First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s Most Valuable Bank Brand has reiterated its commitment to drive financial literacy among the youth and unbanked segment of the economy.
Speaking at the CBN Financial Literacy Day event in Ado-Ekiti recently, the Executive Director, Lagos and West for FirstBank, Gbenga Shobo, said the Bank is firmly committed to the achievement of financial inclusion in Nigeria and would continue to work towards this aspiration by extending banking services to under-banked businesses, communities and individuals across the country with our extensive network of over 850 branches.
“Beyond this, we recognize that Financial Literacy is a key enabler in our quest for Financial Inclusion and that we must begin by ensuring that our children are properly empowered with a sound financial education. FirstBank would continue to assist the Nigerian child and young adult to build a prosperous future by extending financial education and services to them early in life”, he said.
As part of the CBN Adopt A School program of the financial literacy day, Shobo took over 200 students of Tinuola International School, Ado Ekiti through the basic concepts of making money, savings and investments while letting them know that their capacity to make informed decisions will make them better adults in the future.
Also speaking at the event, the Principal of Tinuola International School, Ado Ekiti, Mr Kehinde Alao thanked FirstBank for choosing the school to celebrate the financial literacy day event. He said that the school readily accepted to host the programme because of the strong belief that the financial literacy education would turn the students into good financial managers.
FirstBank under its Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability scheme initiated the FutureFirst Programme to impart financial independence into young people through the acquisition of the right financial knowledge. The FutureFirst programme is designed to empower secondary school students between 12 to 17 years to build fulfilling careers and be better equipped with tools and knowledge for long term financial independence.
The Bank has to date covered over 40 secondary schools across the country, impacting more than 20,000 students. In commemoration of the CBN Financial Literacy Day and in continuation of FirstBank’s drive for financial literacy, the Bank adopted Tinuola International School, Ado Ekiti to teach the students the basics approaches to making money and empower them with the financial knowledge they need to be relevant in the world global economy. The CBN Financial Literacy Day is specifically targeted at school children to raise their financial awareness.
To further secure the financial future of young students, FirstBank has in place the MeFirst Account targeted at secondary school students, between 12 to 17 years to make them financially savvy, whilst saving up funds for their education and other future endeavours.