*Investor participation is crucial to sustainable economic growth of capital market 鈹� Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer of NSE

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In their joint effort at enhancing the fortune of the country鈥檚 Capital market and creating opportunities for more stock investors, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Nigerian International Securities Limited (NISL) and Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) have expressed commitment to expanding retail investment opportunities in the market.

The three organisations made the commitment at a webinar organised by the NSE in collaboration with the NISL in Lagos, according to agency report.

The CIS and the Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) also supported the webinar on 鈥淐apital Market Investing in a Digital Age鈥�.

Mr. Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NSE, on the occasion said that investor participation was crucial to sustainable economic growth.

He stated that the Stock Exchange is committed to playing its role in advancing the Federal Government鈥檚 financial inclusion goals.

Trading Floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange

Onyema said: 鈥淚nvestor participation is central to the growth of sustainable development of any economy.

鈥淣SE is committed to playing a critical role in the advancement of the FG鈥檚 financial inclusion goals.

鈥淎s 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.

鈥淚n these engagements, we will also expand the retail investment opportunities available in the capital market and the channels through which they can be accessed.鈥�

The NSE Chief as well commended the operators and investors in the capital market for their resilience, with the COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted that 鈥渢he outbreak of COVID-19 adversely affected the global economy in many ways and at different magnitude.

鈥淭he Nigerian capital market was also negatively affected, with the market witnessing a downturn in Q1 of this year.

鈥淗owever, the market rebounded in Q2 and as a result the NSE All-Share Index has recorded a 18.9 percent increase from its position at the end of March.

鈥淭he 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.鈥�

All these highlight the market鈥檚 resilience in time of adversity, and they are a testament of market stakeholders鈥� ability to adapt, he stated.

Onyema said that digital technology played a significant role in achieving the positive results recorded in the NSE so far.

According to him, technology has helped to make significant services more easily accessible.

Mr. Laolu Martins, Managing Director and CEO of NISL, said that it had become imperative to ensure that retail investors were made aware of the opportunities inherent in the capital market.

Martins said that for retail investors, navigating through the web of processes in the capital market was usually difficult, thereby discouraging them from investing.

鈥淭he general belief is that retail investors are often left behind and do not have enough knowledge on the workings of the capital market.

鈥淚t is interesting to note that the NSE has over the years taken time and work to ensure that retail investors are carried along and aware of the various opportunities inherent in the NSE.

鈥淣ISL is a securities trading company, financial advisory service, offering consulting solutions to corporate bodies across the value of activities on the stock exchange.

鈥淚n order to invest properly, all investors need to carry out some sort of financial planning, no matter how small or big.

鈥淲e realised that for retail investors, it is usually difficult for them to navigate through these web of processes and other issues that create a bottleneck or discourage investors,鈥� said Martins.

Mr. Femi Balogun, Head of Market services Department, NSE, who spoke on the importance of market data in guiding investors鈥� decision, said that 鈥渕arket data is important to the investment of an intending investor.

Balogun noted that 鈥渟ome people are good at picking stocks, but if you use data to drive your decision in conjunction with your expertise, you make a better informed decision on your investment.鈥�

Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe, President of CIS, also commended the NSE, while pledging the Institute鈥檚 continued support to drive an inclusive financial system.

The CIS President said that the Stock Exchange had always provided avenues that would support and ensure a seamless investing process for retail and other investors.

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