NDIC takes bank savings campaign for students to Anambra

---

---

By Madu Obi

Awka- The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, has urged students to develop the habit of saving their money in licensed banks for their financial safety in future.

At a programmme to mark the World Savings Day at Capital City Secondary School,Awka, Anambra State, officials of NDIC said the aim is to encourage students to develop the habit of saving money even at young age.

A manager in the communications department of NDIC, Phoebe Ugot, while addressing the 100 students selected for the enlightenment programme, said the essence is to teach students the culture of saving, instead of mismanaging funds at their disposal.

"We want to remind you that you can save money in the banks for your future even as students. The message we are spreading is for you to save money you are given by your parents and other people.

But you should not go and steal your parent's money to say NDIC asked you to save. You can also save the money you make during holidays and whatever money given to you as gifts. Such savings must be in a bank licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN", she said.

She also emphasized on the need for students to acquire skills that can help them earn income during holidays, and warned against stealing just to save.

The secretary of the Anambra State Post Primary Schools Commission, Mrs Benedicta Anago, who represented the state Commissioner for Education at the event, commended NDIC for motivating the students to save, noting that it would make the students responsible.

"If you start saving little by little, it will help you in future. You have to deny yourselves those things you spend money on which are merely wants, and not needs.

You have to make it a point of duty to save even as students because saving means planning for the future" Anago said.

The Enugu Zonal Director of NDIC, Mr. Chidi Nwankwo said that the organization decided to take the World Savings Day celebration to schools to teach young Nigerians the benefits of savings.

He took the students through the various kinds of banks in the country, emphasizing the need to avoid getting involved with unlicensed financial institutions.

"There are some people who prefer to keep their money in the house and that habit is risky because thieves can steal it. But if you save money in a bank insured by NDIC, your saving is always intact no matter what happens to the bank", Nwankwo stated.

The Principal of the school, Mrs Amaka Onyeka commended the Anambra State government for selecting the school for the programme.

"We're honoured to be chosen to represent Anambra on the importance of saving money by young people and our school will spread the good news to other students in the state", she said.

Some of the students said it was indeed an eye opener for them, adding that henceforth, instead of buying things that are not necessary, they should open accounts and save their money little by little because nobody knows tomorrow.

The programme with the theme, “Beyond Savings: Building Financial Resilience”, was designed to introduce students to essential money management skills and help them understand how to earn, save, and invest responsibly.