Yemisi Izuora
The Development Initiative Nigeria (DIN) has restated its commitment to deepen financial literacy in the country.
This the organisation is doing to support government policy in that direction.
It has also released this years Filex Awards which showcases successful financial education initiatives by reference to impact, scale and innovation.
Speaking at the announcement of the results, Dr. Bola Fajemirokun of DIN Resource Centre stated that financial literacy can only be achieved through targeted financial education initiatives and these must be grounded in a thorough understanding of the financial behaviours and attitudes of Nigerian consumers.
The inaugural edition of the Financial Literacy Excellence (Filex) Awards recognized leadership and innovations that have promoted financial literacy in Nigeria.
The Awards, which are in four categories, celebrate the important work by individuals and organizations that is improving knowledge and awareness of financial matters among consumers so that they can make sound financial decisions and engage effectively with financial institutions.
Regarding the four winners, the Nigerian Stock Exchange has been awarded the Financial Institutions Corporate Achievement Award for its annual essay competition and investment education programmes on the capital market.
The Innovation Award goes to the Enterprise Development Centre, Lagos Business School for the customized content on its online portal known as the SME Toolkit.
Nonprofits and social enterprises have not been left out with Financial Literacy for All, a Nigerian NGO, being awarded the Non-Financial Institutions Corporate Achievement Award for its savings education programmes for children and the hearing and sight-impaired.
The only individual award, the Consumer Champion was awarded to Sola Salako, the founder of the Consumer Advocacy Forum of Nigeria (CAFON), in recognition of her pioneering role in enlightening financial consumers on their rights and responsibilities.
The Filex Awards run on an annual basis as a showcase for successful financial education initiatives by reference to impact, scale, replicability and innovation. Dr. Fajemirokun called for more collaboration across sectors in this field because the task at hand cannot be handled by government agencies or the financial institutions on their own.