Nigeria’s largest credit bureau, CreditRegistry, and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a strategic partnership to promote financial literacy, responsible credit use, and economic empowerment within the university community.

Managing Director of CreditRegistry, Dr. Jameelah Sharrieff-Ayedun, noted that the collaboration through the African Consumer Credit Academy (ACCA) would equip students with practical knowledge in personal finance, credit management, entrepreneurship, and wealth building.

Speaking during the MoU signing yesterday, Sharrieff-Ayedun, who was represented by the registry’s chief information officer, Nse Ikiddeh, noted that the MoU was more than a formal ceremony.

She said, “It is a declaration of intent, and partnering with prestigious institutions like the University of Lagos, we are bringing the same gold standard to the very place where Africa’s future is being forged.

“We aim to uphold the standards of our industry and ensure that the core of our economy remains informed and involved. Our goal is to guarantee that students graduate with more than just a degree.

“The collaboration is designed to bridge the gap between academic brilliance and economic resilience. We have seen far too many brilliant African ideas fail. Not because the product was bad but because the person does not exist in the financial system to access capital. The VC has a powerful vision that aligns perfectly with ours; this is why we are investing in students who will not graduate to start paying bills but command the creation of generational wealth.”

On her part, UNILAG VC, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Bolanle Olufunmilayo Oboh, while thanking the Registry for having confidence in UNILAG, said the partnership will obviously help to shape the future of students.

She said, “Our students will gain early exposure to how credit works and is assessed in the real world, and the benefits are both immediate and long-term.

“They will gain access to practical financial literacy training that complements the academic, regardless of faculty or course of study. They will understand how to budget, how to manage credit responsibly, how to build a positive financial profile, and how to avoid the pitfalls that derail many promising careers and businesses.

“Beyond knowledge, the partnership opens pathways for real opportunities, inclusive certification, mentorship, and exposure to financial institutions and industry professionals through platforms such as the Africa Credit Expo. Of equal importance is the value this collaboration brings to our faculty members.

“The partnership reflects a shared commitment by CreditRegistry and UNILAG to building financially informed, credit-aware, and economically empowered young Nigerians.”