…Donate N1.3m to support schools
From Uche Usim, Abuja
In an effort to deepen financial literacy within the younger generation, the National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB), FCT Chapter, has urged students to make saving a culture, to avoid spending all they have on consumables without appreciating the need to have a buffer for the rainy day.
Speaking at the weekend during a corporate social responsibility (CSR) outreach at the Government Secondary School Area 11, Garki, the Chairperson of NAMB and Chief Executive Officer, Hasal Microfinance Bank, Mrs Nwanna Joel-Ezeugo said the organisation was totally committed to encouraging financial literacy among students, by educating them on the type of investments they could explore at their level.
She said the vision outreach was anchored on having deep conversations with the students to boost their level of confidence and appreciate the gains of saving.
“We want to talk to them to remain focused on their schooling because if they do that they will become good citizens who are ready to tackle tomorrow’s leadership challenges.”
She added that the association also donated school materials to the tune of N1.3 million to the students to ease their academic learning.
“It is from all the microfinance banks in the FCT. If we are doing it individually, the impact may not show, that is why we are doing it collectively. We want to impact the little we can on the lives of the children to be better citizens,” she added.
Joel-Ezeugo further stated that the association was planning to build blocks of classrooms in schools to ensure school children learn in a better environment.
“We are looking forward to a time where we can take a school block. Our interest is mainly education to ensure the children have a better future,”she added.
In his remarks, the Vice Chairman of NAMBS and CEO Prudent MFB, Francis Akie, said the outreach was to bring microfinance banks’ products closer to the children for them to appreciate the benefits of imbibing the habit of saving at a tender age as without it, there is a high propensity to be addicted to consumption.
The CEO of MicroBiz MFB, Joe Onyeabor, in his goodwill message, said Microfinance Banks are the closest financial institutions to the people, especially at grassroot level, saying the association wants to relate with students to ensure they are exposed to financial literacy and inclusion very early in life.
On his part, the CEO of Fedeth MFB, Joseph Oyibo, said over 500 students were targeted for the outreach.
He said the association wants to bring financial literacy to the students to understand what the banks are doing, especially the Microfinance banks.