How UBA took Financial literacy campaign to Anambra Secondary Schools

The need to educate children on Financial Management, formed the crux of the matter at this year’s UBA Financial Literacy Day celebration.

Correspondent, Ejike Abana, reports that the event, which took place at Girls’ Secondary School Awka, had the Group Managing Director cum Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa,  UBA, top executives of the bank, CBN coordinator for the state,  government representatives as well as students from selected secondary schools in attendance.
The Financial Literacy Day is set aside for the celebration of the global money week, where participants, especially the youth, are educated on how to make, save and invest their money wisely.
It is usually a day when each of the Bank Chief Executive Officers, selects secondary school across the country, aimed at exposing the young people early to the knowledge of financial prudence in order to ensure a better society.
In a lecture, the Group Managing Director cum Chief Executive Officer of UBA, Mr. Philip Oduoza educated participants on financial matters.
Advising them to cultivate the habit of saving money in the bank as it reduces  the risk of spending, theft among others  he also educated the participants on ways of growing money which include purchase of shares and stocks.                     
The UBA GMD, equally cautioned   them to ensure that they consider the returns before investing as well as protect their money and investments.         
Mr. Oduoza called on the participants to open the special UBA account for students, known as Freedom Savings  Account, with passport photographs and other details.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Principal of Girls’ Secondary School Awka, Lady Winnie Ibezim, said the venture embarked on by UBA is beneficial as it will make children become good Financial Managers.   
 In a comment, the Awka branch controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria Mr. Onyekachi Onyekwazu, said that the apex bank has been in the forefront of promoting literacy, adding that, as one of the strong banks in Nigeria with about eighteen branches abroad, UBA  has been in the business of affecting many aspects of the people’s lives.
In his goodwill message, Governor Willie Obiano, represented by a banker, Chief Tony Obi, expressed delight that UBA chose Anambra out of the thirty-six states of the federation for the event, describing  it as  a partnership in the right direction.
Some of the participating students said they learnt a lot and are better equipped to face their money challenges.
Question and answer session, opening of bank accounts and distribution of free novels, were the highlights of the event.