OJK Intensifies Literacy and Expands Access to Sharia Finance in Pesantren

The Financial Services Authority (OJK) is committed to improving Sharia financial literacy and inclusion in society. This is manifested through the Pesantren Ecosystem Strengthening activity as a strategic step to support Government Priority Programmes and encourage community economic independence.

This was stated by the Executive Head of the Financial Services Business Actors’ Behavioural Supervision, Education, and Consumer Protection of OJK, Dicky Kartikoyono, during the Sharia Finance Education Forum and Business Meeting (FEBIS) and Capable Santri Sharia Financial Literacy (SAKINAH) event. The activity also collaborated with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) and the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), held at Pondok Pesantren Lirboyo, Kediri, on Tuesday (14/4).

Dicky explained that pondok pesantren, with their significant number of santri, play an important role as centres of education as well as drivers of community economy, and form a strong ecosystem in supporting government priority programmes.

“The government’s current programmes do not only address today’s needs but also for future generations. This is a blessing for us all to have long-term oriented programmes like this,” Dicky said in his official statement on Tuesday (14/4/2026).

In addition, Dicky explained that the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG) currently is not only related to nutritional fulfilment but also to improving human resource quality, even from an early age. At the same time, this programme also opens up broad economic opportunities.

He said that the existing ecosystem, from agriculture, livestock, fisheries, to plantations, can become part of the supply chain supporting this programme. Communities around pesantren can play a role as suppliers of needs, thus creating a strong economic circulation.

Therefore, OJK is not only present as a regulator but also acts as a catalyst that accelerates and connects, as well as a facilitator that opens access and builds understanding. This role is realised through programmes that directly address needs in the field.

Through FEBIS, Dicky said, business actors are not only introduced to Sharia financing alternatives but also directly matched with financial services institutions through business matching, thus opening real opportunities to obtain financing.

Furthermore, Dicky emphasised that strengthening the pesantren ecosystem requires joint collaboration between the government, regulators, financial services industry, pesantren, and the community.

On the same occasion, the Deputy Head of BGN for Operational Fulfilment of Nutrition, Inspector General of Police (Ret.) Sony Sanjaya, stated that the MBG programme is one of the government programmes that benefits society now and in the future.

“This programme targets vulnerable groups, namely pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers, as well as students, including santri. The government wants to ensure that even from the womb, the nation’s successor generations receive good nutritional intake,” said Sony.

According to him, this programme also involves millions of volunteers, especially from low-income community groups, thus providing a direct impact on improving community welfare, as well as a multiplier effect on the economy.

Meanwhile, the General Chairman of PBNU, KH. Yahya Cholil Staquf, who attended the event, strongly supports the MBG programme, which is a very fundamental programme to improve the quality of santri resources in the future.

“What we want to do is improve the overall quality of humans educated and produced by pesantren. Humans who are intellectually superior, physically—insya Allah—increasingly superior with these programmes, and of course spiritually we will maintain to remain superior,” said Gus Yahya.

This activity is part of joint efforts to promote the strengthening of the pesantren economic ecosystem, including supporting government priority programmes focused on improving human resource quality and community-based economic empowerment, especially through strengthening nutritional fulfilment and business development in the pesantren environment.

Increasing Santri Literacy on Financial and Physical Health

Through the SAKINAH activity, OJK encourages strengthening Sharia financial literacy for the santri generation. The event, themed “Healthy Santri, Strong Finances, Great Future,” was attended by around hundreds of santri and included education on introducing Sharia financial products and services, financial management, vigilance against illegal financial activities, and the importance of nutrition in shaping a healthy and productive generation.

Santri are expected not only to understand the importance of maintaining financial health through good financial management by utilising Sharia financial products/services, but also to realise the importance of nutrition in supporting mental and physical health as part of planning to achieve future welfare.

OJK also encourages the expansion of Sharia financial access within the pesantren ecosystem through the FEBIS activity, attended by around 150 participants, consisting of managers of Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), Nahdlatul Ulama-owned Business Entities, suppliers as part of the supply chain ecosystem of the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG), and business actors in the pesantren environment.

This activity featured presentations from Sharia Financial Services Business Actors (PUJK) as well as business matching sessions in the form of discussions between business actors and Sharia PUJK, to help deepen the community’s understanding as business actors in choosing Sharia financial product alternatives according to their needs and capabilities.

As an effort to expand Sharia financial access through the implementation of business matching activities, FEBIS has a main focus that includes