In an effort to enhance the welfare of citizens and grow the National economy, the Sixth Phase Government led by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, has continued to invest in financial education by organizing the National Financial Services Week Celebrations to be held in Tanga region, aiming to build citizens’ discipline and understanding of the proper use of financial services.
The celebrations, organized by the Ministry of Finance, will be held at Usagara Stadium, Tanga from January 19 to 26, 2026, and are expected to be officially opened by the Minister of Finance, Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar (Mb).
The main objective is to enable citizens to increase income, reduce poverty and contribute to the growth of the National economy through the integrated use of formal financial services.
Speaking to journalists on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, the Acting Commissioner of the Financial Sector Development Department, Ms. Dionisia Mjema said the celebrations are part of the implementation of the Financial Sector Development Master Plan for the year 2020/21–2029/30, which aims to build a strong, inclusive financial sector that contributes significantly to the development of the country.
She said that during the week, citizens will have the opportunity to participate in exhibitions of financial services and products, seminars, financial education publications and obtain information through digital platforms, social networks and media.
Ms. Mjema said that the provision of financial education to the public is a priority area of the Government, so the Ministry of Finance prepared the Public Financial Education Program for the year 2021/22–2025/26 which is being implemented in collaboration with various stakeholders in the financial sector in the country.
He added that the Government, in collaboration with stakeholders, has prepared a Financial Literacy Teaching Toolkit that includes important topics such as personal finance management, savings, loans, investments, insurance, deposit insurance, taxes and bonds, with the aim of building the capacity of citizens to make sound financial decisions.
He said the Government aims to ensure that by 2030, approximately 80% of Tanzanians are financially literate.
According to the 2023 FinScope Survey, only 53.5% of the country’s workforce used formal financial services, a situation that shows the importance of continuing to provide education to increase citizens’ participation in formal financial systems.
In achieving the celebrations, the Ministry of Finance will collaborate with Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, financial sector managers, financial institutions, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, the media, educational and research institutions as well as religious institutions that provide financial services.
The slogan of the celebrations is “Financial Education, the Foundation of Economic Development,” aiming to encourage citizens to use formal financial services, save, borrow productively and repay debts on time.
The Government has emphasized that all education and services that will be provided during the Financial Services Week are free of charge.
The Assistant Manager of the Communications Department of the Bank of Tanzania (BoT), Ms. Noves Moses, said participants in the celebrations will receive education on investing in Government securities, personal financial management and how to file complaints against financial institutions when services are lacking in quality.
He explained that the Bank of Tanzania has introduced a digital system for handling complaints of financial services users known as “SEMA BoT,” which enables citizens to submit and resolve their complaints effectively.
The Financial Services Week celebrations are expected to reach various groups including public servants, students, women, youth, people with special needs, small and medium entrepreneurs, journalists, financial service providers and the general public, while serving as a catalyst for increasing understanding of rights, responsibilities and financial discipline for the sustainable development of the Nation.
