Not fewer than 30 teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 17 in Yaba area of Lagos State, have received financial literacy training and cash support through an intervention by the Make Every Naira Count Initiative.
Founder of Make Every Naira Count, Miss Oluwatariiresimi Agbeyangi noted that the two-day programme was designed to equip the beneficiaries with practical money management skills and support them in making informed financial decisions as they prepare for adulthood.
Speaking at the programme, Agbeyangi said the initiative, organised in partnership with the Save First Initiative of the Street Child Care and Welfare Initiative, SCCWI, was targeted at girls from underserved communities in the Yaba area, with the cash grants intended to help beneficiaries begin entrepreneurial activities and work towards greater financial independence.
She said the intervention was also aimed at supporting the efforts of the Project Director of SCCWI, Mrs. Comfort Ali, who has been caring for young girls affected by unintended pregnancies, homelessness and other vulnerabilities associated with life on the streets.
According to Agbeyangi, exposing girls to sound financial management principles at an early age would help them develop responsible financial habits and make better decisions as they transition into adulthood.
The secondary school student and entrepreneur said her passion for financial empowerment was inspired by her experience running a bakery business, through which proceeds from cookie sales are used to provide diapers, baby wipes and other essential items for young mothers in hospitals.
She stressed that financial knowledge was as important as material support because it gives young people the confidence, discipline and practical skills required to navigate financial challenges.
Agbeyangi explained that the beneficiaries were deliberately selected from the 15 to 17 age bracket because they are at a critical stage of development when they increasingly begin to make independent decisions and need practical financial knowledge to prepare for adulthood.
She added that the intervention complements her previous efforts to provide essential hospital supplies to teenage mothers who cannot afford sanitary materials, diapers and other necessities for themselves and their newborns.
During the training, the girls learnt the principles of budgeting and saving, as well as how to distinguish between needs and wants. They were encouraged to save a portion of their income, prepare for emergencies and set long-term financial goals.
The beneficiaries were also educated on financial safety, with Agbeyangi cautioning them against sharing sensitive banking information, including their Bank Verification Number, National Identification Number and ATM PIN, or allowing anyone to photograph their ATM cards.
She further advised the girls to verify account details before carrying out financial transactions in order to protect themselves from fraud.
Also speaking, the President and Project Director of SCCWI, Mrs. Comfort Ali, described financial literacy as an essential life skill that should be introduced early.
Ali said developing a savings culture from adolescence could prepare young people for financial independence and responsible financial behaviour in adulthood.
She noted that the programme covered not only saving and budgeting but also accountability, financial discipline, sustainability, goal-setting and personal development.
The SCCWI director urged the beneficiaries to save consistently, regardless of the amount they receive, stressing that every naira saved could contribute to their long-term financial security.
She also encouraged parents and guardians to support their children in saving part of their allowances, monetary gifts and other income, saying early financial discipline lays the foundation for responsible financial behaviour later in life.
One of the beneficiaries, Okpara Blessing Ada, who aspires to become a business owner, described the programme as timely and impactful.
Ada said she currently saves monetary gifts from family members through a local thrift savings scheme and plans to open a bank account, adding that the training had given her better knowledge to prepare for future financial responsibilities.
Another participant, 16-year-old Whesu Olamide Happiness, an aspiring accountant, said the training improved her understanding of budgeting and financial planning.
“Saving is not about how much you earn, but about preparing for future needs and emergencies,” she said, encouraging other teenagers to save consistently and spend wisely.