Ruff ‘N’ Tumble shares financial literacy lessons with teenagers

In a bid to build a generation that would skip the hiccups of financial instability and stagnancy as a result of lack of adequate planning and information, Ruff N Tumble, a children and teenagers clothing line, recently held a 2-day financial literacy training event for teenagers and empowered them with information on how to be financially independent.

The event was attended by teenagers between ages 13-18, with business and financial facilitators, who taught them the dynamics and tactics of wealth creation.

Speaking to The Guardian, Fisayo Agoye, Assistant Lead Customer Experience Ruff ‘N’ Tumble’ said the ideology of the financial literacy seminar is to empower the children of their customers with proper financial plans for their future.

“We have a Trendsetters Club whereby the children of our customers have right to the club and consequently, we organise different programs to engage the children, especially during summer breaks.

We thought it wise to empower theses young ones the basics of business and financial management in order to become better adults who can take absolute charge of their own financial responsibilities as they grow” she said.

Tosin Praise-Fowowe, a certified financial educator and facilitator of the training explained that the event was aimed towards getting the teens to have knowledge of financial management.

“Life prepares us for every aspects of our lives except the aspect that determines the quality of our life.

These kids are not too young to learn financial management and wealth making. A number of wealthy people in the world started very young.” she said.

Praise-Fowowe further said there is need to make the students understand that money is not rocket science and the essence of the class is to demystify wealth creation such that, they do not need to borrow to start a business; they only need to have a plan, work consistently and tirelessly towards it.

Crystal Ochigbu, Executive Director of Irede Foundation and facilitator of the program took the teenagers through sessions on the need to have a vision cast for their life and set goals.

“What I did was to break it down in a language they would understand.

I used pictures of success stories within their age range, what they could identify with and asked them create their own vision board.

I was super amazed with their vision-board; more than 80 per cent of them came back with it.

Looking at each of their vision board, I could see creativity; no one-vision board was the same, they were all different. So, it showed the peculiarity and the difference in the children,” she said.

Emerald Assiak, a 14-year-old student of Halifield Schools Maryland Lagos said they were taught how to save, spend, invest and make money.

“We were taught how to set goals and ambitions before getting into the actual deal of investing and making money.

How to make sales, be a good entrepreneur, creative and innovative, we were taught that marketing is also an essential aspect of entrepreneurship and it is not necessary to work under people as we can have our own businesses and grow them irrespective our young age.

“When I grow up, I want to own a fashion company named Emerald Fashion Designs (EFD).

I also want to have a fashion institution Emerald Fashion Institute (EFI) where students of higher institution can spend a year or couple months to learn fashion, just to have something outside formal education they can do to enhance income.

“I came up with EFD and EFI idea last year when I interned with Ruff ‘N’ Tumble; I was able to have the experience of how a fashion business is run.

The various departments and production inspired me and instantly, I decided to have something similar, if not bigger.”