First Bank of Nigeria Limited has expressed its commitment to education advancement in the country by holding the maiden edition of Future First, its career counselling and financial literacy initiative.

The initiative, according to the Group Head, Retail Banking, First Bank, Mr. Seyi Oyefeso, is aimed at ensuring that the nation’s youths are financially independent through the acquisition of the right financial knowledge and fulfilling careers.

Oyefeso, at the maiden edition of the programme in Lagos, said it was tailored towards the empowerment of secondary school pupils between 12 and 17 years, to build fulfilling careers and be better equipped with tools and knowledge for a long-term financial independence.

Hundreds of pupils from selected secondary schools in the state participated in the programme held at De Halls Events Place in Ikeja, Lagos.

The bank, Oyefeso said, was setting the pace in this regard through its Corporate Social Responsibility platform, to avert the negative effects that may result from financial indiscipline and inadequate career choices among the youth.

In implementing this initiative, the banker said volunteers from several departments in the bank would assist in the facilitation of the career counselling programme for the pupils.

“This support from our staff members comes on the heels of the First Bank Employee Volunteering Scheme, which allows our employees to individually and collectively contribute to social responsibility projects, to further entrench community development and corporate responsibility as core components of our organisational culture,” he said.

He thanked the Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network and Junior Achievement Nigeria for their support in driving the career counselling and financial literacy among the pupils.

He said, “We enjoin everyone to always remember the words of Franklin Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States, who said, ‘we cannot always build the future for our youths, but we can build our youths for the future.’

“At First Bank, we believe that young people represent our future and we remain committed to achieving the dreams of the younger generation.”

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Lagos State, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo, commended the bank for the initiative, which she described as laudable.

According to her, many youths have derailed because of the wrong career choices they made or that were made for them.

She said, “Hence, it is our collective responsibility to consciously guide these children and instil in them financial discipline and planning so that they become adults we can be very proud of.

“You will all agree with me that when these young minds are trained early enough about career choices and financial knowledge, they will make better individuals who will make significant breakthroughs for our nation.”