Old Mutual Malawi Financial Education Manager Bernard Chiluzi has urged Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA) students to focus much on planning before spending the little they receive from parents if they want to live an independent life.

Chiluzi said this on Friday after training over 200 students from CUNIMA on financial matters under the theme:”Wachinyamata Wozitsata: let’s talk about money.”

During the training session Chiluzi urged the students not to be influenced by behaviors of their fellow students in whatever they do regarding on how they spend their finances.

“This training focused much on the youth particularly by looking at the theme: Wachinyamata Wositsata because we wanted to focus on their financial mindset that they should change their mindset when they look at money.

“Their focus should not look at money as just a medium of exchange but they should look at money as something that gives them a lot of things such as peace of mind and respect,” said Chiluzi.

Turning to the training itself, Chiluzi described the session as a success.

Chiluzi cited the confession made by the students such as over borrowing and other things  which the students promised to change moving forward.

The session focused on the Big Five Secrets of money management. A lesson extracted from the behavioral characteristics of the big five animals in the jungle namely; Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Rhino and Baffalo.

Kumbukani Msiska, a third year student studying Development Studies at the University hailed Old Mutual for the session.

“I thank Old Mutual for this timely session. I have learnt a lot about financial investments and from today own wards i will be making decisions that will be aiming at better future that i want to be in,” said Msiska.

Concurring with Msiska’s remarks, Melina Phiri, program coordinator for adult education and development at CUNIMA applauded Old Mutual for the training.

“Am urging the students to take the financial literacy message learnt today very seriously because now it gets to determine how they will live their lives out there,” said Phiri.

Meanwhile, Old Mutual is today scheduled to hold similar session at Domasi College in Zomba.