Individual Financial Health Closely Linked to Earth’s Sustainability—Chiemeka

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The Divisional Head of Capital Markets at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, Mr Jude Chiemeka, has said the earth’s sustainability has a close link to individual financial health.

He gave this submission on Tuesday in Lagos at an event to raise awareness on the importance of ensuring that young people, from an early age, are financially aware and are gradually acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours necessary to make sound financial decisions and ultimately achieve financial well-being and financial resilience.

The stock exchange partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and others to celebrate the 2023 edition of Global Money Week (GMW).

The programme was used to educate over 100 students on the theme, Plan your money, plant your future, to further enhance investor education and financial literacy.

In his opening remarks, Mr Chiemeka emphasised the need to guide children in their formative years so as to be responsible citizens in the future, noting that the choices they make today will have a significant impact on their future.

“We must also recognize that our individual financial health is closely linked to the health of the planet and of society as a whole.

“The choices we make about how we earn, spend, save, and invest our money can either contribute to or undermine the sustainability of our world.

“As such, it’s essential that we all adopt a responsible and informed approach to financial decision-making that considers the impact of our choices on our environment and society,” he said.

Speaking on other NGX-led financial literacy initiatives, Mr Chiemeka noted that beyond offering a range of educational resources, the bourse has a comic book series named NGX StockTown with the goal of using illustrations to raise the next generation leaders who are financially aware, responsible and skilled economic citizens.

The celebration, which culminated in a closing gong ceremony, had the overall winners at the quiz session held at the exchange close the market by sounding the gong. They were also gifted shares, with the first prize winner receiving N80,000 worth of shares while the first and second runner-ups won N70,000 and N50,000 worth of shares, respectively.

The Principal Manager for the Market Development Department at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr John Achile, and the Principal Manager for the Head of Advocacy Office, Consumer Education and Evaluation Division of Consumer Protection at the CBN, Mr Abubakar Albasu, highlighted the importance of market regulation and investors protection.

Also, Mr Abimbola Babalola, Head of Market Surveillance and Investigation at NGX RegCo, delivered a presentation on the rudiments of money and the technicalities of the capital market.

Mr Abdulkareem Kelani, Sales Trader, Meristem Stockbrokers and Mr Mohammed Jamie, Head, Securities Dealing, APT Securities, also contributed to improving the students’ knowledge capacity about the stock market. Other partners at this event were MinieMoney, AIESEC Lagos and Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN).