the communities of Kurere Asiaro and Mogubo.
He said the participants had invested their time and effort to learn valuable financial skills that would assist them in making informed decisions about earning, saving and managing money.
Dr Onagi encouraged the graduates to continue applying the lessons they had learned and to share that knowledge with their families, children and neighbors so that financial literacy would continue to spread throughout the community.
He thanked the Bank of Papua New Guinea, CEFI, the participating financial institutions and all partners for bringing the programme to Amazon Bay, saying their commitment was creating meaningful opportunities for rural communities to improve their livelihoods and achieve greater financial security.
Amazon Bay LLG President Mr Gideon Dauge also congratulated the graduates and challenged them to begin practising the financial disciplines they had learned immediately.
He encouraged participants to develop consistent saving habits, separate business profits from personal spending and use the resources available within their communities, particularly their customary land, to establish sustainable income-generating activities.
Drawing on the biblical story of the Prodigal Son, Mr Dauge reminded graduates that success comes from learning from mistakes, making better decisions and taking responsibility for their future.
He also encouraged participants to begin using the piggy banks distributed during the programme, expressing confidence that regular saving would help improve their financial wellbeing over time.
Mr Dauge thanked the Bank of Papua New Guinea, CEFI and the participating financial institutions for bringing financial literacy and financial inclusion services to one of the country’s remote communities, describing the programme as a valuable opportunity that would have lasting benefits for the people of Amazon Bay.
The successful completion of the programme highlighted the growing partnership between BPNG, CEFI and the financial sector in expanding financial capability and access to financial services throughout Papua New Guinea.
By equipping communities with practical financial knowledge while simultaneously providing access to banking products and services, the initiative is expected to strengthen household financial resilience, promote responsible money management and contribute to inclusive economic development across rural Papua New Guinea.
Ends.
Image 1: Bank of Papua New Guinea Governor Ms Elizabeth Genia delivers the keynote address during the combined Retail Financial Literacy Training graduation ceremony at Kurere Asiaro United Church.
Image 2: Governor Elizabeth Genia addresses graduands, community leaders and invited guests during the graduation ceremony at Kurere Asiaro United Church.
Image 3: CEFI Acting Executive Director Mr Peter Samuel delivers his opening remarks during the commencement of the Retail Financial Literacy Training at Mogubo Village.
Image 4: Dr Gairo Onagi welcomes participants during the opening of the two-day Retail Financial Literacy Training.
Image 5: Amazon Bay LLG President Mr Gideon Dauge encourages students from Magarida Primary School and Magarida High School to develop a culture of saving and responsible financial management.
Image 6: Participants collaborate in a group presentation during the Retail Financial Literacy Training at Kurere Asiaro Village.
Image 7: Graduands listen attentively as Governor Elizabeth Genia delivers her keynote address.
Image 8: Community members gather at Kurere Asiaro Village to witness the Retail Financial Literacy Training graduation ceremony.
Image 9: Governor Elizabeth Genia presents a certificate to a graduating participant during the graduation ceremony.
Image 10: Governor Elizabeth Genia congratulates a graduate after presenting a certificate of completion.
Image 11: CEFI Acting Executive Director Mr Peter Samuel presents a certificate to a graduating participant.
Image 12: Mr Peter Samuel congratulates a graduate during the certificate presentation.
Image 13: Mr Quinten Thomas, Project Loan Officer, Women’s Micro Bank, presents a certificate to a graduating participant.
Image 14: Mr Quinten Thomas, Project Loan Officer, Women’s Micro Bank, presents a certificate to a female graduate.
Image 15: Mr Jackson Tasi, Team Leader – Customer Service, MiBank, presents a certificate to a female graduate.
Image 16: Mr Jackson Tasi, Team Leader – Customer Service, MiBank, presents a certificate to a graduating participant.
Image 17: Ms Ei Thu Thu Myint Myat, Head of Agency Banking, TISA Bank, presents a certificate to a female graduate.
Image 18: Ms Ei Thu Thu Myint Myat, Head of Agency Banking, TISA Bank, presents a certificate to a graduating participant.
Image 19: Graduates pose for a commemorative group photograph with (seated, from left to right) Dr Gairo Onagi, former Vice-Chancellor and owner of Eisa Inn; CEFI Acting Executive Director Mr Peter Samuel; CEFI Senior Training Officer Mr Sebastian Mugup; and CEFI trainers Mr Manasi Badira, Ms Vivian Erico, Mr Jackson Tasi (MiBank) and Mr Quinten Thomas (Women’s Micro Bank) following the graduation ceremony at Kurere Asiaro Village.
Image 20: Bank of Papua New Guinea Governor Ms Elizabeth Genia addresses residents from Magarida, Mailu Island, Loupomu Island and Laluoro Island during the opening of the Currency Awareness and Financial Inclusion Programme at Magarida Marketplace, Amazon Bay.
Image 21: Governor Elizabeth Genia engages with participants from across the Amazon Bay area during the opening of the Currency Awareness and Financial Inclusion Programme at Magarida Marketplace.
Image 22: Mr Delson Opos, Senior Analyst, Compliance Unit, Currency Governance Department, educates students from Magarida Primary School and Magarida High School on the features and security elements of Papua New Guinea’s Kina and Toea currency.
Image 23: The Bank of Papua New Guinea Currency Team conducts a Currency Awareness session for students at Magarida Primary School and Magarida High School.
Image 24: MiBank Team Leader Mr Jackson Tasi delivers a financial awareness presentation to students at Magarida Primary School and Magarida High School.
Image 25: Mr Quinten Thomas, Project Loan Officer, Women’s Micro Bank, assists a community member to complete an account opening application.
Image 26: A community member completes an application form to open a new bank account during the financial inclusion outreach programme.
Image 27: MiBank, TISA Bank and Women’s Micro Bank showcase their financial products and services at Magarida Marketplace, providing account opening services and financial awareness to communities from Mailu Island, Loupomu Island and Laluoro Island.
Image 28: TISA Bank staff assist community members with opening new bank accounts at Kurere Asiaro Village.
Image 29: TISA Bank officers provide account opening services to residents at Magarida Marketplace.
Image 30: Female participants deliver a group presentation during the Retail Financial Literacy Training at Mogubo Village.
Image 31: (From left to right) Mr Delson Opos, Senior Analyst, Compliance Unit, Currency Governance Department; Mr Franck Abba, Manager, Processing Unit, Currency Department; Dr Gairo Onagi, former Vice-Chancellor and owner of Eisa Inn; Bank of Papua New Guinea Governor Ms Elizabeth Genia; Ms Ei Thu Thu Myint Myat, Head of Agency Banking, TISA Bank; CEFI Acting Executive Director Mr Peter Samuel; Mr Jackson Tasi, Team Leader – Customer Service, MiBank; and Mr Quinten Thomas, Project Loan Officer, Women’s Micro Bank, pose for a group photograph following the official opening of the Currency Awareness and Financial Inclusion Programme at Magarida Marketplace, Amazon Bay.
About CEFI
CEFI was established under the Association Incorporation Act and officially launched on the 24th of April 2013. CEFI was endorsed by PNG’s National Executive Council (NEC) as the industry apex organization for coordinating, advocating and monitoring all financial inclusion activities in PNG.
CEFI’s vision, mission and values focus on financial inclusion and literacy, poverty elimination and the promotion of vibrant financial institutional operation in Papua New Guinea.
Visit our website – www.thecefi.org
Media Contact:
Mr. Leslie Omaro
Communication Officer
Phone: 79736883
Email: lomaro@thecefi.org
