By Matthew Johnson

AS part of activities marking Global Money Week, GMW, 2026, 9ijakids, in partnership with Access Bank has equipped students across the country with practical money skills.

The 2026 GMW campaign, themed ‘Smart Money Talks’, is aimed at empowering young people and students to speak openly about finances, overcome money-related anxiety and make informed choices about their finances.

Students were exposed to learning how small choices, such as saving part of their money, planning before spending and understanding the difference between needs and wants, can contribute to better financial decisions.

Identifying with the campaign theme, 9ijakids and Access Bank empowered students across 100 schools in 10 states, engaging and equipping them with relevant financial knowledge.

Also, about 100 teachers were trained to cascade lessons in their schools, extending the campaign’s impact beyond Global Money Week.

Speaking during the programme, the co-founder of 9ijakids, Titi Adewusi, said the campaign aligns with the organisation’s broader mission of making learning engaging, practical and relevant for children.

Adewusi said: “When a child walks in wanting to spend N1 million on cars, clothes and walks out wanting to invest it, you know something real has happened. That is the power of financial education delivered right. Nigerian children do not need to wait until adulthood to be financially intelligent; they just need someone to shift their mindset now

“The campaign underscored the importance of making financial education simple, engaging and practical for children. Through school-based learning, 9ijakids and Kidpreneur Africa helped students understand the value of money management in everyday life.”

On the impact of the initiative, a teacher at Nuco Secondary School, Akwa Ibom, Bassey Effiong, stated that the exercise was impactful and engaging for students, confident that the lessons would influence them to make smart financial decisions.