While stakeholders in the Nigerian project are engulfed in the search for solution to the nation’s financial sector, Mary Akpobome, executive director, Heritage Bank Limited, has said that financial literacy is the best catalyst to financial inclusion and wealth creation that can aid the country’s economic growth. She explained that financial literacy programme is a key enabler to the achievement of financial inclusion that will sustain economic growth and development in the country.

Akpobome made the statement while addressing a group of students at the Financial Literacy Day Programme organised by the bank at the University of Ilorin Secondary School, Ilorin, Kwara State last week. The platform is organised to help children and young adults establish a positive relationship with money.

“At Heritage Bank, the importance of financial inclusion for the youth cannot be over-emphasized. The youth represents a vital force for socio-economic development and hence, the need to begin to work with young people through educational institutions. As a bank, we are here to grow with you and see you create wealth, preserve and transfer wealth across generations. This must begin with being financially literate,” Akpobome told the students.

In her remarks, Zuriel Oduwole, the education advocate teenager and Heritage Bank’s Financial Literacy Ambassador, said the programme also deals on how to earn money and preserve it for the future, saying that the idea will also help them to new things that will help them in the future. “The youth are the most vulnerable group to make wrong financial decision, but with this programme now, the danger can be averted when it is time to make quality decision about finances and the future,” Nike Jaiyeola, Principal of the school said, while thanking the bank officials for bringing the initiative their way.

Financial Literacy Day is being marked to focus attention on children and youth in primary and secondary schools nationwide and to empower them by enhancing their financial knowledge and planning skills.