YES you can, but it is NOT the best way. Let me explain like you are 10 years old. You have 2 ways to buy shares for your children in Nigeria:- WAY 1: The Wrong Way (The way you are asking to do it) You open 2 accounts, both in YOUR name. - Account 1: With Bamboo, name = Nweda Benjamin (for yourselfRead more
YES you can, but it is NOT the best way.
Let me explain like you are 10 years old.
You have 2 ways to buy shares for your children in Nigeria:-
WAY 1: The Wrong Way (The way you are asking to do it)
You open 2 accounts, both in YOUR name.
– Account 1: With Bamboo, name = Nweda Benjamin (for yourself)
– Account 2: With InvestNaija, name = Nweda Benjamin (for your children)
Both accounts will have the SAME CHN, because your BVN is the same. The CSCS numbers will be different.
Problem:- Legally, all the shares in BOTH accounts are YOURS. They are not your children’s. If tomorrow something happens, the court will say it’s all your property, not your children’s own property. You are just labeling it in your head as “for children” but in CSCS system, it’s still yours.
This way is good only if your children are very small and you just want to separate it for your own mind.
WAY 2: The Correct Way (How Rich Parents Do It)
You open an account in your child’s own name.
Even if your child is 2 years old, you can do it. This is called a Minor Account or Custodial Account.
What you need:
– Your child’s birth certificate
– Your own ID and BVN (as parent/guardian)
– Passport photo of child
You go to a broker like Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers, Meristem, CardinalStone, and tell them: “I want to open a minor account for my child.”
They will create:
– CHN in your child’s name
– CSCS number in your child’s name
– But you (the father) will be the one managing it until the child is 18.
This is the best way because:-
1. The shares legally belong to your child.
2. Tomorrow you can show “This Dangote Cement shares is for my son, bought since he was 3 years old.”
3. It will not mix with your own shares.
Don’t use your own data to open 2 accounts for children. Yes, you CAN do it and the system will allow you, but both accounts will still be in your name.
If you really love your children and want to build wealth for them, open a separate account in THEIR OWN NAME using their birth certificate. Put yourself as guardian.
One account for you (with your BVN), one account for your child (with child’s birth certificate).
That way, you have your own account, and your child has his own account, clean and separate.
NO:- IPO is not like buying TV on installment in Emeka's shop. How IPO works:- 1. IPO is like a one-time market for 2-3 weeks only. When Dangote Refinery says "We are selling shares", they will open the market for maybe 3 weeks. Inside that 3 weeks, you must bring all the money you want to buy. If yRead more
NO:- IPO is not like buying TV on installment in Emeka’s shop.
How IPO works:-
1. IPO is like a one-time market for 2-3 weeks only.
When Dangote Refinery says “We are selling shares”, they will open the market for maybe 3 weeks. Inside that 3 weeks, you must bring all the money you want to buy.
If you want 1000 shares and one share is ₦100, you must bring ₦100,000 inside those 3 weeks. You cannot bring ₦50,000 now and say “I will bring the rest next month”. Once the market closes, it closes.
2. So what if you have only money for 500 now ?
Simple: Just apply for 500 shares now.
Use your ₦50,000 and buy 500 shares during the IPO.
3. Can you complete the remaining 500 later ?
YES, but NOT as IPO installment. You will buy it later as normal shares in the stock market (NGX) after Dangote Refinery is listed.
It will be like this:-
– Today (IPO time): You buy 500 shares at IPO price (e.g., ₦100 per share)
– 3 months later (after listing): You now have money. You go to your Cowrywise,
Bamboo or InvestNaija app and buy another 500 shares. But the price then might be ₦120 or ₦90, not ₦100 again. It depends on market price that day.
Don’t wait to have money for 1000. Buy the 500 you have money for during IPO. That is better than missing the IPO completely. After IPO, you can be adding more shares anytime you have money, just like you add airtime.
You cannot pay IPO in installment. Pay for the 500 you have now during IPO, and buy the remaining 500 later in the normal stock market when you have money
Oga Omotoso, nothing is wrong. What Zedcrest did is CORRECT. I will explain:- Think of the stock market like this:- - CHN is your Village Name. You have only ONE village name for life. Wherever you go, you are from that one village. In stock market, your village name is CHN. It must be ONE forever.Read more
Oga Omotoso, nothing is wrong. What Zedcrest did is CORRECT. I will explain:-
Think of the stock market like this:-
– CHN is your Village Name. You have only ONE village name for life. Wherever you go, you are from that one village. In stock market, your village name is CHN. It must be ONE forever. So it’s GOOD that Zedcrest returned the same CHN to you. It means you still have one identity.
– CSCS Number is your House Number in that village. If you build a house in Lagos and build another house in Ibadan, your house numbers will be different, but you are still from the same village.
– InvestNaija gave you House Number 1 (CSCS number 1)
– Zedcrest gave you House Number 2 (CSCS number 2)
– But your Village (CHN) is still the same. That is normal.
So why did Zedcrest reject it the first day ?
This is the trick: Many apps like Zedcrest will not allow you to just type your old CHN and enter. They must be the ones to go and create a new house number (CSCS) for you in CSCS office, using your same village name (CHN).
The first customer care person that rejected you did not explain well. He should have said: _”Boss, we cannot just accept the CHN you typed. We need to create our own CSCS account for you, but we will use your same old CHN.”_
That’s exactly what the second person did. They created a new CSCS account for you, but kept your CHN the same. That is why CSCS number changed, but CHN remained the same.
Is this good or bad ?
It is GOOD. It means:-
1. You now have 2 brokers (InvestNaija and Zedcrest) – you have 2 CSCS numbers.
2. You still have only 1 CHN – you have 1 identity. Perfect.
You don’t need to do anything. Your account is now set up correctly
Let me Easy Explanation to This:- - CHN = Your ONE Identity in the whole Nigerian Stock Market. - CSCS Account Number = Your account number with ONE broker. Think of it like this:- - CHN is like your BVN. You are Julius Uchenna, you have only ONE BVN in all banks in Nigeria. Your one identity in theRead more
Let me Easy Explanation to This:-
– CHN = Your ONE Identity in the whole Nigerian Stock Market.
