Adopt a school, promote financial literacy, Skye Bank urges lenders

The Group Managing Director/CEO, Skye Bank Plc, Tokunbo Abiru has called on lenders to take on at least, two public schools in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country to promote financial literacy.

He also disclosed plans by the bankers’ committee to continuously improve the level of financial literacy among the youths.

Speaking at the bankers’ committee meeting held in Lagos, the bank chief said the committee unanimously agreed that the banking industry should act in unity to ensure that financial education is promoted in schools across the six geopolitical zones.

He said the committee agreed that each of the commercial banks take at least, two schools in each of the six geopolitical zones.

“Part of what we discussed was the need to continuously improve on financial literacy. And one of the resolutions is for the entire industry to act as one, to play an active role in the forthcoming World Savings Day Celebration on October 30,” Abiru said.

He explained that part of the role of the banks was to ensure that each of the lenders take on at least, two public schools in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country. “We suggested that at least 12 public schools will be taken up by each bank for this years’ event,” he said.

Abiru also disclosed the committee’s commitment and plans to promote Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). “We also talked about Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), general commerce, general commerce, manufacturing, micro-finance bank and other banking-related products so as to create awareness as our nation gets older and stronger in banking services,” he said.

Skye Bank Plc has been at the forefront of mentoring of students in financial literacy as endorsed by the Bankers’ Committee. The lender has taken the financial inclusion message to different states within the federation to underscore the imperatives of the savings culture among students.

The bank’s officials were recently at Biedomo Premier School, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to teach the students the fundamentals of financial planning, investment instruments and the need for imbibing the savings culture at an early stage.

The bank said the exercise was meant to catch the students young and expose them to modern art of banking. “Our appeal goes to the parents. As they are operating different bank accounts, they should impress the habit of savings on their children by opening an account for them. At Skye Bank, we have Rainbow savings Account which is specifically designed for children,’’ the bank said in an earlier statement.

Last year, Skye Bank took the financial training programme to Osogbo. Phobestar Royalty School benefitted from the programme, with the pupils all exposed to the essence of savings.

Recently, Skye Bank Plc renovated three blocks of 12 classrooms at Government Day Secondary School, Wuse 11, Abuja, under its ‘School adoption’ and financial literacy mentorship series in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) ‘Adopt a school project.’