Polaris Bank Managing Director/CEO, Mr Tokunbo Abiru has stressed the need for Secondary school students in Nigeria to imbibe the culture of saving money to enable them secure their future.
Abiru made this admonition while addressing students of Government Secondary School in Tudun Wada area of Jos, the Plateau state capital on Thursday.
Expressing concern at the negative consequences which low savings culture have on adult citizens with no savings or financial investment, the top Banker assured that Polaris Bank would continue to sustain efforts aimed at promoting financial literacy among secondary school students in particular and Nigerians in general
According to Abiru,” we have issues relating to finance which people do not know anything about. An attitude of not saving money is not good for the future. We need to learn, save and earn money. You do not save after spending but rather, you save first before spending. The idea is to catch them young in terms of educating them on finance and financial investment so that in future, their personal and financial lives can be guaranteed. To achieve this, we need to imbibe the culture of saving, no matter how small”
The Managing Director who was represented at the event by the Bank’s Group Head, North -East Zone, Mr. Olayinka Obikanye urged the students to pass the message to their friends and other family members.
He further explained that the financial sensitization campaign was part of the activities of Global Money Week, an annual program that was being organized in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in partnership with JA Nigerian, an NGO to help raise awareness and sensitise students on the need to be financially independent and empowered.
He said: “this is an annual event. Last year, we were in Bauchi for the financial sensitization and this year, it is the turn of Plateau state. For us in Polaris Bank, we will continue to engage schools, parents and teachers, because we believe that by being financially literate, students and indeed the young ones, will be able to build their capacity for future business endeavours, thereby securing their future from poverty and other financial challenges”
He disclosed that the event is going on at the same time in the 36 states of the federation.
He further pointed that Polaris, the CBN and the entire players in the financial sector, were ready to carry out enlightenment, educate and teach students how to manage money that comes into their hands more frequently.
Earlier, the Principal of Mado Government Secondary school, Tudun Wada, Mrs. Zumunta Dancheng in her remarks, thanked Polaris Bank and CBN for bringing the idea of financial independence and literacy campaign to the door steps of the young generation in their school.
The Principal equally urged the students to ensure that the knowledge they acquired during the sensitization exercise, were put into good use.
Highlight of the program included questions and answers session and gift presentation to some of the students by the bank
