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 Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has issued a statement providing further clarifications following comments and reports on the recent memorandum of understanding between Nigeria and France on taxation.
The MoU, signed on December 10, 2025, at the French Embassy in Abuja by the chairman of FIRS, Mr Zacch Adedeji and French Ambassador, Mr Marc Fonbaustier, on behalf of France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP), focuses on key areas, including digital transformation, workforce development, information exchange, transfer pricing, and tackling base erosion and profit shifting.
However, the MoU has been met with resistance from opposition coalition party African Democratic Congress (ADC) as well as Northern elders, which both raised serious questions about transparency, national sovereignty and the safety of Nigerian consumers’ data.
In response, the tax authority, which will become known as Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS) from next year, emphasised that the deal does not grant France access to Nigerian taxpayer data, digital systems, or any element of the country’s operational infrastructure.
“All existing Nigerian laws on data protection, cybersecurity, and sovereignty remain fully applicable and strictly enforced. The NRS, like its predecessor, FIRS, places the highest premium on national security and maintains rigorous standards for the protection of all taxpayer information.”
It said similar MoUs are signed by tax administrations around the world to promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the adoption of global best practices.
“The DGFIP is among the world’s most advanced tax authorities, with over a century of institutional experience and deep expertise in digital transformation, taxpayer services, governance, and public finance.
“This partnership simply enables Nigeria to learn from that experience. It is advisory, non-intrusive, and entirely under Nigeria’s control.
“Contrary to misconceptions, the MoU does not displace local technology providers, FIRS and the emerging Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) continue to work closely with Nigerian innovators such as NIBSS, Interswitch, Paystack, and Flutterwave. The MoU does not include the provision of technical services; it is limited to knowledge sharing, institutional strengthening, workforce development, policy support, and best-practice guidance.
“We welcome robust public engagement on tax reforms, but such conversations must reflect the actual content and purpose of the agreement. Rather than undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty, this MoU strengthens it by helping to build a modern, capable, globally competitive tax administration one firmly in command of its systems, data, and strategic direction.
“FIRS remains committed to transparency, professionalism and partnership that advance Nigeria’s long-term economic development,” it said in a statement.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has issued permits to 28 companies under Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP), a scheme that aims to end routine gas flaring to cut carbon emissions and use some of the gas to generate power.
Gas flaring is the controlled burning of natural gas that is released during oil extraction. The initiative marks a major step toward ending flaring and monetising wasted gas.
The projects could capture 250 to 300 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of gas currently flared, cut about 6 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, and unlock nearly 3 gigawatts of power generation potential, an NGFCP document showed.
Nigeria expects the initiative to attract up to $2 billion in investment and create more than 100,000 jobs. It could also produce 170,000 metric tonnes of LPG annually, providing clean cooking access for 1.4 million households.
The permits follow a competitive bid round that awarded 49 flare sites to 42 bidders after the programme was restructured post-COVID-19 and the Petroleum Industry Act.
Speaking on this, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, head of the NUPRC, during the presentation of the certificates to the 28 companies said, “The NGFCP is a pillar in our quest to eliminate routine flaring, reduce emissions, and enhance Nigeria’s global credibility in energy transition commitments.”
The programme aligns with Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan and aims to turn flare gas from an environmental liability into an economic asset.
The 28 companies have signed key agreements, including Connection, Milestone Development and Gas Sales Agreements, and now qualify for permits to access flare gas.
Producers will benefit from reduced liabilities, improved Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance and alignment with the government’s decarbonisation agenda.
Development partners, including Power Africa, KPMG, World Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Reduction initiative, USAID and financiers, have supported the programme with technical and commercial frameworks.
Mr Komolafe said while the permits mark a milestone, engineering, construction and financing must begin in earnest.
“The real work starts now,” the official added. “This programme will create economic, industrial and environmental value while strengthening Nigeria’s energy transition.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
Three bellwether stocks lifted the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 0.62 per cent on Friday, December 12 with the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) jumping by 22.20 points to 3,600.43 points from 3,578.23 points.
In the same vein, the market capitalisation of the trading platform increased by N13.28 billion to close at N2.154 trillion from the previous day’s N2.140 trillion.
During the session, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc went up by N2.53 to close at N39.71 per share compared with the previous day’s N37.18 per share, Geo-Fluids Plc added 35 Kobo to its price to finish at N5.00 per unit versus Thursday’s closing price of N4.65 per unit, and FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc appreciated by 23 Kobo appreciation to sell at N60.23 per share versus N60.00 per share.
It was observed that yesterday, the price of Golden Capital Plc went down by N1.05 to N9.45 per unit from N10.50 per unit, and UBN Propertiy Plc declined by 21 Kobo to N2.01 per share from the N2.22 per share it was traded a day earlier.
There was a significant improvement in the level of activity for the day, as the volume of transactions increased by 6.2 per cent to 37.4 million units from the previous day’s 35.2 million units, the value of trades went up by 265.1 per cent to N4.9 billion from N1.4 billion, and the number of deals soared by 13.80 per cent to 33 deals from 29 deals.
Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company (InfraCredit) Plc ended the last trading day of this week as the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 5.8 billion units valued at N16.4 billion, the second spot was taken by Okitipupa Plc with 178.9 million units traded for N9.5 billion, and third space was occupied by a new comer in MRS Oil Plc with 36.1 million units worth N4.9 billion.
InfraCredit Plc also finished the session as the most active stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 5.8 billion units transacted for N16.4 billion, followed by Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc with 1.2 billion units valued at N420.3 million, and Impresit Bakolori Plc with 537.0 million units sold for N524.9 million.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism9 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking7 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn