Economy
Navigating the Complex World of Investing: What Novices Need to Know
Have you finally decided to take the leap into the exciting arena of investing? Not only is this an excellent way to secure a lucrative nest egg for the future, but many have begun to use these opportunities as a springboard for their businesses.
However, appreciating the intricacies of online trading is no easy task. A great deal of preparation will be required and mistakes can occur on occasion. This is why knowing where to begin is one of the best ways to establish strong foundations. Let us therefore cut through a fair amount of “fluff” and examine a handful of strategies that have already been embraced by experts.
Determine How Much You Can Comfortably Afford to Invest
Comfort is king (and queen) in terms of investing. It is always prudent to establish how much you can afford to trade at any given time. You might otherwise stretch your finances too thin and suffer from a lack of liquidity (especially if you have become involved with long-term positions).
Many experts recommend placing no more than ten percent of your available capital into an investment at any given time. Even if losses do occur, you will not be placed in fiscal jeopardy. This also helps to avoid mistakes that can be made when trading based on emotions as opposed to pragmatism and logic.
Consistency is Key
As opposed to other online articles that you might have encountered from time to time, the chances of becoming a millionaire overnight are virtually non-existent. Any successful investor understands that accruing liquidity requires time and effort. This is when the power of consistency comes into play. Set a trading schedule and stick to it. One novel way to develop this level of clarity is to employ an economic calendar. These handy tools will enable you to prioritise specific positions and to appreciate how your individual investments are performing from a longitudinal perspective.
Balance Your Portfolio
All of us aim to achieve a balanced lifestyle and this is just as relevant in terms of investing. Any type of trading portfolio should hold a number of different asset classes at any give time. Examples include traditional stocks, commodities… Even if one asset happens to perform poorly, the gains associated with others can be used to mitigate any potential losses. This is sometimes referred to as “hedging” within financial circles. It may also be wise to work in tandem with a third-party wealth management firm. These companies will provide targeted recommendations based on your short- and long-term goals. Thus, it can serve as a helping hand even for expert investors.
Set Realistic Milestones
What is it that you are ultimately trying to achieve? Are you solely interested in short-term profits or might you instead wish to develop a well-rounded retirement package? Note that clearly establishing your goals will have a profound impact upon the types of investments that you make as well as the most appropriate asset classes. For instance, those who view their investments from a multi-year perspective might gravitate toward holdings such as shares in Apple or precious metals, as they normally are more stable than other alternatives.
Having said this, be realistic with your goals. Appreciate that even seasoned veterans have accrued wealth over decades as opposed to relying upon luck or the movement associated with a handful of trades. Establishing practical milestones will also enable you to gauge your progress and to make any changes that may be warranted. This likewise brings us to the final point.
View Errors as Learning Experiences as Opposed to Setbacks
Experts such as Warren Buffett are well aware of the fact that errors can and will emerge from time to time. Novice investors are essentially left with two choices. They can either walk away from a position or use the scenario to further hone their talents. Mistakes represent some of the most lucrative learning opportunities if viewed in a constructive manner, even if it sounds too difficult to understand just after they were made.
As more people begin to understand the advantages that online investing can offer, we should expect to witness an influx of younger traders who are eager for success. Still, Rome was not built in a day. The good news is that there are countless resources to be found across the Internet if you are keen to learn more. Furthermore, do not hesitate to bookmark this article for future reference if desired.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom via the British High Commission in Abuja has launched two flagship economic reform programmes – the Nigeria Economic Stability & Transformation (NEST) programme and the Nigeria Public Finance Facility (NPFF) -as part of efforts to support Nigeria’s economic reform and growth agenda.
Backed by a £12.4 million UK investment, NEST and NPFF sit at the centre of the UK-Nigeria mutual growth partnership and support Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen macroeconomic stability, improve fiscal resilience, and create a more competitive environment for investment and private-sector growth.
Speaking at the launch, Cynthia Rowe, Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission in Abuja, said, “These two programmes sit at the heart of our economic development cooperation with Nigeria. They reflect a shared commitment to strengthening the fundamentals that matter most for our stability, confidence, and long-term growth.”
The launch followed the inaugural meeting of the Joint UK-Nigeria Steering Committee, which endorsed the approach of both programmes and confirmed strong alignment between the UK and Nigeria on priority areas for delivery.
Representing the Government of Nigeria, Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Finance and the Economy, Mrs Sanyade Okoli, welcomed the collaboration, touting it as crucial to current, critical reforms.
