Author: Leslie Omaro

Milne Bay Provincial Government Financial Inclusion Coordinator, Mr Joshua Kameko, says strong interest from teachers and students has reinforced the value of bringing the Young Mind Savings Campaign (YMSC) to schools across the province.

East Cape Primary School was the final school visited on Thursday, 24 September, bringing the school component of the 2026 YMSC rollout in Milne Bay Province to a close.

The response from students at East Cape Primary School was positive, with students showing enthusiasm and eagerness to learn more about opening bank accounts, developing good savings habits, and understanding the various financial products and services offered by the participating financial institutions.

Their interest reflected the broader objective of the YMSC, introducing children to practical financial knowledge at an early age and encouraging them to develop a culture of saving for their future.

In an interview during the campaign, Mr Kameko thanked the provincial administration for funding the 2026 programme through its Division of Commerce and Industry. The campaign is run by the Milne Bay Provincial Government with support from the Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI), the Securities Commission of Papua New Guinea, the Treasury Department and participating financial institutions.

Mr Kameko said the campaign gives young people, particularly those in areas with limited access to banking services, an opportunity to learn about saving, opening bank accounts and accessing formal financial products and services.

Following the positive response to the 2024 campaign, more schools had requested visits, demonstrating growing interest in financial literacy and savings education among young people.

The 2026 campaign reached Watunou and Divinai primary schools on Tuesday, 22 September, followed by Lelehudi and Walalaia primary schools on Wednesday, 23 September.

Mr Kameko said teachers across the participating schools had welcomed the sessions and expressed interest in preparing for more student account openings should the campaign return.

“They want more of it,” he said of the schools’ response.

Mr Kameko also credited the province’s financial inclusion committee and its member institutions for their continuing cooperation. He said the Provincial Government hoped to continue the campaign in the coming years, building on its partnership with CEFI and financial institutions to help more children develop positive saving habits and improve their understanding of formal financial services.

Ends.

CEFI was established under the Association Incorporation Act and officially launched on the 24^th 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

Milne Bay Provincial Government Principal Advisor Mr Harry Sioni has urged financial inclusion partners to work with provincial officers so communities continue receiving support after visiting teams leave.

Speaking at a closing dinner hosted by the Provincial Government at Masurina Lodge on Thursday evening, 24 September 2026, Mr Sioni thanked CEFI and its partners for delivering the Young Mind Savings Campaign (YMSC).

He said provincial officers regularly invited financial institutions to join village visits and training.

“We are the guys that make contact with our people in the villages,” he said. “It’s good to come to us and we do it together, so after you’re gone, you can continue to assist them.”

Mr Sioni also outlined the Division of Commerce and Industry’s plans for local-level government cooperatives to help communities pool resources and access capital. “We hope that going forward we will continue this cooperation,” he said.

CEFI’s Manager for NFIS Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement, Mr Danny Koka, thanked the Provincial Government for hosting the campaign and bringing partners together. He said delivering YMSC through provincial government systems was an important step towards sustained financial inclusion.

The campaign visited Watuno Primary School and Divinai Primary School on Tuesday, 22 September; Lelehudi Primary School and Walalaia Primary School on Wednesday, 23 September; and East Cape Primary School on Thursday, 24 September.

“On your request, we have delivered this young mindsaving campaign to five schools,” Mr Koka said. He stressed that lessons on saving, budgeting and investment could help students become future business owners and contribute to employment and economic growth.

“We are not doing activities that is going to be short-term, but in the long run, we are contributing,” he said.

The dinner brought together CEFI, the Securities Commission of Papua New Guinea, the Department of Treasury and participating financial institutions: MiBank, Women’s Micro Bank, BSP Bank, BSP Life Insurance, Nasfund and NCSL.

Ends.

CEFI was established under the Association Incorporation Act and officially launched on the 24^th 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

Alotau MP Hon. Ricky Morris officially opened the Digital Financial Literacy Training rollout in Alotau, Milne Bay Province, on Thursday morning, 24 September 2026.

