Tech Prodigy Urges Early Saving Habits for Kids

A 10-year-old tech prodigy, Zaq Isa, has urged children to start saving early and build wealth in the future without depending on their parents. The young boy made this known as he recently developed a smart savings app, Kids Future Funds Hub (KFFH), and published a book titled ‘Zaqonomics: Financial Literacy for Kids,’ both designed to help children understand how to earn, save, spend, invest, and give.

“I wanted something that shows it’s about me and about money,” said the young entrepreneur who was born Abdulrazaq Isa. “Kids like me should learn how to save and be rich in the future without depending on their parents.”Through his brand Zaqonomics, a symbolic fusion of his name and economics, Zaq is committed to helping children develop saving habits.

His journey started during a family summer holiday when the household had no domestic help. Hoping to assist his mother, Zaq cleaned the kitchen and earned $20. Motivated by the experience, he continued saving. When he eventually broke his piggy bank, he discovered he had accumulated about $70.

“When I saw the money, I realised kids can actually make and save a lot if they understand how,” he said. “That’s when Zaqonomics was born.”

With support from his mother, Dr. Kate Isa, and his family, Zaq refined his vision. After repeated pitches to adults around him, he decided to build the app himself. Unable to afford a professional developer, he taught himself to code using app-building software and invested US$245 — his savings and family contributions — to bring KFFH to life.

Throughout the process, his parents enforced a strict one-hour screen-time rule, a structure that sharpened his discipline. Dr. Isa believes this framework helped fuel his innovation. “Every child needs well-defined boundaries … Discipline engenders mutual respect and a feeling of security and worth,” she said.

Zaq’s exceptional intelligence also caught the attention of his coach, Apostle Obii Pax-Harry, who spoke glowingly about his drive and independence. “Zaq already had a content page and was running ahead of us,” she noted, describing him as a child whose talent consistently outpaces expectations.

Now equipped with a functional app, the young innovator has begun engaging financial institutions. He pitched KFFH to Zenith Bank, proposing a partnership that would allow children to use a smart savings app alongside debit card tools.His book, ‘Zaqonomics,’ extends the same mission. Through relatable stories, chores-turned-earning opportunities, puzzles, word searches, and hands-on activities, the book teaches financial principles in a fun and practical way. Parents are also guided on how to help children build lifelong money habits.

Industry observers note that Zaq’s achievements align with a growing global movement prioritising financial literacy for children. In Nigeria, fintech platforms and microfinance institutions increasingly focus on youth financial education. Across Africa, edtech initiatives like Money Africa Kids continue to support early financial training.

For Dr. Isa, Zaq’s journey underscores an important lesson for families everywhere. “Take children seriously and support them,” she said. “Greatness lies within, waiting to be unleashed.”