UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa Group, has partnered with Slum2School Africa to deliver a hands-on financial literacy workshop for children from underserved communities. The initiative centres on the UBA Money Explorers Book, an interactive learning tool that teaches financial literacy through stories, games, and practical money ledgers. Pupils were also introduced to the UBA Red Vault, a dedicated savings product aimed at encouraging early financial discipline. The workshop was held as part of UBA Foundation's broader financial inclusion agenda across the bank's 20 African countries of operation.
Bola Atta, Managing Director of UBA Foundation, said introducing financial education early helps build lifelong habits that promote confidence, responsibility, and economic independence. "Every child deserves the tools to dream bigger and plan better, regardless of where they come from," Atta said. "When we teach a child to understand money, we are giving them confidence, choice and a clearer sense of what is possible." Ozioma Obi, UBA's Segment Executive for Children and Youth Banking, described the Money Explorers Book and Red Vault as tools designed to make saving exciting rather than a chore. "We are creating products and experiences that make banking simple, relatable and enjoyable for children from their very first lesson," Obi said.
The Slum2School Africa team, led by Senior Programmes Manager Adekunle Idowu and Education and Innovation Manager Oluyemi Alugo, contributed expertise to shape the learning experience. Idowu said financial literacy is a life skill every child deserves. "Through this partnership with UBA Foundation, we are helping children develop the confidence, knowledge and discipline to make informed financial decisions from an early age," Idowu said. UBA Foundation's work focuses on education, youth empowerment, environmental sustainability, and community development through targeted outreach and innovative programmes.
Bola Atta claims the workshop builds economic independence, yet the children most in need remain excluded from UBA's banking services due to documentation and access barriers. The Red Vault is promoted as a tool for early savings, but many of the pupils introduced to it cannot legally open accounts. This gap between symbolic education and real financial access limits the programme's impact. Teaching money skills without enabling actual banking risks reducing financial literacy to performance.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