The opening was held at the Alotau United Church Training Room.

Addressing participants, Mr Morris said digital technology was becoming part of everyday life and urged them to use the training to strengthen their knowledge and financial decisions.

“Digital technology and digitisation of our systems and our work is no longer an option,” he said. He observed that many adults were learning to adapt to tools that younger generations had grown up using, making digital skills increasingly important across communities.

Mr Moses encouraged participants to share what they learnt with their families and communities. Describing knowledge as a source of power, he said the training could help them influence others and make informed choices about saving, business and their futures.

“Knowledge is power,” he said. “Without knowledge, there’s no power for you to shine a light and make decisions.”

He also challenged participants to consider how their daily financial choices could support longer-term goals. Mr Morris said he hoped the programme would help young people move from a spending culture towards a saving culture, while giving small businesses greater confidence to grow. He affirmed the district’s support for the training and officially declared the rollout open.

CEFI Master Trainer Ms Lilly Namunu thanked Mr Morris for attending and for his continued support of financial literacy training. She said his presence encouraged her work as a trainer in Milne Bay.

Ms Namunu explained that the Alotau programme marked the start of a new Digital Financial Literacy Training module in the province. She outlined plans for three training batches and said approximately 75 participants were expected to graduate across the rollout. She also acknowledged the support of banking partners who help participants open accounts and access financial services.

CEFI’s Manager for NFIS Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement, Mr Danny Koka, then spoke about the practical value of digital financial skills.

He said the training would help participants understand how to use services such as mobile and internet banking to check balances, send money and receive payments.

As technology changes the way people use financial services, Mr Koka said it was important for individuals to understand the products available to them and gain confidence in using them.

He linked the rollout to CEFI’s wider work with provincial partners to bring financial education and access to more communities.

The opening brought together local leadership, trainers, financial service representatives and participants around a shared goal: helping people use digital banking with greater knowledge and confidence. Through the training, participants will be

better placed to apply those skills in their households, communities and businesses.

Ends.

CEFI was established under the Association Incorporation Act and officially launched on the 24^th 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

The CEFI team has visited Kwikila Station to observe Digital Financial Literacy Training (DFLT) delivered by Ms Manasi Badira, as monitoring and evaluation continues under the pilot rollout in Papua New Guinea.

Held at the Salvation Army Church Base, the training brought together 21 participants, comprising 12 men and nine women. Those attending included community leaders, vanilla farmers, church pastors, church members and other community representatives.

The participation of people from different backgrounds provided an opportunity for practical discussion about digital financial services and the safe and effective use of digital financial tools. Participants shared experiences relevant to their community while strengthening their understanding of the topics covered.

The observation visit forms part of CEFI’s efforts to assess training delivery and ensure the DFL pilot remains relevant to the needs of communities across participating regions.

The Kwikila session reflects the community participation involved in the rollout, with representatives from farming, church and community leadership backgrounds learning together. Their involvement brought different perspectives to discussions about using digital financial services.

Across the participating provinces, trainers will deliver DFLT to help strengthen community understanding of digital finance.

Rita Krai will conduct training in Western Highlands, while Nathan John will deliver sessions in Morobe. Romano Vendenberg will facilitate training in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

In Jiwaka, Angela Mong and Lilian Namba will deliver their training sessions. Lily Namunu will conduct DFLT in Milne Bay Province, while Freda Korarome will facilitate training in Eastern Highlands Province.

Charmaine Jambary and Steven Shon Whallan are listed as trainers for East Sepik Province. Stoney Yanopa will deliver training in Simbu, and Peter Wartovo will conduct sessions in East New Britain Province.

Janet Ngur Jee will facilitate DFLT in New Ireland Province, while Caroline Silasil will deliver training in Madang.

Manasi Badira and Vivian Erico are listed for Central Province. Jacklyn Wilson will deliver training in the National Capital District.