– CSCS Account Number = Your account number with ONE broker.
Think of it like this:-
– CHN is like your BVN. You are Julius Uchenna, you have only ONE BVN in all banks in Nigeria. Your one identity in the whole of Nigeria Stock Market
– CSCS Number is like your Account Number. You can have a GTB account number, First Bank account number, Kuda account number. All different, but all linked to your ONE BVN.
So in the stock market:
– You should have ONE CHN for life.
– But you can have 5 different CSCS numbers if you have 5 brokers (e.g., one with Bamboo, one with InvestNaija, one with Stanbic IBTC, one with Meristem).
Now Your back to your Main Question: Why did Bamboo and InvestNaija give you different CHN ?
Because they made a mistake, and it happens to 90% of Nigerians. Here is why:-
1. Bamboo and InvestNaija are NOT direct brokers:- They are apps that use other big brokers behind them. Bamboo uses Lambeth, InvestNaija uses another. When you opened the two apps, you probably used slightly different details.
Example:
– On Bamboo you wrote: “JULIUS UCHENNA”
– On InvestNaija you wrote: “Julius Uchenna Chukwu”
The CSCS computer saw two different names and created two different CHN for you. If your BVN, phone number, or date of birth didn’t match 100%, it will create new CHN.
2. In a perfect system, you should have ONE CHN. Even if you have 10 brokers, your CHN should remain the same. That is how you can see all your stocks in one place.
What You Should Do Now:
If You have two CHN now – that’s called “Multiple CHN” and it’s a problem. You need to merge them.
Step 1:- Check your two CHN numbers. Write them down.
Step 2:- Email both Bamboo and InvestNaija support. Tell them: _”Please harmonize my CHN, I have multiple CHN, my BVN is X, please merge to one CHN.”_
Step 3:- Always use the EXACT same name, same BVN, same DOB when you open any investment app.
If you don’t merge it, when you want to sell or transfer stocks, CSCS will say your name does not match.
You are supposed to have ONE CHN only. Bamboo and InvestNaija gave you two because your details didn’t match 100% – go and merge them to one.
YTD means Year Till Date. It answers one question:- "Since January 1st this year till TODAY, is this stock going up or down ?" - If YTD is +15% = Since Jan 1st, the stock price has INCREASED by 15%. If it was ₦100 on Jan 1st, now it's ₦115. People who bought in January are in profit. - If YTD is -10Read more
YTD means Year Till Date.
It answers one question:- “Since January 1st this year till TODAY, is this stock going up or down ?”
– If YTD is +15% = Since Jan 1st, the stock price has INCREASED by 15%. If it was ₦100 on Jan 1st, now it’s ₦115. People who bought in January are in profit.
– If YTD is -10% (NEGATIVE) = Since Jan 1st, the stock price has DROPPED by 10%. If it was ₦100 on Jan 1st, now it’s ₦90. People who bought in January are losing.
So Negative YTD Change simply means: That stock has lost value this year.
How to use it for investing in Nigeria – This is the important part:-
Don’t just see negative and run.think like this:-
1. Negative YTD can be a DISCOUNT – Good time to buy:-
Example: GTCO was ₦50 on Jan 1st. Today it’s ₦40. YTD is -20%. But GTCO is still a big, profitable bank. It didn’t become a bad bank overnight. The market is just scared. This can be a chance for you to buy it cheap, like market sale.
This is where Naira Cost Averaging enters – you buy small small when YTD is very negative.
2. Negative YTD can be a WARNING – Bad time to buy:-
Example: A small company was ₦2 on Jan 1st, now ₦0.80. YTD is -60% and every year it keeps dropping, company is not making profit, in debt. This negative is a warning that the company may die.
A simple Guideline for you:-
> Negative YTD = The stock is cheaper today than it was on Jan 1st.
What to do:-
– Ask WHY is it negative ? Is the whole NGX market down ? Or is only that company down ?
– If it’s a STRONG company like Dangote Cement, BUA, MTN, GTCO, Zenith and YTD is negative = It may be an opportunity to buy cheap.
– If it’s a WEAK company and YTD has been negative for 2-3 years = Don’t touch it.
Don’t use YTD alone. Check 2 other things:-
1. Is the company making profit ?
2. Is it paying dividend ?
If answer is YES and YTD is negative, smart investors will be happy to buy.
Think of IPO like first batch of bread from the bakery. 1. IPO = First Sale:- When Dangote first brings his refinery shares to market to raise money, that's IPO. It's cheap, like factory price. Only people who apply during that window get it. Now he says IPO has CLOSED - meaning factory price sale iRead more
Think of IPO like first batch of bread from the bakery.
1. IPO = First Sale:-
When Dangote first brings his refinery shares to market to raise money, that’s IPO. It’s cheap, like factory price. Only people who apply during that window get it. Now he says IPO has CLOSED – meaning factory price sale is over.
2. After IPO = It enters Stock Market (NGX):-
After IPO closes, those shares will be LISTED on Nigerian Stock Exchange. The ticker might be something like `DANGREF` or `DANGOTE`. From that day, ANYONE can buy it and sell it everyday – just like you buy and sell tomatoes in market. Price will now go up and down.
So YES, you can still buy even if you missed IPO.You will buy it from other people who got it during IPO and want to sell.
How to buy it on InvestNaija App:-
1. Open InvestNaija app, create CSCS account (your share ID)
2. Fund your wallet with money – e.g ₦10,000
3. Search for the stock name – `DANGOTE REFINERY`
4. Click BUY, put how many shares you want, confirm
5. It will sit in your portfolio. You can check gain/loss daily.
When to BUY and when to SELL ? – The Golden Rule:-
BUY when:-
– The price has fallen small but the company is still strong. Dangote Refinery is making profit, selling fuel.
