The conversation around money took a practical turn in Lagos on Friday as participants gathered for Nigerian NewsDirect’s ‘My Money and I’, seeking better ways to manage their income, build savings and make their money work for them.
‘My Money and I’ is part of Nigerian NewsDirect’s effort to create platforms for practical conversations around issues affecting everyday financial decisions.
Rather than focusing only on how much people earn, the event centred on what happens to income after it is received, how it is spent, what is saved and how the money set aside can eventually contribute to financial growth.
The session featured Oluchukwu Chiadika, founder of Your Personal Finance Girl (YPFG), who engaged participants on personal finance and the importance of being deliberate about financial decisions.
Chiadika, a financial educator and speaker, has built her platform around helping people understand practical aspects of personal finance, including budgeting, saving and investing. In a previous interview, she explained that her work began with educating people on the basics of budgeting, the meaning of savings and the different forms of savings available to individuals.
At the ‘My Money and I’ event, the discussion reflected the everyday concerns that come with managing personal income, particularly the challenge of balancing present needs with the need to prepare for the future.
For participants, the conversation offered an opportunity to look beyond simply receiving a salary or income and consider how financial decisions made today can affect their future financial position.
The emphasis was also placed on the need to move from passive saving to more intentional financial planning, with savings and investments viewed as tools for achieving specific financial goals.
Chiadika’s approach to personal finance is built around helping people understand where their money goes and making deliberate decisions about earning, spending, saving and investing. She has previously advised that individuals should be able to tell their money where to go and take ownership of their financial decisions.
Her personal experience has also shaped her financial education work. Chiadika previously disclosed that she lost her life savings through an investment in 2015, an experience that prompted years of learning about personal finance before she established YPFG.
The experience, she said, reinforced the importance of understanding financial decisions rather than simply putting money into an investment because it appears attractive.
The My Money and I gathering therefore became more than a conversation about saving. It created a space for participants to think about their relationship with money, the choices they make with their income and the steps required to build stronger financial habits.
For those in attendance, the message was ultimately about becoming more intentional with money, not only finding ways to earn it, but learning how to manage, preserve and grow it over time.