Bank preaches benefits of savings to pupils

Executive Director, Lagos and West Bank, United Bank for Africa, Mr. Liadi Ayoku, teaching at the Olivet Baptist High School , Oyo, during the  financial literacy training programme for students, an  initiative of Central Bank of Nigeria, in commemoration of World Savings Day on Monday in Oyo, Oyo State

In line with the Central Bank guidelines on taking banking to the grassroots, the management of United Bank for Africa (UBA), recently organised an interactive session with students of Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, Oyo State.

The bank’s team headed by the Executive Director, Lagos and West banks, Ayoku Adeoye Liadi, told The Guardian that the aim of the campaign is to encourage savings among the upcoming generations in the country.

During the session, students and teachers were exposed to the advantages of imbibing the culture of savings, especially at a younger age.

“Banking is what people think is a high activity, but it is not. Everybody should have an account in a bank. The students here do not even think that they should have an account in a bank, but with this session, I think they will tell their friends and others about opening an account in a bank,” Liadi said.

He added, “It is important that we inculcate savings culture in our young people because when they start saving at a relatively young age, they will grow with it. We are also talking to them but they are been neglected in the past. We don’t want a situation that they would start saving when they get to the university or start working. When we catch them young like this, it is easy to pass the right message that it is important for many people to be bankable.

The bank chief who said there was a lot of money outside the banking system, said a session like “this is going to help the system. And this programme is expected to create awareness among the people outside the state capital, on the need for savings and financial literacy.