The initiative, held at Community Day Secondary School, Tsaski Yan’albasa in Charanchi Local Government Area, formed part of the bank’s activities marking Global Money Week 2026, a worldwide campaign dedicated to promoting financial awareness among young people.
The event brought together 90 students and 10 teachers, who participated in interactive sessions covering savings culture, budgeting, responsible spending, goal setting, banking fundamentals, peer pressure, and informed financial decision-making.
The programme aligns with ongoing efforts by financial institutions and regulators to strengthen financial inclusion and equip young people with the knowledge required to navigate an increasingly digital and complex financial environment.
Building a Financially Responsible Generation
Speaking on the importance of financial education at an early age, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank, Mr. Kayode Lawal, said empowering young people with sound financial knowledge remains critical to building a more economically resilient society.
According to him, financial literacy goes beyond teaching children how to save money; it helps them develop discipline, planning skills and responsible financial behaviour that can shape their future success.
“At Polaris Bank, we believe financial literacy is one of the most important foundations for building a responsible and economically empowered generation. When young people understand the value of savings, budgeting, and responsible financial choices early in life, they are better positioned to manage opportunities, avoid poor money decisions, and contribute meaningfully to the economy.”
Lawal noted that the bank remains committed to taking financial education directly to young people, particularly in communities where such exposure can create lasting positive impact.
“For us, this is not just about teaching students how to save money. It is about helping them understand the relationship between discipline, planning, financial responsibility, and future success. We will continue to support platforms that take financial education closer to young people, especially in communities where early exposure can make a lasting difference.”
Students Learn Savings, Budgeting and Smart Spending Habits
The outreach programme featured expert-led sessions designed to simplify financial concepts and make them relatable to secondary school students.
Participants received lessons on the significance of Global Money Week, the importance of developing a savings culture, and the role of the Central Bank of Nigeria in regulating the nation's financial system.
Facilitated by financial literacy advocate Mr. Patrick Sule, the sessions also explored financial discipline, goal-setting strategies and practical approaches to managing personal finances.
Students were introduced to the fundamentals of banking and learned how financial institutions help individuals save, protect and grow their money. Discussions also highlighted the dangers of negative peer influence and encouraged students to make independent financial decisions based on their personal goals and aspirations.
Another key segment focused on financial responsibility and legitimate ways for young people to earn, save and manage money, reinforcing the idea that healthy financial habits developed early in life can significantly improve educational and career outcomes.
Smart Financial Choices Can Shape the Future
Representing the Managing Director during the event, the Group Head, Kano Group, Mr. Dahiru Tukur, delivered a practical session tagged “Smart Money Talk,” where he encouraged students to recognise the long-term impact of everyday financial decisions.
Using relatable examples, Tukur explained how simple habits such as saving consistently and avoiding unnecessary spending could help young people build a secure future.
“The decisions you make with money today, no matter how small, can shape your future. Learning how to save, spend wisely and avoid negative financial pressure is a major step toward becoming responsible and independent adults. Polaris Bank is proud to be part of this journey with you.”
The session also provided students with insights into financial planning and personal responsibility, helping them understand how financial discipline contributes to long-term success.
Practical Banking Exposure for Students
To complement the theoretical lessons, Polaris Bank introduced participants to its Polaris Young Achievers Account, a product specifically designed to encourage early savings habits among young people.
Bank representatives explained the benefits of the account, account-opening requirements and how students could begin cultivating a savings culture while still in school.
The practical demonstration helped bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world financial management, giving participants firsthand knowledge of how banking products can support personal financial goals.
The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session during which students actively engaged facilitators on various financial topics. Branded educational gifts were later distributed to participants as part of efforts to reinforce the key lessons learned during the programme.
School Commends Polaris Bank's Intervention
The Principal of Community Day Secondary School, Samaila Umar Sanda, praised the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that exposed students to practical financial knowledge often not covered extensively in traditional classroom settings.
According to him, equipping young people with financial literacy skills will help them make better economic decisions throughout their lives.
“Programmes like this help students connect classroom learning with real-life financial decisions. By engaging them early, Polaris Bank is helping to build a generation that understands money, values savings, and can make better economic choices.”
Expressing gratitude to the bank for selecting the school for the outreach, he added:
“We are grateful to Polaris Bank for bringing this important programme to our school. The lessons shared today are practical and timely. Our students have learnt that money management starts with discipline, planning, and the right attitude.”
Supporting National Financial Inclusion Goals
The initiative reflects Polaris Bank’s broader commitment to youth development, financial inclusion and sustainable community impact.
Through its participation in Global Money Week and similar programmes, the bank continues to support national efforts aimed at improving financial literacy and expanding access to financial services across Nigeria.
The outreach also aligns with the bank’s commitment to the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI) Principles for Responsible Banking, particularly Principle Three, which focuses on supporting clients and customers through initiatives that promote financial health and inclusion.
As digital financial services continue to reshape Nigeria’s economy, stakeholders increasingly view financial literacy as a critical tool for empowering young people, reducing vulnerability to financial mistakes and ensuring broader participation in the formal financial system.
For Polaris Bank, the Katsina outreach represents another step toward building a financially informed generation capable of making sound economic decisions and contributing meaningfully to national development.