– When market is red and everybody is scared – that is when smart investors buy cheap.
– Don’t buy because of hype on Twitter. Buy because you understand the business.
SELL when:-
– You have made good profit – e.g 20-30% gain and you need the money for something else (like your Event App project)
– The company news becomes bad – e.g refinery not working, big debt
– You found a better investment to move your money to
Don’t do this mistake:
Don’t buy today and sell tomorrow because price dropped ₦2. Stock is not MMM or betting. It’s for months/years.
Easy strategy for beginners like you:-
If you believe Dangote Refinery will be big in 5 years, just buy small-small every month with your ₦1,000 – ₦5,000, and leave it. Don’t check price everyday. This is called Naira cost averaging
I will break it down and solve it like Joint Contribution First, what is Money Market Mutual Fund ? Imagine 10,000 Nigerians put their money together inside one big pot. A professional company (like Stanbic IBTC, ARM, Meristem) will take that big pot and invest it in safe government investments likeRead more
I will break it down and solve it like Joint Contribution
First, what is Money Market Mutual Fund ?
Imagine 10,000 Nigerians put their money together inside one big pot. A professional company (like Stanbic IBTC, ARM, Meristem) will take that big pot and invest it in safe government investments like Treasury Bills. Every 3 months they share the profit for everybody.
It’s safer than business, better than saving in your bank account.
How much is the minimum to start ?
It depends on the company, but in Nigeria it’s very small now:-
– Most big companies:- ₦5,000 to start
– Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund – ₦5,000
– Vetiva Money Market Fund – ₦5,000
– Anchoria, TrustBanc – ₦5,000
– Some are cheaper (Fintech apps): ₦1,000 to start
– Zedcrest Money Market Fund – ₦1,000 to start and ₦1,000 to add
– Apps like Cowrywise, PiggyVest, Bamboo use these funds behind the scenes, so you can start with ₦1,000.
– Some are expensive: ₦10,000 – ₦100,000
– Meristem – ₦10,000
So your ₦1,000 idea is VALID.For most people, start with ₦5,000.
Can you top it with ₦1,000 everyday?
YES. You can.
All Money Market Funds allow you to add money anytime – daily, weekly, monthly. This is called “top-up” or “additional subscription”.
If you use Zedcrest, you can top up with ₦1,000 daily. If you use Stanbic, minimum top-up is also ₦5,000.
How your ₦1,000 everyday will work:-
1. You start Day 1 with ₦5,000
2. Every day you add ₦1,000 – in 30 days you have ₦35,000 inside
3. The fund will calculate interest DAILY on whatever you have inside. So your money grows small-small every day.
4. After 30 days, you can withdraw if you need – most have 30-day holding period.
My advice for you is that:-
1. Download Stanbic IBTC Mobile App or Cowrywise App
2. Start with ₦5,000
3. Set an automatic top-up of ₦1,000 daily – exactly like you said.
In 6 months, you will be shocked how much interest you have compared to leaving it in your normal bank.
A good friend for business is not the one who hails you the most, it's the one whose character stays the same when money enters. When your brother says "your friend bewitched you," what he is really trying to say is "that failure was not normal." But in business, 90% of failures are not spiritual, tRead more
A good friend for business is not the one who hails you the most, it’s the one whose character stays the same when money enters.
When your brother says “your friend bewitched you,” what he is really trying to say is “that failure was not normal.” But in business, 90% of failures are not spiritual, they are from the wrong partner.
Let me give a easy way on how to know:
1. Separate Friendship Test from Business Test.
A friend can be good for gists, party, church – but bad for business. Business needs different qualities.
Don’t choose because “he’s my guy from childhood.” Choose based on these 4 C’s:
C1 – Character in money:- Has he borrowed ₦5k, ₦20k from you before and paid back on time without you begging ? If he cannot handle small money, he will mess up big money.
C2 – Competence:- What skill does he bring ? If you bring capital and idea, what does he bring – customers, marketing, accounting, technical skill ? If it’s just “I will support you with prayer,” that’s not a business partner, that’s a well-wisher.
C3 – Commitment:- Does he reply messages fast ? Does he come early when you have meeting ? A person who is always late for normal hangout will be late to open shop.
C4 – Communication when things spoil:- Good business friend can tell you “Guy, this thing you did is wrong” to your face. Bad one will be gossiping you behind or keeping malice.
2. How to test him before you put big money – Nigerian method:-
Don’t start with ₦500k shop. Start small:–
– Give him ₦20k task: “Help me buy this thing and deliver to customer, account for balance.” See how he handles it.
– Do 1 week trial. Sell together. Does he press phone all day or does he call customers?
– Ask about profit sharing on paper BEFORE you start. If he says “anything you give me, I will take” – run. That person will fight you later. Good partner negotiates.
3. About the “bewitched” part:-
In Nigeria, when business fails, families will say village people. Sometimes we need to check natural reasons first:
– Did you do market research ? Is there demand ?
– Did you separate business money from personal money ?
– Did you have bookkeeping ?
If your friend was always asking for inside info about your suppliers, your profit, trying to copy your customer list, or getting angry that you are progressing – that is not bewitching, that is jealousy and bad belle, which is enough to spoil business physically by him badmouthing you to customers.
Spiritual protection is prayer, but physical protection is structure:- Have agreement written, even if it’s just for the family to sign. Don’t tell everybody your next move until it is done.
Renting is NOT wasting money if you don't have surplus cash. Buying land too early can trap you. Everybody will shout "buy land, rent is waste" but they are ignoring Two(2) things: Liquidity and Opportunity Cost. Let me give an easy explanation to them:- 1. Liquidity = How fast can you turn it backRead more
Renting is NOT wasting money if you don’t have surplus cash. Buying land too early can trap you.
