Lagos lauds Heritage Bank’s financial literacy scheme

Financial literacy initiatives of Heritage Bank Plc were at the weekend, given commendation by Lagos State government.

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, at the weekend referenced major components of the bank’s financial literacy initiative and entrepreneurial support embarked on in its very short period of existence as a financial institution.

Among the bank’s financial literacy initiative aimed at driving financial inclusion for young persons in the country, which Adebule mentioned was a comic book titled: “The Protectors”.

The book was launched in May, which the Managing Director of the bank, Ifie Sekibo, designated as “Children’s Banking Month 2016”, to drive financial inclusion among children.

Sekibo said: “Our theme for this year’s celebration is “Taking the Early Lead” and aligned with this is our financial literacy campaign geared towards equipping you with the requisite knowledge to make you a remarkable leader in future.

“This is also in keeping with the bank’s vision of creating, preserving and transferring wealth across generations.”

But in a letter of appreciation to the Managing Director of Heritage Bank, the Deputy Governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Adesina Odeyemi, stated that “the launch of the financial literacy comic book for young persons speaks volume about the bank’s organisational abilities.

It is also about the bank’s resolve to reposition and “capture young people through various initiatives, programmes, events and resource kits to increase awareness of the world of finance and the creation of wealth.”

“Your policy of equipping young people with the requisite financial skills to drive a vibrant economy as exemplified by the extension of financial literacy framework to primary and secondary schools pupils/students, university undergraduates, National Youth Service Corps members in the past are very commendable.”

“You are surely on the right track and we urge you to remain steadfast in the pursuance of this laudable goal,” she said.

Other components of the financial literacy and youth empowerment initiatives and collaboration include the N3 billion Central Bank of Nigeria Youth Innovative Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YIEDP) in which Heritage Bank is now the sole partner-bank.

The launch of a N500 million Young Entrepreneurs and Students (YES) Grant in Lagos in partnership with the Nigerian Youth Professional Forum; Young Entrepreneurship Business Training Programme; and Centre for Values in Leadership.