Accion Microfinance Bank (Accion MfB) has marked the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child with a sensitisation programme for female students, focusing on education, personal rights, financial literacy and leadership development.
The programme, held on Tuesday, October 13, at the bank’s head office in Lagos, was themed “Inspiring Her Today, Preparing Her for Tomorrow.” It brought together students from C.M.S Girls Secondary School and Jagunmolu Girls Senior Grammar School for discussions with female leaders on building the knowledge and skills needed to navigate future opportunities.
The initiative provided a platform for the students to learn about protecting their rights, making informed decisions, managing money responsibly, and preparing for their future careers.
Mojolaoluwa Yeri, head, customer experience hub at Accion MfB, moderated the session, facilitating discussions between the speakers and students.
Speaking at the event, Oluwatosin Aoko, head, legal/company secretary at Accion MfB, emphasised the importance of helping girls understand their rights and recognise when to seek support.
“Every girl deserves to understand her rights and know that her voice matters. Knowing your rights helps you recognise when something is wrong, speak up when necessary, and seek support from trusted adults. Understanding your rights is an important part of protecting yourself and making informed decisions,” she said.
Oghenerabome Bridget Abhulimen, chief information security officer at Accion MfB, highlighted the role of education in expanding opportunities for young girls, urging the students to remain committed to learning and developing their skills.
“Education goes beyond what you learn in the classroom. It equips you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed decisions and prepare for the future. Stay focused on your studies, remain open to learning and invest in becoming the person you want to be. The knowledge and skills you develop today can help shape the opportunities available to you tomorrow,” she said.
On financial literacy, Yewande Faleyimu, regional bank head, Lagos Bank 1 at Accion MfB, encouraged the students to develop responsible money management habits early in life.
She said understanding the difference between needs and wants, saving regularly, and making thoughtful spending decisions could help young people establish a sound financial foundation.
“Financial awareness is an important life skill, and it is never too early to begin learning how to manage money responsibly. Understanding the difference between needs and wants, developing the habit of saving, and making thoughtful spending decisions can help you build a strong financial foundation,” Faleyimu said.
The students expressed appreciation to the bank for providing an opportunity to interact with female professionals and learn from their experiences.
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Chinwe Michael is a Nigerian business journalist and media professional with over 4 years of experience covering companies, financial markets, banking, fintech, economic policy, financial inclusion, and corporate affairs. She currently leads the Companies & Markets desk at BusinessDay, where she drives coverage of Nigeria’s corporate and capital markets, translates complex financial data into accessible stories, and mentors younger journalists. Prior to that, she was the head of the financial inclusion/fintech desk. With a background in banking and finance and extensive experience in media and communications, Michael has developed expertise in financial journalism, economic analysis, investigative reporting and market intelligence. Her work examines how monetary policy, corporate performance, capital flows, technology, and regulatory decisions affect businesses, investors, and households. She was selected from about 3,000 applicants as one of 20 journalists for Cohort 4 of the MTN Media Innovation Programme, gaining exposure to new approaches to journalism, technology, and media innovation. Her international journalism experience and engagement with professionals across Russia, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and others in different sectors have further broadened her understanding of global communication and development.
