This is a very important question—and you’re not alone. Many people who bought shares through bank branches (like Fidelity Bank Plc) face this same issue.
Right now, the truth is: 👉 You likely own the shares, but you don’t yet have full control or visibility.
Let me guide you step-by-step in simple terms.
🔑 First: Understand where your shares are
When you bought shares at the bank:
The shares are kept in a system called Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS)
This is like a bank vault for shares in Nigeria
👉 So your shares are not lost—they are stored electronically.
📌 Why you cannot track it yet
Because you probably don’t have direct access to:
Your CSCS account (CHN number)
A stockbroker platform/app
The bank only helped you buy, not manage.
✅ What “full possession” really means
To truly control your shares, you need:
Your CHN (Clearing House Number)
A stockbroker account
Access to monitor (app or statement)
🛠️ Step-by-step: What you should do now
1. Go back to the Fidelity Bank branch (or contact them)
Ask them clearly:
“Please give me my CSCS CHN number and the stockbroker used for my share purchase.”
You need:
Your CHN
Name of the broker that executed the trade
2. Open an account with a stockbroker
Examples in Nigeria:
Meristem Securities
CardinalStone Securities
ARM Securities
Tell them:
“I already bought shares through Fidelity Bank, I want to link and manage my CSCS account.”
3. Link your CSCS to the broker
The broker will:
Connect your CHN to their platform
Allow you to:
See your shares
Sell anytime
Receive dividends properly
4. Request your CSCS statement
Very important:
Ask for:
“My CSCS statement of account”
This will show:
All shares you own
Quantity
Companies
5. Set up e-dividend (so you receive money directly)
Register for e-dividend with your bank so that:
Dividends go straight to your account
No missing payments
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
Thinking bank = full investment platform ❌
Not collecting CHN ❌
Not linking to a broker ❌
🧠 Simple analogy
Right now:
You bought land (shares)
But you don’t have the documents (CHN + broker access)
👉 What we’re doing is helping you collect your ownership papers and control
🚨 Important check
If you bought shares long ago and:
Don’t know CHN
Don’t know broker
👉 Don’t worry—this can still be traced using:
Your name
Phone number
Bank details
👍 Final summary
To track and control your shares:
Get your CHN from Fidelity Bank
Open account with a stockbroker
Link your shares
Start monitoring through app or CSCS statement

Good question—this is where many beginners get misled. Let’s break it down in very simple, practical terms.
1. Why does share price drop after dividend?
A dividend is not free money. It is your own money coming back to you from the company.
Think of it like this:
Before dividend:
Company has cash inside it → this cash is part of what gives the share value
After dividend is paid:
Company pays out part of that cash → company is now worth slightly less
So the market adjusts the share price downward.
Example:
Share price = ₦15
Dividend declared = ₦1
After the qualification date, price may adjust to around:
₦15 – ₦1 = ₦14
That drop is called a dividend adjustment.
2. What is dividend adjustment?
Dividend adjustment is simply:
The stock exchange reducing the share price by the dividend amount after the qualification date.
It is done so that:
Old investors (who will receive dividend)
New investors (who will NOT receive dividend)
are treated fairly.
If this adjustment didn’t happen:
Someone could buy the stock after qualification and still enjoy the dividend unfairly.
3. Qualification date vs Payment date
These two confuse many people:
Qualification Date (also called Record Date)
This is the cut-off date
You must own the shares on or before this date to receive dividend
👉 If you buy after this date → you won’t get dividend
Payment Date
This is when the company actually sends the money to your bank
👉 You may qualify today, but receive cash weeks later
4. Is dividend “free money”?
No. Not at all.
Let’s be real:
Scenario:
You have a share worth ₦15
Company pays ₦1 dividend
After adjustment:
Share becomes ₦14
You receive ₦1 cash
👉 Total still = ₦15
Nothing extra was created.
5. Why do professional investors still care about dividends?
Even though it’s not free money, dividends are still important:
a. Regular income
Some investors (especially retirees) want steady cash flow.
b. Strong companies
Companies that pay consistent dividends are often:
Profitable
Stable
Well-managed
c. Reinvestment (compounding)
Smart investors:
Collect dividend
Buy more shares
Over time, this builds wealth faster.
6. Why beginners get confused
Because it looks like this:
“I got ₦1 dividend, I made profit!”
But they ignore:
The share price dropped by ₦1
So in reality:
No immediate gain
7. Simple analogy
Imagine you own a bucket of water:
Full bucket = ₦15
You remove 1 cup (dividend)
Now:
Bucket = ₦14
Cup in your hand = ₦1
Total still the same.
Bottom line
Dividend is not free money
Share price drops because company cash reduces
Dividend adjustment ensures fairness
Qualification date = who is eligible
Payment date = when cash is received
Professionals use dividends for income + long-term growth

Starting stock investment as a beginner doesn’t require complexity—but it does require structure and discipline. I’ll walk you through a practical path that works in Nigeria.
🔰 1. Understand what you’re actually doing
When you buy a stock, you’re buying ownership in a business, not just numbers on an app.
For example:
Buying shares in GTCO means you own part of that bank.
If the bank grows and makes profit, you benefit.
🧭 2. Set your objective first (this is critical)
Decide your goal before investing:
Wealth building (long-term) → best for beginners
Dividend income → steady cash flow
Trading (short-term) → risky, not for beginners
👉 Based on your previous questions, you should focus on: Long-term + dividend investing
🏦 3. Open the right accounts
To invest in Nigerian stocks, you need:
✔ Stockbroker account
Choose SEC-licensed brokers like:
Meristem Securities
CardinalStone Securities
Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers
✔ CSCS account
Handled by Central Securities Clearing System
This is where your shares are stored securely.
💰 4. Start small but consistent
You don’t need millions.
Start with ₦10k – ₦50k
Invest regularly (monthly if possible)
👉 Consistency beats “big money once”
📊 5. What stocks should a beginner buy?
Focus on strong, stable Nigerian companies:
Examples:
Zenith Bank
GTCO
Dangote Cement
MTN Nigeria
These have:
Strong profits
Regular dividends
Market leadership
⚖️ 6. Learn simple analysis (don’t overcomplicate)
As a beginner, just check:
✔ Dividend yield
Are they paying you regularly?
✔ Profit growth
Is the company improving yearly?
✔ Stability
Avoid companies with constant losses
🚫 7. Avoid these beginner mistakes
Chasing “cheap” stocks (₦1–₦5 traps)
Following hype or WhatsApp tips
Buying and selling too often
Investing money you may need soon
🔁 8. Reinvest your dividends
This is where wealth builds.
Example:
You earn ₦5,000 dividend
Reinvest it → buy more shares
Over time, it compounds
⏳ 9. Think long-term (very important)
Wealth in stocks comes from:
Time
Compounding
Patience
Not quick profit.
🧠 Simple beginner strategy
If you want something practical:
👉 Pick 3–5 strong companies
👉 Invest in them regularly
👉 Hold for 5–10 years
👉 Reinvest dividends
⚠️ Reality check
Stock investment is:
Not a get-rich-quick plan
Not gambling (if done properly)
A slow wealth-building system