By Merit Ibe
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has emphasised the need to develop capacity of the average Nigerian child to understand economic issues, interrogate their intellectual minds, stimulate entrepreneurial instincts inherent in them and enhance their contribution to national development.
President of the chamber, Michael Olawale-Cole, made the remark at the 6th edition of the 2022 secondary school essay competition and prize giving ceremony themed; “The role of Fintech in shaping entrepreneurship for national development, where 11 students from various secondary schools with the best entries debated on the theme and won various cash prizes.
The winner was Wisdom Nwomuna of Abesan Senior High School, who won a prize money of #500,000, with 82 percent, followed by Nwoko Ifenna, who came second and got N350,000 and the 3rd position went to Hamzat Deborah, who won #300,000.
The 11 candidates debated on the theme after a written essay competition and got consolations prizes.
Sterling Bank, a Fintech compliant bank gave awards to all the winners, while Friesland Campina gave the winner and his teacher an award of 50k each.
Alberto Osuji, ProAgile Consulting Services in collaboration with Africa Agility Foundation Global Scrum Master Certification awarded the top three winners, with a training on Fintech worth $4,500. The first female winner, Deborah got a consolation price from Just Julse.
Olawale-Cole, appreciating the sponsors, students and the teachers, noted that financial technology, which is popularly known as fintech, is a new financial services sub-sector that applies technology to improve financial activities, adding that in this sector, firms use new technology to compete with traditional financial methods in the delivery of financial services.
He urged parents and guardians, proprietors, teachers, public and private sector players and concerned citizens to wake up and reinvigorate the reading culture in our children. This he said would act as a catalyst for their personal development and lifelong learning. “We all have fundamental roles to play in helping these children to develop and maintain positive reading habits.”