Everybody will shout “buy land, rent is waste” but they are ignoring Two(2) things: Liquidity and Opportunity Cost.
Let me give an easy explanation to them:-
1. Liquidity = How fast can you turn it back to cash when you need it ?
If you put your ₦5M savings into a plot in Epe, Ibeju-Lekki or some new estate in Ibadan, can you sell it tomorrow if you have an emergency, or need money for business or Japa ?
No. It can take 6 months, 1 year, 2 years to find buyer. And you will sell at a loss if you are desperate. Plus you will still pay agent, lawyer, omonile settlement again.
That plot is illiquid – money is locked.
But if that ₦5M is in Treasury Bills, Money Market, or even your business, you can collect it in 24-72 hours.
2. Opportunity Cost = What else could that ₦5M have done for you ?
That ₦5M land in a bush is not bringing you money. But if you continue renting for ₦700k/year and use the remaining ₦4.3M to:-
– Start a business that brings ₦150k/month
– Move to Lagos/Ibadan where salary is ₦250k instead of ₦120k where land is cheap
– Pay for a tech skill, certification, masters that doubles your income
Then you have made MORE than the land would have appreciated.
The person renting remains mobile. He can relocate for a better job. The person who sank everything in land is stuck in one place, still paying for land guard, fencing, and fighting land grabbers / community thieves who say “you must pay foundation money.”
So, when should you BUY LAND and when should you CONTINUE RENTING ?
CONTINUE RENTING if:-
– That ₦5M is ALL your savings. Don’t empty your account for land.
– The land is in a very undeveloped area with no road, no light, no people – “appreciation in 5 years” is just marketer talk.
– You don’t have a verified title – No C of O, no Governor’s Consent, no registered survey. 70% of cheap land cases end in Omonile wahala.
– Your rent is less than 25% of your income. You are still okay.
BUY LAND if:-
– You have surplus – meaning after buying, you still have 6 months emergency fund + business capital.
– Title is clean and you have physically inspected it. Not video only.
– It’s in a path of development where people are actually living NOW, not in 2030.
– You have money to fence and get documentation immediately after buying. Unfenced land is invitation for land grabbers to resell it.
If you are still building your income, renting cheap and investing the difference in a liquid, income-producing asset is smarter than locking it in bush land that gives you headache.
Land is a great investment, but it is the LAST investment, not the first. First build cash flow, then use profit to buy land.
The Financial Metrics to Check Before You Buy Any Nigerian Stock ? You are correct — RED and GREEN are not for investors, they are for gamblers. Green means price went up TODAY. Red means it went down TODAY. That color does not tell you if Dangote Cement is making profit or dying. To know that, youRead more
The Financial Metrics to Check Before You Buy Any Nigerian Stock ?
You are correct — RED and GREEN are not for investors, they are for gamblers.
Green means price went up TODAY. Red means it went down TODAY. That color does not tell you if Dangote Cement is making profit or dying. To know that, you must check the ingredients inside the company.
Think of a stock like buying a Keke. You won’t buy just because it’s painted green today. You will check engine, mileage, fuel consumption. Same for stocks.
Here are the 6 Yardsticks and How to Judge Them in Nigeria:
1. EPS – Earnings Per Share (The Engine)
– What it is: Profit the company made divided by number of shares.
– Formula:`EPS = Total Profit / Total Shares`
– How to judge:EPS must be positive and growing. If GTCO EPS was ₦5 in 2023, ₦7 in 2024, ₦9 in 2025 — good, engine is strong. If EPS is negative — run.
– Nigerian Standard: For banks, EPS above ₦3 is okay. For industrial, above ₦5.
2. P/E Ratio – Price to Earnings (Is it Expensive ?)
– What it is: How many years of profit you are paying to buy the share.
– Formula: `P/E = Share Price / EPS`
– How to judge:Lower P/E = Cheaper. Higher P/E = Expensive.
– Nigerian Standard: NGX average P/E is 8 to 15. If P/E is 7, it’s cheap. If P/E is 35, it’s very expensive — unless it’s a fast grower like MTN or Airtel. Avoid anything above 25 if you are a beginner.
3. ROE – Return on Equity (How Smart is Management ?)
– What it is: For every ₦100 of shareholders’ money, how much profit management creates.
– Formula:`ROE = Profit / Shareholders Fund x 100%`
– How to judge:Higher is better. It shows management is not wasting your money.
– Nigerian Standard: Look for ROE above 15%. GTCO, Zenith, Dangote Cement, BUA Foods usually do 20-30%. If ROE is below 8%, management is lazy.
4. Debt-to-Equity (D/E) – How Much Loan ?
– What it is: How much the company borrowed vs what it owns.
– How to judge: With Nigerian interest rate at 26-30% now, debt is dangerous. A company with high debt will pay all profit to bank.
– Nigerian Standard: For non-banks (Dangote, BUA, Nestle), D/E must be below 1.0. If D/E is 2.5, they borrowed ₦2.50 for every ₦1 they have — too risky.
5. Dividend Yield (Your Yearly Rent)
– What it is: Cash the company pays you yearly for holding.
– Formula: `Yield = Dividend per share / Share Price x 100`
– How to judge: It must be consistent for 3 years.
– Nigerian Standard: Good yield is 4% – 10%. If yield is 15%+, check if it’s a trap — they may not pay next year.
6. Revenue Growth & Profit Margin (Is it Growing or Dying ?)
– What it is: Is the company selling more every year ?
– How to judge: Open 3 years financials. Revenue should go up. Profit Margin `(Profit / Revenue)` should not be dropping. If revenue is up but margin fell from 20% to 4%, cost is killing them.
How to test with general market effect:
Compare the company to its sector average. Don’t compare GTBank with Dangote Cement.
