By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN), in partnership with Prudential Zenith Life Insurance and Prudence Foundation, has unveiled the 2026 edition of the Cha-Ching Financial Literacy Programme.
The programme is to equip children aged eight to 12 years with practical money management skills, according to a statement by the organisation on Tuesday.
The initiative aims to build a generation of financially responsible and future-ready young Nigerians by bringing together stakeholders from the education and financial services sectors, parents, teachers, pupils, and development partners.
Delivering the keynote address, with the theme: “Building Financial Literacy for Smart Kids,” Mrs Anuli Nnadi, Product Manager and Proposition Manager, Kiddies Division, Wema Bank, emphasised that financial literacy was more than savings.
According to her, financial literacy goes beyond teaching children how to save, noting that children also need to develop the confidence and discipline to make sound financial choices.
She encouraged parents to introduce smart financial lessons at home and give children opportunities to make age-appropriate decisions, emphasising that one of the greatest financial gifts parents could give their children was the knowledge and habits required to manage money wisely.
Giving the opening remarks, the Acting Executive Director, Junior Achievement Nigeria, Mr Olaolu Akogun, highlighted the importance of equipping young people with practical financial skills from an early age.
“Cha-Ching is built on a simple but powerful belief: financial literacy is a life skill, and the earlier we begin teaching it, the better prepared young people will be for the future.
“At Junior Achievement Nigeria, we prepare young people for the future through four key areas: entrepreneurship, digital literacy, work readiness and financial literacy, with Cha-Ching at the core of our financial literacy efforts.
“Since its introduction in Nigeria in 2019, Cha-Ching has helped primary school pupils build a strong foundation in financial education.
“This year, we look forward to reaching 32,000 more young learners and strengthening the role of parents and educators in building a generation that is confident and responsible with money.”
Mr Afolabi Lawal, the Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer, Prudential Zenith Life Insurance, represented Prudence Foundation and Prudential Zenith Life Insurance.
He described financial literacy as one of the most important gifts to give the next generation, noting that equipping children with the skills to earn, save, spend, and donate responsibly lays the foundation for a brighter financial future.
He expressed the hope that the programme would inspire participants to become future leaders in the financial markets and investment space.
He further noted that Prudence Foundation had positively impacted communities across Asia and Africa for more than a decade, adding that this year, Nigeria joins Ghana, Uganda and Kenya in delivering structured, teacher-led financial education to 100,000 pupils across the continent.
He reaffirmed the commitment of Prudence Foundation, Prudential Zenith Life Insurance and Junior Achievement Nigeria to supporting the programme and expanding access to quality financial education for children.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Hon. Akeem Babajide Shittu, the Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), Mrs Fawibe Alice, Director of Social Mobilisation, LASUBEB, encouraged the children to avoid waste, develop responsible financial habits and cultivate a spirit of giving.
She noted that the financial habits children developed today would influence the decisions they made in the future.
She emphasised that the programme would contribute to raising financially responsible, disciplined, compassionate and future-ready young Nigerians.
She also assured that the government would continue to support initiatives that prepared children not only for examinations but also for life beyond the classroom.
The event featured a panel session with Cha-Ching Champions-a collective of outstanding teachers who participated in the previous edition of the programme, alongside a parent of a beneficiary-providing perspectives on the impact of financial education in the classroom and at the family level.
The programme was officially inaugurated with the unveiling and display of the Cha-Ching learning materials, alongside a documentary capturing the programme’s impact during the 2024/2025 school year.
Since its introduction in Nigeria in 2019, the Cha-Ching Financial Literacy Programme has impacted 46,687 pupils, with participants completing six-week classroom mentorship sessions across 26 states in Nigeria between 2019 and 2024.
Speaking on the impact of the programme, the Acting Head of Programmess, Junior Achievement Nigeria, Mr Oluwatosin Oyetayo, said: “We have seen children, parents and teachers across Nigeria set smart money goals and attain them.
“This is the kind of impact we want to deepen, moving financial literacy beyond the classroom and helping children develop habits that they can apply in their everyday lives.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 2026 edition of the Cha-Ching Financial Literacy Programme will continue to leverage teachers as champions of financial education, providing children with practical and engaging lessons centered around four key themes: Earn, Save, Spend, and Donate. (NAN)www.nannews.ng
Edited by Vivian Ihechu