Together, these trainers represent the delivery of the pilot across parts of Papua New Guinea. CEFI’s monitoring and evaluation work focuses on whether training is delivered effectively and responds to the needs of the communities involved.

At Kwikila, the mix of participants encouraged the exchange of experiences between people with different roles in community life. This provided a practical setting for discussing digital financial services and considering how digital tools can be used safely and effectively.

The visit placed attention on the delivery of training at community level. Observing sessions provides an opportunity to assess how the pilot is being implemented and whether its content remains relevant to participants.

For the Kwikila participants, the training offered an opportunity to build understanding alongside fellow community members. For CEFI, the observation formed part of the process of monitoring the pilot rollout and evaluating its delivery.

The emphasis remains on effective training that supports understanding of digital financial services, with community experiences informing discussions and helping keep the learning relevant to local circumstances.

Ends.

CEFI was established under the Association Incorporation Act and officially launched on the 24^th 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

CEFI Acting Executive Director Mr Peter Samuel has called on staff to reflect on their contribution to Papua New Guinea’s development, value one another and continue demonstrating commitment, resilience and professionalism as the country marks its 51st Independence Anniversary.

As Papua New Guinea celebrated 51 years of Independence, staff of the Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI) were reminded that nation-building begins with individuals recognising the value of their work and using their abilities to make a positive difference.

Speaking during CEFI’s Independence celebration, Acting Executive Director Mr Peter Samuel commended staff for their dedication and professionalism, particularly during a demanding period in which CEFI teams were deployed across several programmes and activities.

Despite staff being stretched across concurrent assignments, Mr Samuel said the organisation continued to deliver because of the commitment of its people.

“I’d like to acknowledge each and every one of you for the commitment, dedication and, of course, the professionalism that you have demonstrated,” Mr Samuel said.

“I couldn’t be any prouder than the last four weeks of our efforts.”

Reflecting on the significance of Independence, Mr Samuel said the resilience demonstrated by CEFI staff represented an important quality as individuals and institutions continued contributing towards Papua New Guinea’s development.

At the heart of his message was the importance of people, teamwork and mutual respect. He reminded staff that employees remained one of CEFI’s most important assets and encouraged managers and staff alike to value, respect and empower one another.

“An organisation is nothing without its staff,” he said.

Mr Samuel also challenged employees to look beyond their daily responsibilities and consider how their actions at work, at home and within their communities could contribute towards national progress.

“My Independence message is, challenge yourself, what you are doing at your workplace, and see the impact that you have done for the country,” he said.

His message captured the broader meaning of Independence as an opportunity not only to celebrate Papua New Guinea’s journey, but also to reflect on the responsibility each citizen carries in shaping its future.

For CEFI staff, that responsibility continues through service, teamwork, professionalism and a shared commitment to creating meaningful change for Papua New Guinea.

Ends.

CEFI was established under the Association Incorporation Act and officially launched on the 24^th 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

The Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI) successfully organised and led a Financial Literacy Training (FLT) programme at Tubuseria Village, Central Province, graduating 117 participants, including 72 women, as part of activities associated with the 2026 MSG Central Bank Wan Solwara Exchange Programme.

The training was conducted from Monday, 7 September to Wednesday, 9 September 2026, culminating in a graduation ceremony organised and led by CEFI on Thursday, 10 September.

CEFI coordinated the day’s programme with the Tubuseria community, Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG), participating financial institutions and Wan Solwara delegates. The programme provided an opportunity to demonstrate CEFI’s work in delivering financial literacy and advancing financial inclusion at community level.

As part of the programme, Wan Solwara participants visited Tubuseria Primary School and Tubuseria Junior High School, where they interacted with students and conducted awareness sessions. CEFI staff took the lead in coordinating the visits and awareness activities, providing students with financial literacy information while creating opportunities for the visiting central bank representatives to engage directly with the schools.