– For Banks: Compare GTCO ROE with Zenith, Access ROE. Who is better ?
– For Cement: Compare Dangote vs BUA vs Lafarge.
If your stock has lower P/E and higher ROE than its competitors, it’s the best in that sector.
Where do you get these measuring instruments? Not from Google rumors.
You get them from 3 official places — FREE:
1. NGX Website (Most Reliable): http://ngxgroup.com > Company Financials. You will see quarterly reports.
2. The App Itself: In Bamboo/Chaka/Trove, click any stock > Financials / Key Statistics. EPS, P/E, Dividend are already calculated.
3. Company Website: e.g., http://dangotecement.com > Investors and Financial Reports. Download PDF.
My 1-Minute Decision Personal Formula for ₦1M investor:
Before I buy, I score like this:
> Is EPS positive and growing? YES = 1 point
> Is P/E Is ROE > 15%? YES = 1 point
> Is D/E Has it paid dividend 3 years straight? YES = 1 point
If I get 4/5 or 5/5 — I BUY. If I get 2/5 — I LEAVE, even if it’s top gainer and green today.
How Can Parents Buy and Hold Shares for Their Children in Nigeria?
YES you can, but it is NOT the best way. Let me explain like you are 10 years old. You have 2 ways to buy shares for your children in Nigeria:- WAY 1: The Wrong Way (The way you are asking to do it) You open 2 accounts, both in YOUR name. - Account 1: With Bamboo, name = Nweda Benjamin (for yourselfRead more
YES you can, but it is NOT the best way.
Let me explain like you are 10 years old.
You have 2 ways to buy shares for your children in Nigeria:-
WAY 1: The Wrong Way (The way you are asking to do it)
You open 2 accounts, both in YOUR name.
– Account 1: With Bamboo, name = Nweda Benjamin (for yourself)
– Account 2: With InvestNaija, name = Nweda Benjamin (for your children)
Both accounts will have the SAME CHN, because your BVN is the same. The CSCS numbers will be different.
Problem:- Legally, all the shares in BOTH accounts are YOURS. They are not your children’s. If tomorrow something happens, the court will say it’s all your property, not your children’s own property. You are just labeling it in your head as “for children” but in CSCS system, it’s still yours.
This way is good only if your children are very small and you just want to separate it for your own mind.
WAY 2: The Correct Way (How Rich Parents Do It)
You open an account in your child’s own name.
Even if your child is 2 years old, you can do it. This is called a Minor Account or Custodial Account.
What you need:
– Your child’s birth certificate
– Your own ID and BVN (as parent/guardian)
– Passport photo of child
You go to a broker like Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers, Meristem, CardinalStone, and tell them: “I want to open a minor account for my child.”
They will create:
– CHN in your child’s name
– CSCS number in your child’s name
– But you (the father) will be the one managing it until the child is 18.
This is the best way because:-
1. The shares legally belong to your child.
2. Tomorrow you can show “This Dangote Cement shares is for my son, bought since he was 3 years old.”
3. It will not mix with your own shares.
Don’t use your own data to open 2 accounts for children. Yes, you CAN do it and the system will allow you, but both accounts will still be in your name.
If you really love your children and want to build wealth for them, open a separate account in THEIR OWN NAME using their birth certificate. Put yourself as guardian.
One account for you (with your BVN), one account for your child (with child’s birth certificate).
That way, you have your own account, and your child has his own account, clean and separate.
See lessCan I Buy Dangote Refinery IPO Shares in Installments in Nigeria?
NO:- IPO is not like buying TV on installment in Emeka's shop. How IPO works:- 1. IPO is like a one-time market for 2-3 weeks only. When Dangote Refinery says "We are selling shares", they will open the market for maybe 3 weeks. Inside that 3 weeks, you must bring all the money you want to buy. If yRead more
NO:- IPO is not like buying TV on installment in Emeka’s shop.
How IPO works:-
1. IPO is like a one-time market for 2-3 weeks only.
When Dangote Refinery says “We are selling shares”, they will open the market for maybe 3 weeks. Inside that 3 weeks, you must bring all the money you want to buy.
If you want 1000 shares and one share is ₦100, you must bring ₦100,000 inside those 3 weeks. You cannot bring ₦50,000 now and say “I will bring the rest next month”. Once the market closes, it closes.
2. So what if you have only money for 500 now ?
Simple: Just apply for 500 shares now.
Use your ₦50,000 and buy 500 shares during the IPO.
3. Can you complete the remaining 500 later ?
YES, but NOT as IPO installment. You will buy it later as normal shares in the stock market (NGX) after Dangote Refinery is listed.
It will be like this:-
– Today (IPO time): You buy 500 shares at IPO price (e.g., ₦100 per share)
– 3 months later (after listing): You now have money. You go to your Cowrywise,
Bamboo or InvestNaija app and buy another 500 shares. But the price then might be ₦120 or ₦90, not ₦100 again. It depends on market price that day.
Don’t wait to have money for 1000. Buy the 500 you have money for during IPO. That is better than missing the IPO completely. After IPO, you can be adding more shares anytime you have money, just like you add airtime.
You cannot pay IPO in installment. Pay for the 500 you have now during IPO, and buy the remaining 500 later in the normal stock market when you have money
See lessCan I Use the Same CHN With Different Stockbrokers in Nigeria?
Oga Omotoso, nothing is wrong. What Zedcrest did is CORRECT. I will explain:- Think of the stock market like this:- - CHN is your Village Name. You have only ONE village name for life. Wherever you go, you are from that one village. In stock market, your village name is CHN. It must be ONE forever.Read more
Oga Omotoso, nothing is wrong. What Zedcrest did is CORRECT. I will explain:-
Think of the stock market like this:-
– CHN is your Village Name. You have only ONE village name for life. Wherever you go, you are from that one village. In stock market, your village name is CHN. It must be ONE forever. So it’s GOOD that Zedcrest returned the same CHN to you. It means you still have one identity.
