Economy
6 Tips to Help Young Nigerians Start their Investment Journey
According to statistics, Gen Z, the demographic group succeeding Millennials, is the most prevalent in Nigeria. One in every four Nigerians belongs to the Gen Z group and they tend to be more financially sophisticated than previous generations were at their age. This might be a result of growing in a recession and watching the financial mistakes made by previous generations. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has even made Gen-Zers more self-aware with money.
Gen Z adults are the most aware of financial literacy. This is evident as seen in their adoption of technology in becoming savvy savers, their acceptance of digital banking and their knowledge of investment platforms like NFTs, cryptocurrencies and stocks. Still, most of them who are not investing say it’s because they do not know where to start.
Here are 5 tips that can help young Nigerians start their investment journey with ease.
1. Prioritize investing money
You can start your investment journey by being deliberate and prioritising a fraction of your income. Most investment professionals advocate that 20% of your income should be put aside as an investment. As you build up an investment culture, you can then increase the percentage of your income for investment, without any pressure. You can also automate your investment in line with when you typically receive income such as your payday. As you allocate some money for expenses, you need to also prioritize investing. And while people tend to associate investing with large sums, the SFS Fund Mobile App which is an AA-rated fund and licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) debunks that myth as it allows individuals to begin their investment journeys with as little as N5,000.
2. Invest in Mutual Fund
Investing in a mutual fund presents an easy way to start your investment journey because it is convenient, with built-in diversification that makes investment less volatile and it is managed by experienced fund managers. With Mutual funds, investors get to pool their money, investing in securities such as stocks, treasury bills and money market instruments. Interests made are added to your investment daily allowing you to have a steady stream of income.
The SFS Fund is an open-ended collective investment scheme duly registered by the SEC. It is an AA-rated carefully designed financial planning product that is fit for those who are just starting out when it comes to investing in Mutual Fund.
3. Do your research
Nigerians have been hit hard by a lot of fraudulent investment schemes. This has made people very weary of investing. It is important that if you want to start your investment journey, you need to engage in personal research. There are different things to look out for when choosing an investment scheme. The company’s financials, its leadership team, competition and its relationship with regulatory bodies are crucial information needed before deciding whether to invest.
For instance, the SFS Fund under multiple award-winning SFS Capital is managed by investment professionals with over two decades experience of in managing investment portfolios. All investments with SFS Capital are also held by an independent and highly regulated custodian and all investment decisions are reviewed by an independent trustee.
4. Ask for Independent Ratings
It is good to also ask for independent ratings, SEC-approved rating agency and possibly the rating report. Though ratings follow a slightly different format, they are mostly in 7 levels; CC, CCC, BB, BBB, A, AA, AAA- ranging from most risky to least risky. We strongly recommend you avoid investments without independent rating or with a rating less than BBB. Therefore, consider only BBB, A, AA AND AAA. SFS Fund has a AA rating, the second highest possible rating.
5. Embrace technology
You will be amazed to know that young people get more information about investing from social media. Choosing the right investment app online with reviews from social media might be tricky without the right guidance and it could hinder young people who are just starting their investment journey. Picking the right investment app can help with building a lifetime of a strong wealthy base that secures the future.
An example of a secure and on-the-go investment app is the SFS Fund Mobile App which is available for download on Android and iOS devices for free. Upon downloading the app, you can start your Mutual Fund investment journey on an easy-to-use dashboard that encourages transactions on the go with seamless and interactive features.
6. Think long term
Investing in the long term is greater for achieving larger success. Starting an investment at an early age is advantageous because it creates a healthy appetite for risk. Young people have a chance to build more vigorous portfolios that can be more erratic, thereby producing more gains over time. Young investors also have the flexibility and time to study and learn about their wins and losses in investing when they start their investment journey early.
With these five tips for investing, young people can be on their way to securing a future they truly envision. Young people also need to understand that while patient investing may be difficult, it is imperative that they endure long periods of underperformance. They need to stick to their investment plan in order to achieve their investment goals.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions has called for stronger collaboration among financial sector regulators and other stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s financial system and support sustainable economic growth.
The committee made the call during an expanded stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos, attended by the leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), among other industry stakeholders and financial experts.
Chairman of the committee, Mr Adetokunbo Abiru (Lagos East), who was represented by Mr Osita Izunaso (Imo West), said stronger legislative reforms and regulatory collaboration were necessary to reposition Nigeria’s financial architecture for long-term economic prosperity.
Mr Abiru said the financial sector remained critical to investment, job creation, business expansion and macroeconomic stability, stressing that its ability to mobilise savings, channel credit to productive sectors, facilitate investment and manage risks was fundamental to sustainable economic growth.
He said the current economic realities required closer collaboration between the legislature and financial regulators, noting that challenges confronting the sector were interconnected and could not be effectively addressed through isolated interventions.
The lawmaker identified inflationary pressures, global economic uncertainties, cybersecurity threats, low insurance penetration and the need to diversify Nigeria’s export base as some of the challenges requiring coordinated policy responses.
