Ngozi Amuche
Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Nigerian International Securities Limited (NISL) and the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) on Monday committed to expanding retail investment opportunities in the capital market.
The three bodies made the commitment at a webinar organised by the NSE in collaboration with the NISL in Lagos.
It was also supported by the CIS and the Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON).
The theme of the webinar was, “Capital Market Investing in a Digital Age”.
Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Oscar Onyema, in his address, said that investor participation was crucial to sustainable economic growth.
Onyema said that the Exchange was committed to playing its role in advancing the Federal Government’s financial inclusion goals.
Onyema said, “Investor participation is central to the growth of sustainable development of any economy. The exchange is committed to playing a critical role in the advancement of the FG’s financial inclusion goals.
“As part of our efforts to realise the objectives of the financial inclusion, we intend to facilitate conversations which will serve to equip existing and potential investors with the necessary skill to effectively manage and grow financial resources at their disposal.
“In these engagements, we will also expand the retail investment opportunities available in the capital market and the channels through which they can be accessed.”
CEO of the Exchange also hailed operators and investors in the capital market for their resilience inspite of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He added, “The outbreak of COVID-19 adversely affected the global economy in many ways and at different magnitude.
“The Nigerian capital market was also negatively affected, with the market witnessing a downturn in Q1 of this year.
“However, the market rebounded in Q2 and as a result the NSE all share index has recorded a 18.9 per cent increase from its position at the end of March.
“The market also witnessed the growth in the percentage value of equity transactions contributed by retail investors, currently at 29 per cent from 21.8 per cent in 2018 and 24.72 per cent in 2019.”