– CSCS Number is your House Number in that village. If you build a house in Lagos and build another house in Ibadan, your house numbers will be different, but you are still from the same village.
– InvestNaija gave you House Number 1 (CSCS number 1)
– Zedcrest gave you House Number 2 (CSCS number 2)
– But your Village (CHN) is still the same. That is normal.
So why did Zedcrest reject it the first day ?
This is the trick: Many apps like Zedcrest will not allow you to just type your old CHN and enter. They must be the ones to go and create a new house number (CSCS) for you in CSCS office, using your same village name (CHN).
The first customer care person that rejected you did not explain well. He should have said: _”Boss, we cannot just accept the CHN you typed. We need to create our own CSCS account for you, but we will use your same old CHN.”_
That’s exactly what the second person did. They created a new CSCS account for you, but kept your CHN the same. That is why CSCS number changed, but CHN remained the same.
Is this good or bad ?
It is GOOD. It means:-
1. You now have 2 brokers (InvestNaija and Zedcrest) – you have 2 CSCS numbers.
2. You still have only 1 CHN – you have 1 identity. Perfect.
You don’t need to do anything. Your account is now set up correctly
See lessWhy Would My CHN Be Different on Bamboo and InvestNaija?
Let me Easy Explanation to This:- - CHN = Your ONE Identity in the whole Nigerian Stock Market. - CSCS Account Number = Your account number with ONE broker. Think of it like this:- - CHN is like your BVN. You are Julius Uchenna, you have only ONE BVN in all banks in Nigeria. Your one identity in theRead more
Let me Easy Explanation to This:-
– CHN = Your ONE Identity in the whole Nigerian Stock Market.
– CSCS Account Number = Your account number with ONE broker.
Think of it like this:-
– CHN is like your BVN. You are Julius Uchenna, you have only ONE BVN in all banks in Nigeria. Your one identity in the whole of Nigeria Stock Market
– CSCS Number is like your Account Number. You can have a GTB account number, First Bank account number, Kuda account number. All different, but all linked to your ONE BVN.
So in the stock market:
– You should have ONE CHN for life.
– But you can have 5 different CSCS numbers if you have 5 brokers (e.g., one with Bamboo, one with InvestNaija, one with Stanbic IBTC, one with Meristem).
Now Your back to your Main Question: Why did Bamboo and InvestNaija give you different CHN ?
Because they made a mistake, and it happens to 90% of Nigerians. Here is why:-
1. Bamboo and InvestNaija are NOT direct brokers:- They are apps that use other big brokers behind them. Bamboo uses Lambeth, InvestNaija uses another. When you opened the two apps, you probably used slightly different details.
Example:
– On Bamboo you wrote: “JULIUS UCHENNA”
– On InvestNaija you wrote: “Julius Uchenna Chukwu”
The CSCS computer saw two different names and created two different CHN for you. If your BVN, phone number, or date of birth didn’t match 100%, it will create new CHN.
2. In a perfect system, you should have ONE CHN. Even if you have 10 brokers, your CHN should remain the same. That is how you can see all your stocks in one place.
What You Should Do Now:
If You have two CHN now – that’s called “Multiple CHN” and it’s a problem. You need to merge them.
Step 1:- Check your two CHN numbers. Write them down.
Step 2:- Email both Bamboo and InvestNaija support. Tell them: _”Please harmonize my CHN, I have multiple CHN, my BVN is X, please merge to one CHN.”_
Step 3:- Always use the EXACT same name, same BVN, same DOB when you open any investment app.
If you don’t merge it, when you want to sell or transfer stocks, CSCS will say your name does not match.
You are supposed to have ONE CHN only. Bamboo and InvestNaija gave you two because your details didn’t match 100% – go and merge them to one.
See lessWhat Does a Negative YTD Change Mean for a Nigerian Stock?
YTD means Year Till Date. It answers one question:- "Since January 1st this year till TODAY, is this stock going up or down ?" - If YTD is +15% = Since Jan 1st, the stock price has INCREASED by 15%. If it was ₦100 on Jan 1st, now it's ₦115. People who bought in January are in profit. - If YTD is -10Read more
YTD means Year Till Date.
It answers one question:- “Since January 1st this year till TODAY, is this stock going up or down ?”
– If YTD is +15% = Since Jan 1st, the stock price has INCREASED by 15%. If it was ₦100 on Jan 1st, now it’s ₦115. People who bought in January are in profit.
– If YTD is -10% (NEGATIVE) = Since Jan 1st, the stock price has DROPPED by 10%. If it was ₦100 on Jan 1st, now it’s ₦90. People who bought in January are losing.
So Negative YTD Change simply means: That stock has lost value this year.
How to use it for investing in Nigeria – This is the important part:-
Don’t just see negative and run.think like this:-
1. Negative YTD can be a DISCOUNT – Good time to buy:-
Example: GTCO was ₦50 on Jan 1st. Today it’s ₦40. YTD is -20%. But GTCO is still a big, profitable bank. It didn’t become a bad bank overnight. The market is just scared. This can be a chance for you to buy it cheap, like market sale.
This is where Naira Cost Averaging enters – you buy small small when YTD is very negative.
2. Negative YTD can be a WARNING – Bad time to buy:-
Example: A small company was ₦2 on Jan 1st, now ₦0.80. YTD is -60% and every year it keeps dropping, company is not making profit, in debt. This negative is a warning that the company may die.
A simple Guideline for you:-
> Negative YTD = The stock is cheaper today than it was on Jan 1st.
What to do:-
– Ask WHY is it negative ? Is the whole NGX market down ? Or is only that company down ?
– If it’s a STRONG company like Dangote Cement, BUA, MTN, GTCO, Zenith and YTD is negative = It may be an opportunity to buy cheap.
– If it’s a WEAK company and YTD has been negative for 2-3 years = Don’t touch it.
