The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has tasked leaders across the country to provide the required leadership that would impart on youths and children the knowledge of money management.
The apex bank also rewarded winners of this year’s Grand Pitch for Cash Business Plan Competition with the sum of N500,000 to support their entrepreneurial skills.
Governor of the CBN, SanusiLamido Sanusi , also said Nigerian population including youth and children needed to embrace financial literacy to enable them make informed choices and better utilise financial products and services.
This according to him, was the only way they would be able to contribute to financial stability, economic growth and development.
Sanusi, who was represented by Tunde Lemo, Deputy Governor, Operations, spoke at the Financial Literacy Fair and Exhibition to mark the 2013 Child and Youth Finance week held in Abuja,yesterday.
He said the CBN has developed a financial literacy framework which articulates a strategic direction for the delivery of financial education in Nigeria.
“The framework encompasses a multi-stakeholder approach to the delivery of financial literacy programmes across various target groups of the population. One of these target groups is the Nigerian children and youth,” he said.
“The ultimate goal of the framework is to empower Nigerians with the knowledge to make informed financial decisions that would enhance their well being” he said.
Highlight of the event was the presentations by the best four entries in the 2013 Grand Pitch for Cash Business Plan competition.
At the end of the Business Plan Presentation, Faith Samuel Fajilo of Junior Secondary School Garki came tops and received a cash prize of N200, 000, AustineOjeabuo of Government Secondary School Jikwoyi came second and took home a cash prize of N150,000 while WinnifedChinwendu came third with a cash prize of N100,000.
The Child and Youth finance week is celebrated globally to propagate financial literacy so that children and youth would have access to safe, and trustworthy financial services and also possess knowledge and skills to use these services responsibly and prudently.