The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has said its drive to promote financial literacy among secondary school students is aimed at fostering a long-term savings culture, encouraging financial independence and protecting young people from financial fraud.
The Principal Manager of Communication and Public Affairs at the corporation, Sa’adatu Bowsan, made the disclosure while addressing students of the Federal Technical College, Ukana Offot, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during a financial literacy programme on Thursday.
The event, themed “Smart Money Talks”, was organised as part of activities marking Financial Literacy Day 2026, an annual awareness campaign spearheaded by the NDIC and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The initiative seeks to encourage open conversations about money and equip young people with the knowledge needed to make informed financial decisions.
Speaking at the event, Bowsan said the programme is founded on the belief that today’s young people will become tomorrow’s adults, making it essential to instil sound financial habits early in life.
“We are here in Akwa Ibom State as part of the commemoration of Financial Literacy Day 2026, which is a global initiative of the Bankers’ Committee. We are here basically to teach financial literacy, targeting young people such as secondary school students,” she said.
She explained that the campaign is designed to encourage students to develop responsible financial behaviours from an early age.
“The whole idea behind financial literacy is to target them while they are young. We figured out that the young people of today will grow up to be the adults of tomorrow, so we inculcate the right habits in them so that they will become better adults tomorrow. The idea will promote financial independence and protect young people from financial fraud,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, the Zonal Controller of the NDIC’s Port Harcourt Zonal Office, Adefemi Shaba, stressed the importance of making informed financial decisions.
According to him, while the lessons being taught may not seem immediately relevant to the students, the knowledge would become increasingly valuable as they advance in their education and begin to manage their own finances.
The NDIC and the CBN have continued to intensify efforts to improve financial literacy across Nigeria, with a particular focus on empowering young people with the skills needed to make sound financial choices and build secure financial futures.