Don’t use YTD alone. Check 2 other things:-
1. Is the company making profit ?
2. Is it paying dividend ?
If answer is YES and YTD is negative, smart investors will be happy to buy.
See lessWhat Happens to Dangote Refinery Shares After the IPO Closes?
Think of IPO like first batch of bread from the bakery. 1. IPO = First Sale:- When Dangote first brings his refinery shares to market to raise money, that's IPO. It's cheap, like factory price. Only people who apply during that window get it. Now he says IPO has CLOSED - meaning factory price sale iRead more
Think of IPO like first batch of bread from the bakery.
1. IPO = First Sale:-
When Dangote first brings his refinery shares to market to raise money, that’s IPO. It’s cheap, like factory price. Only people who apply during that window get it. Now he says IPO has CLOSED – meaning factory price sale is over.
2. After IPO = It enters Stock Market (NGX):-
After IPO closes, those shares will be LISTED on Nigerian Stock Exchange. The ticker might be something like `DANGREF` or `DANGOTE`. From that day, ANYONE can buy it and sell it everyday – just like you buy and sell tomatoes in market. Price will now go up and down.
So YES, you can still buy even if you missed IPO.You will buy it from other people who got it during IPO and want to sell.
How to buy it on InvestNaija App:-
1. Open InvestNaija app, create CSCS account (your share ID)
2. Fund your wallet with money – e.g ₦10,000
3. Search for the stock name – `DANGOTE REFINERY`
4. Click BUY, put how many shares you want, confirm
5. It will sit in your portfolio. You can check gain/loss daily.
When to BUY and when to SELL ? – The Golden Rule:-
BUY when:-
– The price has fallen small but the company is still strong. Dangote Refinery is making profit, selling fuel.
– When market is red and everybody is scared – that is when smart investors buy cheap.
– Don’t buy because of hype on Twitter. Buy because you understand the business.
SELL when:-
– You have made good profit – e.g 20-30% gain and you need the money for something else (like your Event App project)
– The company news becomes bad – e.g refinery not working, big debt
– You found a better investment to move your money to
Don’t do this mistake:
Don’t buy today and sell tomorrow because price dropped ₦2. Stock is not MMM or betting. It’s for months/years.
Easy strategy for beginners like you:-
See lessIf you believe Dangote Refinery will be big in 5 years, just buy small-small every month with your ₦1,000 – ₦5,000, and leave it. Don’t check price everyday. This is called Naira cost averaging
What Is the Minimum Amount Needed to Start Investing in a Money Market Mutual Fund in Nigeria?
I will break it down and solve it like Joint Contribution First, what is Money Market Mutual Fund ? Imagine 10,000 Nigerians put their money together inside one big pot. A professional company (like Stanbic IBTC, ARM, Meristem) will take that big pot and invest it in safe government investments likeRead more
I will break it down and solve it like Joint Contribution
First, what is Money Market Mutual Fund ?
Imagine 10,000 Nigerians put their money together inside one big pot. A professional company (like Stanbic IBTC, ARM, Meristem) will take that big pot and invest it in safe government investments like Treasury Bills. Every 3 months they share the profit for everybody.
It’s safer than business, better than saving in your bank account.
How much is the minimum to start ?
It depends on the company, but in Nigeria it’s very small now:-
– Most big companies:- ₦5,000 to start
– Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund – ₦5,000
– Vetiva Money Market Fund – ₦5,000
– Anchoria, TrustBanc – ₦5,000
– Some are cheaper (Fintech apps): ₦1,000 to start
– Zedcrest Money Market Fund – ₦1,000 to start and ₦1,000 to add
– Apps like Cowrywise, PiggyVest, Bamboo use these funds behind the scenes, so you can start with ₦1,000.
– Some are expensive: ₦10,000 – ₦100,000
– Meristem – ₦10,000
So your ₦1,000 idea is VALID.For most people, start with ₦5,000.
Can you top it with ₦1,000 everyday?
YES. You can.
All Money Market Funds allow you to add money anytime – daily, weekly, monthly. This is called “top-up” or “additional subscription”.
If you use Zedcrest, you can top up with ₦1,000 daily. If you use Stanbic, minimum top-up is also ₦5,000.
How your ₦1,000 everyday will work:-
1. You start Day 1 with ₦5,000
2. Every day you add ₦1,000 – in 30 days you have ₦35,000 inside
3. The fund will calculate interest DAILY on whatever you have inside. So your money grows small-small every day.
4. After 30 days, you can withdraw if you need – most have 30-day holding period.
My advice for you is that:-
1. Download Stanbic IBTC Mobile App or Cowrywise App
2. Start with ₦5,000
3. Set an automatic top-up of ₦1,000 daily – exactly like you said.
In 6 months, you will be shocked how much interest you have compared to leaving it in your normal bank.
See lessHow Can I Know If a Friend Is Good for My Business in Nigeria?
A good friend for business is not the one who hails you the most, it's the one whose character stays the same when money enters. When your brother says "your friend bewitched you," what he is really trying to say is "that failure was not normal." But in business, 90% of failures are not spiritual, tRead more
A good friend for business is not the one who hails you the most, it’s the one whose character stays the same when money enters.
When your brother says “your friend bewitched you,” what he is really trying to say is “that failure was not normal.” But in business, 90% of failures are not spiritual, they are from the wrong partner.
Let me give a easy way on how to know:
1. Separate Friendship Test from Business Test.
A friend can be good for gists, party, church – but bad for business. Business needs different qualities.
Don’t choose because “he’s my guy from childhood.” Choose based on these 4 C’s:
C1 – Character in money:- Has he borrowed ₦5k, ₦20k from you before and paid back on time without you begging ? If he cannot handle small money, he will mess up big money.
C2 – Competence:- What skill does he bring ? If you bring capital and idea, what does he bring – customers, marketing, accounting, technical skill ? If it’s just “I will support you with prayer,” that’s not a business partner, that’s a well-wisher.
