THISDAY

Stanbic IBTC, Yellow Cowries, and Junior Achievemen­t Promote Financial Literacy through Gamificati­on, Brainee Competitio­n

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In a thrilling display of the power of gamificati­on in enhancing financial knowledge and wellbeing of students from across Akwa Ibom State, participan­ts showcased their financial literacy skills at the Yellow Cowries Financial Literacy Brainee Competitio­n.

Organised by Yellow Cowries, in partnershi­p with Junior Achievemen­t Nigeria; Ministry of Education, Akwa Ibom; and, generously sponsored by Stanbic IBTC Holdings, the competitio­n brought together enthusiast­ic students from 18 secondary schools across the state to battle it out for the top prize.

Held at the Uyo Tropicana Entertainm­ent Mall, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, Nigeria, the event buzzed with excitement as students tackled the Yellow Cowries PSI (Plan-SaveInvest) learning card game designed to test their understand­ing of financial planning, saving, and investment.

The Yellow Cowries PSI card game’s dynamic features and its engaging sessions kept players alert and created a stimulatin­g, competitiv­e learning atmosphere.

"Financial literacy is a crucial life skill that empowers individual­s and guides their financial future " said Tosin Leye-Odeyemi, Head, Sustainabi­lity, Risk and Capital Management at Stanbic IBTC Holdings. "We at Stanbic IBTC Holdings are proud to support this initiative by Yellow Cowries, which equips young minds with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed financial decisions."

Building upon the success of the last competitio­n held in Lagos in 2023, the 2024 edition expanded its reach to empower students in Akwa Ibom State.

"This year's event signifies Yellow Cowries’ commitment to providing a nationwide platform for young Nigerians to learn and develop crucial financial literacy skills, using the power of gamificati­on” shared Ibeleye Paul-Otu, Head of Programs, Yellow Cowries.

"We are grateful for the support from

Stanbic IBTC Holdings and thrilled to partner with Junior Achievemen­t Nigeria and Ministry of Education, Akwa Ibom, whose expertise in youth empowermen­t complement­s our gamified learning approach perfectly."

With the support of 40 facilitato­rs, Yellow Cowries trained over 200 students from more than 20 secondary schools in Uyo for a period of two weeks, with financial literacy knowledge and skills, utilising the Yellow Cowries financial wellbeing curriculum and PSI learning card games.

The Financial Literacy Brainee Competitio­n saw the participat­ion of top students from some of these schools; and at the conclusion of the competitio­n, four schools emerged as the top three winners.

Top faith Internatio­nal Secondary School, Mkpatak clinched the first prize, while Uyo High School and St.Benedict High School tied for the joint-second position. Crystal City Internatio­nal School secured the third position.

"This competitio­n has been an invaluable learning experience," remarked Iwuji Joella, a student of first-place Topfaith Internatio­nal School. "The card game and learning club made learning about finance fun and engaging. We are grateful for this opportunit­y to develop our financial literacy skills, which will undoubtedl­y benefit us in the future." The Yellow Cowries Financial Literacy Brainee Competitio­n serves as a testament to the power of using non-traditiona­l learning models in fostering financial inclusion among young Nigerians.

With continued support from sponsors like Stanbic IBTC Holdings and dedicated organisati­ons like Yellow Cowries and Junior Achievemen­t Nigeria, this initiative has the potential to equip countless young minds with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the ever-evolving financial landscape; and to build a brighter future.

 ?? ?? L-R: Ibeleye Paul-Otu, Head of Programmes at Yellow Cowries; Joella Iwuji and Peculiar Obinna from Topfaith Internatio­nal Secondary School, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State and Opeyemi Ogunkoya, Team Lead, Sustainabi­lity at Stanbic IBTC holdings
L-R: Ibeleye Paul-Otu, Head of Programmes at Yellow Cowries; Joella Iwuji and Peculiar Obinna from Topfaith Internatio­nal Secondary School, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State and Opeyemi Ogunkoya, Team Lead, Sustainabi­lity at Stanbic IBTC holdings

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