Dipo Olowookere
By Dipo Olowookere
Business Post can report that at least three companies have thrown their weights behind the annual Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) essay competition.
According to the NSE, Access Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, and Dangote Foundation have indicated their interests to sponsor the top three winners of the quiz with equity investments, University scholarship funds and personal laptops/tablets.
These items would be presented to the beneficiaries at the awards ceremony which holds in November 2016.
The competition opened on Thursday, September 1, 2016 and will close on Friday, October 14, 2016.
It is opened to all students in Senior Secondary Schools in all states of the federation.
Topic for this year’s edition is “What is the biggest obstacle to saving and investing money and how can The Nigerian Stock Exchange help.”
Winners would be honoured with a Closing Gong ceremony, while the schools of the top three winners would also be presented with trophies, desktop computers and printers, the NSE promised.
According to Mr Bola Adeeko, Head, Corporate Services Division, NSE, improving financial literacy is important to the future of Nigeria.
“Through the NSE Essay Competition, we are promoting 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 competition serves as an essential platform to get the perspectives of our young ones on key challenges relating to financial literacy and inclusion in Nigeria.”
Also commenting on the competition, Mr Olumide Orojimi, Head of Corporate Communications, NSE said, “At NSE, we are committed to helping people understand how to manage their financial resources.
“We take pride in investing in the lives of the next generation by empowering them with financial skills and knowledge.”
He noted that the impact of the competition is commendable as the Exchange continues to record increased number of participation and overall, high level of interest which has altogether created greater awareness of the dynamics of the stock exchange.
“Our achievements are not lost on our stakeholders, as the NSE recently received the ‘Corporate Achievement Award to a Financial Institution’ at the inaugural annual Financial Literacy Excellence (FILEX) Awards, for promoting financial literacy in Nigeria,” he said.
Since it began in year 2000, the NSE essay competition has inspired over 20,000 young people in over 2,500 secondary schools across Nigeria to showcase what they have learnt about the financial and capital markets.
It has also provided an important opportunity for youths to engage in issues of importance to the Nigerian economy.
For participants to enter for the competition, they are required to email their typewritten entries, which should not be more than 1,000 words to [email protected].
An online submission form is also available on www.nse.com.ng and the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s Facebook page.
