By Dipo Olowookere
The management of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has put out programmes to encourage youth in the country become financially savvy.
Head of Shared Services Division at the NSE, Mr Bola Adeeko, while speaking last Friday at the 2018 Global Money Week themed ‘Money Matters Matter,’ noted that the exchange was committed to deepen financial knowledge among the young ones.
To mark the week, the NSE came up with a series of educational programs aimed at teaching children and youths about the importance of financial literacy.
The week-long event, organized in collaboration with Access Bank Plc and AIESEC Nigeria, included interactive sessions with the executive management of NSE, school outreach programmes in Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Abuja, Onitsha and Port Harcourt, and excursions to the trading floor.
The stock market regulator also joined other stock exchanges around the globe in the ‘Ring Around the World’ initiative, using its Closing Gong ceremony to further draw attention to the importance of financial literacy among youths.
“As a sustainable Exchange championing Africa’s growth, NSE takes the issue of providing young people with the tools they need to make sound financial decisions very seriously.
“We are constantly implementing and supporting initiatives that encourage our youths to develop sustainable spending habits and to become financially savvy,” Mr Adeeko said.
According to him, “Since celebrating the Global Money Week in 2014, the NSE has been able to reach over 14,307 students from 118 schools.
“This year alone, NSE impacted 7,137 students from over 31 secondary schools and institutions of higher learning, through various financial literacy programmes during the week.”
He added that, “Other financial literacy initiatives we carry out include, school excursions to the Exchange, NSE Adopt-A-School initiative, school outreach programmes, and financial literacy workshops.”
Mr Adeeko explained that, “Through these initiatives, we have been able to promote financial literacy among young Nigerians, by encouraging them to learn how good financial decisions can better their lives now and in the future, and ultimately grow the economy.”
The Global Money Week is an annual global celebration, initiated by Child & Youth Finance International (CYFI), with local and regional events and activities aimed at inspiring children and youths to learn about money, saving, creating livelihoods, gaining employment and becoming entrepreneurs.
It is also aimed at empowering the next generation to be confident, responsible and skilled economic citizens.
This year’s theme highlights the need for children and youth, now more than ever, to be economically equipped and empowered to close inequality gaps and build a brighter future.
Modupe Gbadeyanka