Three young students from primary schools have been declared winners of the MoneyBee Competition for the 2024/2025 season. The competition, organized by Junior Achievement Nigeria in collaboration with Prudence Foundation, aims to teach children essential money management skills. The top prize was claimed by Akosile Opendoors from God’s Foundation School in Ondo State. Following closely behind, Abdulrahman Burhan from Sacson Nursery and Primary School in Lagos State secured the second position, with Adedoyin Delight from M & N Model School in Akure, Ondo State, finishing in third place.
The competition consisted of two main phases: Cha-Ching, introducing basic financial concepts, and MoneyBee, where students showcased their financial knowledge and decision-making abilities through a challenging online examination. Over 25,000 pupils from 20 states participated, leading to a hybrid Grand Finale where eight finalists competed for the top spots.
During the event, Jennifer Okereke, Head of Branding & Communications-Project at Prudence Foundation, highlighted the significance of early financial education. She emphasized that equipping young minds with financial knowledge early on enables them to make informed money choices, shaping a generation that understands financial responsibility.
Oluwatosin Oyetayo, Program Officer, commended the participants for their dedication and intelligence, noting that the competition demonstrated the remarkable financial acumen and critical thinking skills of young Nigerians. She praised the finalists for showcasing early financial literacy and described the event as a celebration of learning, digital inclusion, and the promising future of financially savvy young individuals.
Ugonna Achebe, the Executive Director of Junior Achievement Nigeria, stressed the importance of nurturing financial literacy as a crucial life skill from a young age. Achebe expressed admiration for the students’ confidence and knowledge displayed throughout the contest, attributing the success of the event to the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including Prudence Foundation, Prudential Zenith Life Insurance, Channels TV, volunteers, school administrators, and teachers.
Achebe extended gratitude to all contributors for their role in promoting financial literacy and preparing young Nigerians for a financially responsible future.