United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, last week had an interaction with students of the Gateway Secondary School, Abeokuta, Ogun State, to educate them on the need to cultivate the culture of savings as part of activities to mark the Financial Literacy Day .
An Executive Director of the bank, Ayoku Liadi, who addressed the students, stressed the need for them to imbibe the habit of savings, and investing, “even from their pocket money and gifts,” insisting that was the only way they could plan for a better future.
He advised them to take a cue from successful businessmen and women in Nigeria, such as Tony Elumelu, Aliko Dangote and Folorunso Alakija, saying they all started from savings from their “small earnings”.
Liadi, who made a power-point presentation to the students, told them, “It is the money invested wisely that will grow and the one not invested will be spent on other things,” and urged them to have a vision and save towards it.
He said: “Financial Literacy is quite important to pupils. How I wish I had this kind of opportunity to listen to a lecture like this while I was in the secondary school
“It is good to know how to learn, how to make money, save that money, and how to invest that money.”
In achieving their aims, Liadi appealed to the students to desist from get-rich-quick attitude as well as any fraudulent act.
“Stay away from getting rich quick. Don’t engage in fraud or fraudulent activities. Get away from the culture getting rich quick. Don’t steal your parents’ or guardians’ money because you want to save. Work hard and be focused,” he advised.
Identifying this year’s theme as: ‘Learn, Save and Earn’, Liadi said the only way to be prudent was for them to have a budget, which would guide their spending, and block leakages.
The financial expert urged the students to start saving early in order to secure their future and prepare for unforeseen circumstances.
Liadi later donated books to the school’s library and presented gifts to pupils, who made useful contribution during the programme.
The Principal of the School, Ismail Babarinsa, thanked the organisers of the programme, and expressed the belief that the lessons learnt would go a long way in encouraging the students to start saving.
A JSS 3 student of the school, Bankole Damilola, said she was happy with the programme, saying: “I have now learnt how to start saving for my future.”
