By Adesina Wahab

Africa’s leading environmental, social & governance (ESG) focused investment financing organisation, Emerging Africa Group, has organised a one-day investment and entrepreneurial training for students of Premiere Academy, Lugbe, Abuja.

The programme with the theme, “How to Start Investing at an Early Age”, sought to equip participating students with the tools for long-term financial independence. This is in line with the objective of the school’s co-curricular Money Matter Programme, an annual capacity building event which regularly invites experts to engage the students on how to leverage intentional savings, investments and philanthropic spendings as vehicles of wealth building and management.

The Emerging Africa Group’s three-member team of resource persons came from the Group’s Northern Office. It comprised Head, Northern Region, Umaru Jemilah; Relationship Manager, Asset Management, Ekule Mercy; and Technical Assistant, Ahmed Mutiat.

Their presentation dissected the African investment landscape with specific focus on various available sustainable investment solutions and how the students could position themselves as the future catalysts for the continent’s economic expansion.

The presentation, which centred on the four pillars of financial literacy- earn, save, invest and protect -, also provided ample guides for the students on how to invest in stocks and bonds as well as other modern investment opportunities such as crypto currency, among others.

Aside the presentation by the EA team which aimed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world global finance, other highlights of the event included quiz and debate sessions where the students demonstrated their skills, knowledge and aptitude for money management and wealth building.

In addition to the students, several top officers and staff of the school were also in attendance to take in life-shaping nuggets from the interactions.

EA’s Head of Northern Region, Umaru Jemilah, praised the school for instituting the Money Matter Programme which she described as an important platform for giving the students valuable life tips to help them become best managers and complete leaders armed with excellent knowledge to impact the world.

She observed that “The excellent ambience of the school, together with the rich academic and co-curricular programmes the students are exposed to, is a stand-out characteristic that speaks volume for the bright future of the students”.

She also noted that, “The component and design of the Money Matter Programme, for example, represent one of the best approaches to total education anywhere in the world for which the management of the school deserve a big applause”.

In his welcome remarks, Premiere Academy’s Principal, Mr. Chris Akinsowon, thanked the Emerging Africa Group for facilitating the training programme. He pledged the school’s commitment to ensuring the students continue to receive well-rounded education that could help them rub shoulders with the best of their contemporaries globally.

According to him, “By combining the vision of the school board, the expertise of staff mentors, and the insights of international industry leaders from different walks of life, Premiere Academy will continue to ensure that the next generation of Nigerian leaders is prepared to navigate and dominate the financial complexities of the 21st century”.

“We shall continue to evolve our systems and environments holistically in line with emerging global trends to not only set our students on a path of academic excellence but to also ensure that they are well-rounded in other vital areas of life with essential life skills that foster confidence, creativity, teamwork and all-round leadership in order for them to be fully ready to shine in all aspects of life”, he further stated.