Kathleen Erhimu, Founder of Kudimata Nigeria Limited and Managing Director of Kudimata Capital Limited, has called for financial literacy to be recognised as a national development priority, particularly for women, youths, and girls.

Speaking at Kudimata Nite, a national event marking three years of impact in financial empowerment, Erhimu described financial knowledge as a critical tool for dignity, opportunity, and long-term economic stability.

The gathering brought together regulators, policymakers, private sector leaders, and development stakeholders, highlighting a growing consensus on the importance of financial education in driving inclusive growth.

Key highlights from Kudimata’s three-year impact include:

• Training over 1.4 million women and young Nigerians in financial literacy.
• Empowering more than 250,000 women through the EmpowerHER initiative.
• Supporting 30,000 entrepreneurs with business fundamentals and formal registration.
• Strengthening leadership and financial capacity for 7,800 corporate executives.

The event also unveiled Kudimata Capital Ltd, a SEC-licensed portfolio management company, signaling a move from financial awareness to structured wealth creation. Additionally, financial literacy books and audio learning series were released in Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Urhobo, and Pidgin English to expand accessibility nationwide.

Erhimu emphasised that financial literacy should not be a one-off intervention but a sustained national agenda aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on human capital, youth employment, and women empowerment.

“Kudimata was not born as a company, but as a calling… When people understand money, nations begin to shift,” she said.