*Commends Entrepreneurship Centre’s Initiative
By Yusuf Zurmi
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA), Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, officially inaugurated the Financial Literacy Advocacy Group (FLAG), urging members to utilize their acquired skills to foster financial discipline within society. The inauguration ceremony, organized by the University’s Entrepreneurship Centre in collaboration with GIZ, P3 Consult, and First City Monument Bank (FCMB), took place on August 28, 2024, at the Centre, Main Campus.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Uno Essag Uno, Prof. Kuta praised the Centre’s efforts in promoting financial awareness and combating financial crimes among students, staff, and the wider university community. He emphasized that the program’s focus on financial literacy has the potential to lift people out of poverty and encouraged the Centre to expand its training to other institutions across Niger State.
Earlier in the event, the Director of the Entrepreneurship Centre, Engr. Prof. Caroline O. Alenoghena, highlighted the profound impact of financial literacy on various aspects of life, from managing businesses to planning for retirement. She emphasized the importance of understanding financial principles, stating, “Money has no permanent abode, but if you know how it works, you can keep it.”
Prof. Alenoghena explained that the creation of FLAG was a result of the Centre’s efforts to broaden its financial literacy training programs to include students, cooperative societies, and partner organizations. The group consists of staff and students who have completed the Training of Trainers (ToT) program, with a goal to train at least 300 financial literacy advocates to lead community campaigns. She also noted the Centre’s collaboration with over 30 cooperative societies and its commitment to educating micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), women, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and retirees on essential financial skills.
The event featured goodwill messages from representatives of partnering organizations, including Mr. Joel Oliver from GIZ, Mr. Nosa Osunde from P3 Consulting Limited, and Mr. Chukwuka Uchegbulem from FCMB, all of whom expressed their commitment to supporting the FLAG initiative.
The ceremony concluded with the administration of an oath to the newly inducted financial literacy volunteers by Prof. Alenoghena, marking the official launch of their community advocacy efforts.