Bank, CBN Drive Financial Inclusion Through School Outreach

First City Monument Bank (FCMB), in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has intensified efforts to promote financial inclusion among young Nigerians through a nationwide financial literacy outreach targeting secondary school students.

The initiative, organised as part of the 2026 Global Money Week celebration, reached thousands of students across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones under the theme, “Smart Money Talks.”

The programme was designed to equip students with practical financial knowledge and help them develop responsible money management habits at an early stage.

Through interactive sessions held in Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Adamawa, Ogun, Imo, and Akwa-Ibom states, students were exposed to key financial concepts including budgeting, prudent spending, saving culture, resource management, and productive use of money.

The initiative forms part of FCMB’s broader commitment to promoting quality education, financial inclusion, and poverty reduction in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speaking on the programme, FCMB’s Divisional Head of Corporate Affairs, Diran Olojo, said financial literacy remains essential for young people navigating today’s economic realities.

“This initiative goes beyond teaching money management. Financial literacy empowers people, promotes responsible behaviour, and supports long-term economic inclusion. We want to nurture a generation that is informed, self-reliant, and equipped to make sound financial choices,” he said.

Olojo added that the bank would continue investing in initiatives that empower young Nigerians with the knowledge and confidence needed to make responsible financial decisions.

Also speaking during a session at Hasiyanda Secondary School in Kano, FCMB’s Zonal Head, North-west, Ali Yahaya, stressed the importance of cultivating sound financial habits early in life.

“Understanding money is one of the most important life skills you can develop. Financial literacy helps you make informed choices, avoid costly mistakes, and build a secure future regardless of your background or income level,” he said.

Yahaya encouraged students to embrace savings culture, develop creative skills, and explore legitimate income opportunities such as holiday jobs and online businesses.

He also urged parents to reinforce financial discipline at home by teaching children the value of saving consistently and spending wisely.

Global Money Week is an annual international awareness campaign aimed at ensuring children and youths acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours required to make sound financial decisions and achieve financial wellbeing.

Since 2014, FCMB has provided financial education to nearly 20,000 secondary school students across Nigeria, supporting efforts to address low financial literacy levels in the country.

Through sustained collaboration, FCMB and the CBN are helping to raise a financially informed generation better equipped to contribute meaningfully to economic development and national growth.