The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has reemphasized that it is committed to driving financial literacy among Nigerians and most especially, the young population.
The management of the stock exchange during its annual Essay Competition on capital market explained that Financial Literacy and Investor Education remains at the core of the Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy of the Exchange.
Thousands of secondary school students across Nigeria – private and government-owned – had entered the NSE Essay Competition through their schools in a bid to become the 19th winner to cart away the grand prize, but Adesewa’s entry was selected as the best by the panels that vetted the collated essays.
The NSE Essay Competition is a financial literacy initiative aimed at bridging the gap between classroom learning and practical knowledge required for long-term personal financial planning. The topic for this year’s edition, “How can the capital market help to create a better future for all.”
The top three winners: While Adesewa emerged as the winner at the award ceremony which was held at Civic Center, Lagos, Temiloluwa Oladipo and Adeoye Okhaioisevai (both of whom are students of Oritamefa Baptist Academy) emerged second and third respectively. Meanwhile, ten runners-up were also announced at the award ceremony.
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Prizes won
- Adeniyi Adesewa received N500,000 Equity investment, N500,000 scholarship Fund for University Education from NSE and N300,000 from Vetiva. She was also honoured with a Closing Gong Ceremony at the NSE. The school will also bag the 1st place trophy, 3 desktop computers and a printer.
- Temiloluwa Oladipo got N300,000 Equity investment, N400,000 scholarship Fund for University Education from NSE and N200,000 from Vetiva, while the school will receive the 2nd place trophy, 2 desktop computers and a printer.
- Adeoye Okhaioisevai was awarded N200,000 Equity investment, N300,000 scholarship Fund for University Education from NSE and N100,000 from Vetiva. The school will be awarded the 3rd place trophy, 1 desktop computer and a printer.
The event was graced by the Chief Executive Officer of NSE, Oscar Onyema, Funke Omotosho, representative of Lagos State first lady, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Managing Director of Vetiva Capital and president of the AIHN, Chuka Eseka, and Nigerian singer, Innocent Idibia popularly known as 2face Idibia – who presented the grand prize to Adesewa, and others.
Speaking at the event on the essence of the Essay Competition, Onyema said its quest is to build a financially savvy generation, “It is the NSE flagship financial literacy and institution initiative. This competition was conceptualised for a number of reasons; the NSE Essay competition serves as a platform that helps awaken the interest of our youths to learn and appreciate the workings of the financial industry, particularly as it concerns investment and a critical role of the capital market to sustainable development.”