“We welcome the United Kingdom’s support through these new programmes as a strong demonstration of our shared commitment to Nigeria’s economic stability and long-term prosperity. At a time when we are implementing critical reforms to strengthen fiscal resilience, improve macroeconomic stability, and unlock inclusive growth, this partnership will provide valuable technical support. Together, we are laying the foundation for a more resilient economy that delivers sustainable development and improved livelihoods for all Nigerians.”
On his part, Mr Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, highlighted the significance of the programmes within the wider UK-Nigeria mutual growth partnership.
“NEST and NPFF are central to our shared approach to strengthening the foundations that underpin long-term economic prosperity. They sit firmly within the UK-Nigeria mutual growth partnership.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the growth, digital capacity, and sustainability of Nigeria’s 40 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has been signed by MTN Nigeria and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
The collaboration will feature joint initiatives focused on digital inclusion, financial access, capacity building, and providing verified information for MSMEs.
With millions of small businesses depending on accurate guidance and easy-to-access support, MTN and SMEDAN say their shared platform will address gaps in communication, misinformation, and access to opportunities.
At the formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday, November 27, 2025, in Lagos, the stage was set for the immediate roll-out of tools, content, and resources that will support MSMEs nationwide.
The chief operating officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr Ayham Moussa, reiterated the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economic development, stating that MSMEs are the lifeline of Nigeria’s economy.
“SMEs are the backbone of the economy and the backbone of employment in Nigeria. We are delighted to power SMEDAN’s platform and provide tools that help MSMEs reach customers, obtain funding, and access wider markets. This collaboration serves both our business and social development objectives,” he stated.
Also, the Chief Enterprise Business Officer of MTN Nigeria, Ms Lynda Saint-Nwafor, described the MoU as a tool to “meet SMEs at the point of their needs,” noting that nano, micro, small, and medium businesses each require different resources to scale.
“Some SMEs need guidance, some need resources; others need opportunities or workforce support. This platform allows them to access whatever they need. We are committed to identifying opportunities across financial inclusion, digital inclusion, and capacity building that help SMEs to scale,” she noted.
Also commenting, the Director General of SMEDAN, Mr Charles Odii, emphasised the significance of the collaboration, noting that the agency cannot meet its mandate without leveraging technology and private-sector expertise.
“We have approximately 40 million MSMEs in Nigeria, and only about 400 SMEDAN staff. We cannot fulfil our mandate without technology, data, and strong partners.
“MTN already has the infrastructure and tools to support MSMEs from payments to identity, hosting, learning, and more. With this partnership, we are confident we can achieve in a short time what would have taken years,” he disclosed.
Mr Odii highlighted that the SMEDAN-MTN collaboration would support businesses across their growth needs, guided by their four-point GROW model – Guidance, Resources, Opportunities, and Workforce Development.
He added that SMEDAN has already created over 100,000 jobs within its two-year administration and expects the partnership to significantly boost job creation, business expansion, and nationwide enterprise modernisation.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited is seeking review of the controversial Capital Gains Tax increase, fearing it will chase away foreign investors from the country’s capital market.
Nigeria’s new tax regime, which takes effect from January 1, 2026, represents one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s tax system in recent years.
Under the new rules, the flat 10 per cent Capital Gains Tax rate has been replaced by progressive income tax rates ranging from zero to 30 per cent, depending on an investor’s overall income or profit level while large corporate investors will see the top rate reduced to 25 per cent as part of a wider corporate tax reform.
The chief executive of NGX, Mr Jude Chiemeka, said in a Bloomberg interview in Kigali, Rwanda that there should be a “removal of the capital gains tax completely, or perhaps deferring it for five years.”
According to him, Nigeria, having a higher Capital Gains Tax, will make investors redirect asset allocation to frontier markets and “countries that have less tax.”
“From a capital flow perspective, we should be concerned because all these international portfolio managers that invest across frontier markets will certainly go to where the cost of investing is not so burdensome,” the CEO said, as per Bloomberg. “That is really the angle one will look at it from.”
Meanwhile, the policy has been defended by the chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, who noted that the new tax will make investing in the capital market more attractive by reducing risks, promoting fairness, and simplifying compliance.
He noted that the framework allows investors to deduct legitimate costs such as brokerage fees, regulatory charges, realised capital losses, margin interest, and foreign exchange losses directly tied to investments, thereby ensuring that they are not taxed when operating at a loss.
Mr Oyedele also said the reforms introduced a more inclusive approach to taxation by exempting several categories of investors and transactions.
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