January always whispers the same thing: “School is starting. Run your calculations.” In the heart of Onitsha, Lagos, and Kano, three families were caught in that familiar back-to-school whirlwind — juggling school fees, textbooks, uniforms, transport and that unspoken pressure of “Make sure my child is ready.” Mr. Okafor was pacing his compound, phone glued to his ear. “Mama, uniform price don rise again,” he muttered. His daughter, Chioma, is due back at school next week. Money was tight. December had been packed with festive outings and family presents — and January was now handing out bills like it was invitation season. That’s when his cousin called. “Bro, why not check FirstBank’s Personal Loan Against Salary? Spread the school fees over time without stress or you can take up to 50- 75% of your net monthly salary with FirstAdvance and payback across one to three months. Mr. Okafor opted for FirstAdvance — a quick way to access cash before his next salary without all the paperwork. A few taps on FirstMobile and the funds were ready. Next thing, Chioma’s school fees was paid, receipt safely saved on his phone. Sigh. January didn’t feel like an ambush this time. Across town in Lagos, Mrs. Adeyemi’s head was buried in lists: textbooks, notebooks, PTA contributions, transport fares. As a school SME owner herself, she knew how crazy the term rollout could be. “You know what helps?” her friend Funke asked over jollof rice at a weekend catch-up. “FirstBank has FirstEdu Loan for schools. It gives your school the working capital you need — even buses or tech upgrades — so you can serve families like ours without hiccups.” Mrs. Adeyemi walked straight into her branch and discussed FirstEdu with her relationship manager. With the funding in place, her school bought new computers, ordered uniforms in bulk, and even upgraded the school bus — all without disrupting her cash flow. Up north, the Sanis were teaching their kids about saving early. Young Musa, a secondary school student, was proudly watching his father show him his MeFirst account. “Papa, this is for my school needs?” Musa asked. “Yes,” his dad replied with a grin. “We can load your allowance there, and you also learn to manage money. When you are ready for College, it becomes an XploreFirst account. We also have a KidsFirst account opened for your younger sister. We will tell her about it when she is a little older. Musa felt like he was finally in control of his own “school budget,” and his parents liked that they could both monitor and teach responsible spending early on. By the first week of classes, the Okafors had their receipts tucked safely in Chioma’s bag. The Adeyemi school doors were brighter with new classroom tools. Musa in Kano resumed the school term with pride and purpose. Back-to-school doesn’t have to be all blues. With planning, the right tools, and a little support from FirstBank, every family could take this season in stride — without the stress, just smiles.
Whether you’re a parent sending a child to primary, or an SME keeping educational dreams alive, your best academic season yet begins with a solid plan and FirstBank by your side.