The Wan Solwara participants also visited and interacted with FLT participants undergoing training in Tubuseria, speaking with trainees about their experiences and the financial knowledge they had gained. These engagements enabled the visiting delegates to observe first-hand CEFI’s community-level approach to financial education and awareness.

The activities coincided with the 2026 MSG Central Bank Wan Solwara Exchange Programme, hosted by BPNG from 7–11 September under the theme, “Strogim Wantok: Shaping Our Shared Future – Strengthening our Melanesian Central Banks through Collaboration, Resilience and Progress.” Participants included representatives from BPNG, the Central Bank of Solomon Islands and Reserve Bank of Vanuatu.

Speaking at the graduation, CEFI Acting Executive Director Mr Peter Samuel acknowledged Tubuseria’s leaders and community for supporting the programme, particularly East Ward Councillor Hon. Rea Loi and West Ward Councillor Hon. Bessie Lomino.

Mr Samuel also acknowledged BPNG, financial institutions and CEFI staff for their contributions, saying: “You guys have done a tremendous job, so well done to you all.”

West Ward Councillor Bessie Lomino thanked the visiting delegation for choosing Tubuseria and described the occasion as an opportunity for communities to learn from one another.

“Please take a piece of Tubusere with you in your hearts,” she told the visitors, inviting them to return in the future.

BPNG Assistant Security Manager Mr Slim Rupusina said the community was privileged to host the programme and expressed hope that engagement with participating financial institutions would continue to empower people and strengthen a savings culture.

Women’s Micro Bank (Mama Bank) Chief Executive Officer Mr Gunanidhi Das stressed that financial literacy needed to be complemented by access to practical banking services, including savings accounts, finance, banking agents and digital banking. He encouraged participants to make saving a priority, describing savings as the “first expenditure” from their income.

The graduation programme, organised and led by CEFI, included community and institutional remarks, certificate presentations and financial products and services awareness.

Wan Solwara delegates were welcomed with traditional singing, while local SME groups displayed and sold artefacts and traditional products, showcasing Tubuseria’s culture, entrepreneurship and community livelihoods to the visiting delegates.

Ends.

CEFI was established under the Association Incorporation Act and officially launched on the 24^th 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

The Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI) showcased Papua New Guinea’s financial inclusion journey to an international audience through its information booth at the 2026 Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Global Policy Forum in Port Moresby.

Located at APEC Haus, the CEFI booth operated on Thursday, 3 September and Friday, 4 September, coinciding with the two main public days of the Global Policy Forum. The programme brought together central banks, financial regulators, development institutions, private-sector leaders and international partners to exchange experiences and explore approaches to building resilient and inclusive financial systems.

Throughout the two-day exhibition, CEFI staff welcomed international delegates to the booth, sharing publications and providing information on the organisation’s mandate, programmes and contribution towards advancing financial inclusion and financial capability in Papua New Guinea.

The booth generated particular interest in Papua New Guinea’s Financial Education Curriculum, with delegates engaging CEFI staff to learn more about the country’s approach to introducing financial education from an early age.

This interest followed a significant moment during the opening ceremony on Thursday, 3 September, when Bank of Papua New Guinea Governor, Ms Elizabeth Genia, presented a copy of the Financial Education Curriculum Book to Deputy Secretary – Curriculum and Standards, Mr Paul Ainui. The presentation highlighted Papua New Guinea’s continuing efforts to strengthen financial knowledge and capability among young people.

CEFI Acting Executive Director, Mr Peter Samuel, was also present at the booth, joining staff in welcoming delegates and sharing insights into CEFI’s work.

For Mr Samuel and the CEFI team, the exhibition provided an important opportunity to place Papua New Guinea’s financial inclusion experience before a global audience while building connections and encouraging knowledge exchange.

Against the Forum’s theme, “Resilient Economies, Inclusive Future,” the CEFI booth became a practical window into Papua New Guinea’s continuing journey towards a more financially capable and inclusive society.

Ends.

CEFI was established under the Association Incorporation Act and officially launched on the 24^th 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