First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has pressed ahead with a financial literacy campaign for secondary school students throughout Nigeria, aiming to give young people practical skills for managing money in everyday life. The effort is being carried out alongside the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as part of the 2026 Global Money Week observance, and it has reached students across all six geopolitical zones of the country.
The programme, titled “Smart Money Talks,” is designed to introduce basic financial ideas early and to help students build the knowledge, capability and mindset needed to make sound financial decisions in a challenging economic climate. Through hands-on sessions held in Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Adamawa, Ogun, Imo and Akwa-Ibom, participants were taught themes including careful management of resources, budgeting, responsible spending, developing a saving habit, and using money in productive ways.
The initiative underscores FCMB’s broader focus on strengthening education quality, widening financial inclusion, and supporting poverty reduction in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. In remarks on the programme, FCMB’s Divisional Head of Corporate Affairs, Diran Olojo, said financial literacy is a vital life skill for young people.
“This initiative goes beyond teaching students how to handle money,” Olojo said. “Financial literacy enables people, encourages responsible conduct, and helps lay the groundwork for long-term economic inclusion. We want to nurture a generation that is informed, self-reliant, and able to make good financial choices.”
Olojo added that the bank intends to keep investing in young Nigerians through initiatives that help them handle life with greater confidence and a stronger sense of responsibility. Speaking during a lecture to students of Hasiyanda Secondary School in Kano, FCMB’s Zonal Head for the North-west, Ali Yahaya, emphasised that understanding money is fundamental.
“Learning about money is one of the most important life skills you can develop,” Yahaya told the students. “Financial literacy helps you make informed decisions, steer clear of expensive errors, and build a secure future no matter your background or income level. Saving is not only about putting money aside—it also strengthens discipline, resilience and long-term thinking. Developing solid financial habits early can influence the opportunities you get and improve your outlook.”
He also encouraged students to build and earn income responsibly by using creative abilities, taking holiday work, and exploring online business opportunities. Yahaya further urged parents to guide children on effective money practices, including saving regularly and spending thoughtfully.
Global Money Week is an annual international campaign that promotes the financial knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours that children and young people need to make effective financial decisions and support financial wellbeing. Since 2014, FCMB has delivered financial education to nearly 20,000 secondary school students across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The programme is also intended to reinforce efforts to tackle low levels of financial literacy in the country. By continuing to back education initiatives in partnership with the CBN, FCMB says it is helping grow a generation better prepared to make informed choices, manage resources responsibly and contribute more effectively to society.