He said the engagement was aimed at generating practical solutions to strengthen the country’s financial architecture and support sustainable economic growth.
According to him, monetary policy, financial safety nets, banking institutions, the insurance industry and export finance were interdependent components of a stable financial system and must therefore be strengthened collectively.
The Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, said the Nigeria Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025 had contributed significantly to stabilising and repositioning the insurance sector.
Mr Omosehin disclosed that 43 insurance companies had successfully recapitalised, describing the development as a major milestone for the industry.
He commended Abiru and members of the committee for their role in advancing insurance sector reforms and urged the House of Representatives to expedite action on the relevant insurance reform bill to enable it to receive presidential assent and become operational.
Representatives of the CBN Governor and the Managing Directors of AMCON, NEXIM and NDIC also commended the Senate committee for its oversight and legislative support, saying its interventions had strengthened the agencies’ capacity to discharge their statutory mandates.
The engagement, held under the theme, Strengthening Financial System Architecture for Sustainable Economic Growth and Stability in Nigeria, also featured presentations by Professor Uche Uwaleke, President of Capital Market Academics of Nigeria (CMAN); Professor Biodun Adedipe, Chief Consultant, B. Adedipe Associates Limited; and Dr Tilewa Adebajo, Chief Executive Officer of CFG Advisory.
The experts presented policy recommendations on key issues affecting Nigeria’s financial system, with emphasis on financial stability, investment and sustainable economic growth.
Mr Abiru said the Senate would continue to engage financial regulators and other stakeholders to deepen financial inclusion, strengthen public confidence in financial institutions and improve regulatory effectiveness.
He said the broader objective was to position Nigeria’s financial system to compete more effectively in the global economy while remaining resilient and responsive to the country’s economic transformation agenda.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The first six months of 2026 were not too good for Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc, as it suffered an N8.7 billion loss compared with the N2.1 billion net profit it recorded in the same period of 2025.
This occurred as the company posted a 10.91 per cent decline in earnings between January and June 2026, according to its financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2026.
Analysis of the results showed that the revenue generated in the period under review stood at N14.7 billion versus the N16.5 billion printed in the corresponding period of last year.
Business Post observed that the revenue was negatively impacted by a decline in earnings from helicopter charter and helicopter/airplane contract.
Further analysis of the financial results indicated that operating profit went down by 22.34 per cent to N7.3 billion from N9.4 billion, with administrative expenses jumping to N7.9 billion from N4.7 billion.
But Caverton believes things will get better, noting that the clearest driver of the recovery is Caverton Marine.
Through its relationship with Stena Bulk, one of the world’s leading tanker operators, the organisation now participates in three Suezmax tankers trading a rare source of foreign-currency revenue for a Nigerian-listed company.
It noted that the relationship is being deepened through Unity Shipping Worldwide, a joint venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and Stena Bulk that pairs the state-owned oil firm’s national position and Stena Bulk’s fleet with Caverton’s indigenous operating platform
Closer to home, the firm’s OMIBUS platform, developed with Shanghai-based electric-propulsion OEM Explomar, is bringing battery-electric passenger ferries to Lagos waterways. A prototype is already in service, and Caverton holds a firm order from Lagos State for ten vessels, an early-mover position in clean inland-water transport that the group believes can be replicated across other states as the fleet enters service and ferry operations mature into steady, recurring revenue.
In aviation, the institution said the recovery is anchored on its partnership with NHV, a Belgium-based international helicopter operator, with the restructuring of charter operations targeted for the second half of 2026.
“The first half of the year tested us, but the direction of travel is now visible in the numbers.
“Quarter on quarter, we are working to build up our revenue to narrow losses. Our marine business units, from international tankers to electric ferries, are scaling.
“Meanwhile, our aviation relaunch is on track for the second half, and our cost base is tighter than it has been in years. There is distance still to travel, but Caverton is moving from stabilisation to recovery, and we intend to finish 2026 with that momentum intact,” the chief executive of Caverton, Mr Olabode Makanjuola, stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) have issued new guidelines clarifying the taxation of virtual assets in Nigeria.
The guidelines provide an administrative framework for the taxation of virtual assets and specify the tax obligations of individuals and businesses operating in the sector.
According to a public notice issued by the two agencies, the framework covers registration, reporting and record-keeping requirements, valuation principles and the tax treatment of virtual asset transactions.
It applies to taxpayers, Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplace operators, tax practitioners and other persons engaged in virtual asset-related activities.
The NRS and JRB said the guidelines were developed in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025.
The two bodies said the release was aimed at providing clarity, certainty and consistency in the administration of Nigeria’s tax laws as the country’s virtual asset ecosystem continues to evolve.
The agencies added that the framework would promote voluntary compliance, enhance transparency and support the development of a fair and efficient tax system for digital asset transactions.
They urged all affected taxpayers and stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the guidelines and ensure compliance with the applicable tax obligations.
The guidelines are available on the official websites of the two agencies.
