Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN), in partnership with Prudential Zenith Life Insurance and Prudence Foundation, has launched the 2026 edition of the Cha- Ching Financial Literacy Programme, an initiative designed to equip children aged 8 to 12 years with practical money management skills and build a generation of financially responsible and future-ready young Nigerians.

The event brought together stakeholders from the education and financial services sectors, parents, teachers, pupils, and other partners to celebrate the program impact and reaffirm their commitment to strengthening financial literacy among children across Nigeria.

Delivering the keynote address, themed “Building Financial Literacy for Smart Kids,” Mrs Anuli Nnadi, Product Manager and Proposition Manager, Kiddies Division, Wema Bank, emphasised that financial literacy goes beyond teaching children how to save.
She noted that children also need to develop the confidence and discipline to make sound financial choices.

She encouraged parents to introduce smart financial lessons at home and give children opportunities to make age-appropriate decisions, emphasizing that one of the greatest financial gifts parents can give their children is the knowledge and habits required to manage money wisely.
Giving the opening remarks, the Acting Executive Director, Junior Achievement Nigeria, Mr Olaolu Akogun, highlighted the importance of equipping young people with practical financial skills from an early age.

“Cha-Ching is built on a simple but powerful belief: financial literacy is a life skill, and the earlier we begin teaching it, the better prepared young people will be for the future. At Junior Achievement Nigeria, we prepare young people for the future through four key areas: entrepreneurship, digital literacy, work readiness and financial literacy, with Cha-Ching at the core of our financial literacy efforts.

“Since its introduction in Nigeria in 2019, Cha-Ching has helped primary school pupils build a strong foundation in financial education, and this year, we look forward to reaching 32,000 more young learners and strengthening the role of parents and educators in building a generation that is confident and responsible with money.”

Representing Prudence Foundation and Prudential Zenith Life Insurance, the Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer, Prudential Zenith Life Insurance, Mr. Afolabi Lawal, who welcomed guests and the young people at the heart of the program, described financial literacy as one of the most important gifts to give the next generation, noting that equipping children with the skills to earn, save, spend, and donate responsibly lays the foundation for a brighter financial future.

He expressed the hope that the program would inspire participants to become future leaders in the financial markets and investment space.
He further noted that Prudence Foundation has positively impacted communities across Asia and Africa for more than a decade, adding that this year, Nigeria joins Ghana, Uganda and Kenya in delivering structured, teacher-led financial education to 100,000 pupils across the continent.

He reaffirmed the commitment of Prudence Foundation, Prudential Zenith Life Insurance and Junior Achievement Nigeria to supporting the program and expanding access to quality financial education for children.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Hon. Akeem Babajide Shittu, the Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), Mrs. Fawibe Boluwaji Alice, Director of Social Mobilisation, LASUBEB, encouraged the children to avoid waste, develop responsible financial habits and cultivate a spirit of giving.

She noted that the financial habits children develop today will influence the decisions they make in the future. She emphasized that the program would contribute to raising financially responsible, disciplined, compassionate and future- ready young Nigerians.
She also assured that the government would continue to support initiatives that prepare children not only for examinations but also for life beyond the classroom.

Representatives of the Bankers’ Committee and Junior Achievement Nigeria were also present at the event.
The launch featured a panel session with Cha-Ching Champions; a collective of outstanding teachers who participated in the previous edition of the program, alongside a parent of a beneficiary, providing perspectives on the impact of financial education in the classroom and at the family level.
The programme was officially launched with the unveiling and display of the Cha-Ching learning materials.
Since its introduction in Nigeria in 2019, the Cha-Ching Financial Literacy Program has impacted 46,687 pupils, with participants completing six-week classroom mentorship sessions across 26 states in Nigeria between 2019 and 2024.

The programme provides children with age-appropriate lessons on key financial concepts, helping them develop positive money habits and understand the importance of making thoughtful financial decisions by reinforcing four key themes: Earn, Save, Spend and Donate.
The event also featured a documentary, capturing the program’s impact during the 2024/2025 school year, highlighting the experiences of pupils, teachers and families.

Speaking on the impact of the program, the Acting Head of Programs, Junior Achievement Nigeria, Mr. Oluwatosin Oyetayo, said: “We have seen children, parents and teachers across Nigeria set smart money goals and attain them. This is the kind of impact we want to deepen, moving financial literacy beyond the classroom and helping children develop habits that they can apply in their everyday lives.”

The 2026 edition of the Cha-Ching Financial Literacy Program will continue to leverage teachers as champions of financial education, providing children with practical and engaging lessons around earning, saving, spending and giving.
Through the continued partnership between Junior Achievement Nigeria, Prudential Zenith Life Insurance and Prudence Foundation, the program seeks to reach more children and strengthen a generation of financially confident, responsible and future-ready Nigerians.

Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) is part of Junior Achievement Worldwide, the world’s oldest and largest non-profit economic education organization operating in over 100 countries. They have impacted over 2 million students across Nigeria by fostering creativity and innovation, preparing the next generation of Nigerian leaders to drive economic change.

JAN is dedicated to empowering youths in financial literacy, work readiness, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.