By David Akinmola
Financial security is critical to the ability of Nigerian households to withstand economic shocks and plan for the future, the Chief Executive Officer of AXA Mansard Investment Limited, Deji Tunde-Anjous, has said, urging individuals to give greater priority to savings, investment and long-term financial planning.
Tunde-Anjous, who spoke at the unveiling of AXA’s Culture of Care campaign, said financial wellbeing should be regarded as an important component of sustainable economic development, arguing that financially resilient individuals and families were better positioned to weather disruptions, invest in education, pursue business opportunities and support dependants.
According to him, financial security goes beyond having money available for immediate needs, as it provides individuals with the capacity to prepare for future responsibilities and manage periods of uncertainty.
“Financial security is one of the most powerful forms of protection. It allows people to face uncertainty with greater confidence, pursue opportunities with courage, and build futures that are not defined by fear or vulnerability,” he said.
He noted that while Nigerians routinely make financial sacrifices to support family members and dependants, many people often pay insufficient attention to their own long-term financial wellbeing.
Tunde-Anjous said parents saving for their children’s education, entrepreneurs supporting employees and professionals providing for extended families were all expressions of care, but stressed that such responsibilities also made financial preparedness increasingly important.
He said the Culture of Care campaign was designed to broaden the understanding of protection by encouraging people to consider not only their immediate needs but also their long-term financial resilience.
“Saving, investing, planning for retirement, building wealth, and preparing for future responsibilities are all acts of care. They are ways people protect not only themselves, but also the people who depend on them,” he said.
The AXA Mansard Investment chief executive said financially secure households were more capable of absorbing economic shocks without abandoning important investments or placing additional pressure on relatives and communities.
He added that stronger household finances could also support broader economic activity by giving individuals the confidence to invest in education, start businesses and pursue opportunities that could improve their earning capacity.
“A prosperous nation is built on financially secure people. When individuals have the tools and confidence to prepare for the future, they make better decisions, seize opportunities, and contribute more meaningfully to economic growth,” he said.
He said financial planning should therefore be viewed as a long-term process involving disciplined savings, investment, wealth preservation and retirement preparation, rather than an activity reserved for high-income individuals.
According to him, the objective of the campaign is not primarily about financial products, but about encouraging a culture of preparation, responsibility and resilience among Nigerians.
He said the broader protection ecosystem should encompass healthcare, insurance and financial security, noting that each plays a role in helping individuals and families withstand unexpected events and preserve their future prospects.
“The deepest expression of care is ensuring that the people we love, and the futures we are building, remain protected long after today’s challenges have passed,” Tunde-Anjous said.
He added that increasing the number of financially resilient Nigerians would ultimately strengthen families and communities while contributing to more sustainable economic growth.
Through the Culture of Care campaign, AXA Mansard Investment said it would continue to promote financial wellbeing and encourage Nigerians to view long-term financial planning as part of their responsibility to themselves, their families and future generations.