C3 – Commitment:- Does he reply messages fast ? Does he come early when you have meeting ? A person who is always late for normal hangout will be late to open shop.
C4 – Communication when things spoil:- Good business friend can tell you “Guy, this thing you did is wrong” to your face. Bad one will be gossiping you behind or keeping malice.
2. How to test him before you put big money – Nigerian method:-
Don’t start with ₦500k shop. Start small:–
– Give him ₦20k task: “Help me buy this thing and deliver to customer, account for balance.” See how he handles it.
– Do 1 week trial. Sell together. Does he press phone all day or does he call customers?
– Ask about profit sharing on paper BEFORE you start. If he says “anything you give me, I will take” – run. That person will fight you later. Good partner negotiates.
3. About the “bewitched” part:-
In Nigeria, when business fails, families will say village people. Sometimes we need to check natural reasons first:
– Did you do market research ? Is there demand ?
– Did you separate business money from personal money ?
– Did you have bookkeeping ?
If your friend was always asking for inside info about your suppliers, your profit, trying to copy your customer list, or getting angry that you are progressing – that is not bewitching, that is jealousy and bad belle, which is enough to spoil business physically by him badmouthing you to customers.
Spiritual protection is prayer, but physical protection is structure:- Have agreement written, even if it’s just for the family to sign. Don’t tell everybody your next move until it is done.
See lessShould I Invest My Savings in Land or Continue Renting in Nigeria?
Renting is NOT wasting money if you don't have surplus cash. Buying land too early can trap you. Everybody will shout "buy land, rent is waste" but they are ignoring Two(2) things: Liquidity and Opportunity Cost. Let me give an easy explanation to them:- 1. Liquidity = How fast can you turn it backRead more
Renting is NOT wasting money if you don’t have surplus cash. Buying land too early can trap you.
Everybody will shout “buy land, rent is waste” but they are ignoring Two(2) things: Liquidity and Opportunity Cost.
Let me give an easy explanation to them:-
1. Liquidity = How fast can you turn it back to cash when you need it ?
If you put your ₦5M savings into a plot in Epe, Ibeju-Lekki or some new estate in Ibadan, can you sell it tomorrow if you have an emergency, or need money for business or Japa ?
No. It can take 6 months, 1 year, 2 years to find buyer. And you will sell at a loss if you are desperate. Plus you will still pay agent, lawyer, omonile settlement again.
That plot is illiquid – money is locked.
But if that ₦5M is in Treasury Bills, Money Market, or even your business, you can collect it in 24-72 hours.
2. Opportunity Cost = What else could that ₦5M have done for you ?
That ₦5M land in a bush is not bringing you money. But if you continue renting for ₦700k/year and use the remaining ₦4.3M to:-
– Start a business that brings ₦150k/month
– Move to Lagos/Ibadan where salary is ₦250k instead of ₦120k where land is cheap
– Pay for a tech skill, certification, masters that doubles your income
Then you have made MORE than the land would have appreciated.
The person renting remains mobile. He can relocate for a better job. The person who sank everything in land is stuck in one place, still paying for land guard, fencing, and fighting land grabbers / community thieves who say “you must pay foundation money.”
So, when should you BUY LAND and when should you CONTINUE RENTING ?
CONTINUE RENTING if:-
– That ₦5M is ALL your savings. Don’t empty your account for land.
– The land is in a very undeveloped area with no road, no light, no people – “appreciation in 5 years” is just marketer talk.
– You don’t have a verified title – No C of O, no Governor’s Consent, no registered survey. 70% of cheap land cases end in Omonile wahala.
– Your rent is less than 25% of your income. You are still okay.
BUY LAND if:-
– You have surplus – meaning after buying, you still have 6 months emergency fund + business capital.
– Title is clean and you have physically inspected it. Not video only.
– It’s in a path of development where people are actually living NOW, not in 2030.
– You have money to fence and get documentation immediately after buying. Unfenced land is invitation for land grabbers to resell it.
If you are still building your income, renting cheap and investing the difference in a liquid, income-producing asset is smarter than locking it in bush land that gives you headache.
Land is a great investment, but it is the LAST investment, not the first. First build cash flow, then use profit to buy land.
See lessWhat Financial Metrics Should I Check Before Investing in a Nigerian Stock?
The Financial Metrics to Check Before You Buy Any Nigerian Stock ? You are correct — RED and GREEN are not for investors, they are for gamblers. Green means price went up TODAY. Red means it went down TODAY. That color does not tell you if Dangote Cement is making profit or dying. To know that, youRead more
The Financial Metrics to Check Before You Buy Any Nigerian Stock ?
You are correct — RED and GREEN are not for investors, they are for gamblers.
Green means price went up TODAY. Red means it went down TODAY. That color does not tell you if Dangote Cement is making profit or dying. To know that, you must check the ingredients inside the company.
Think of a stock like buying a Keke. You won’t buy just because it’s painted green today. You will check engine, mileage, fuel consumption. Same for stocks.
Here are the 6 Yardsticks and How to Judge Them in Nigeria:
1. EPS – Earnings Per Share (The Engine)
– What it is: Profit the company made divided by number of shares.
– Formula:`EPS = Total Profit / Total Shares`
– How to judge:EPS must be positive and growing. If GTCO EPS was ₦5 in 2023, ₦7 in 2024, ₦9 in 2025 — good, engine is strong. If EPS is negative — run.
– Nigerian Standard: For banks, EPS above ₦3 is okay. For industrial, above ₦5.
2. P/E Ratio – Price to Earnings (Is it Expensive ?)
– What it is: How many years of profit you are paying to buy the share.
– Formula: `P/E = Share Price / EPS`
– How to judge:Lower P/E = Cheaper. Higher P/E = Expensive.
– Nigerian Standard: NGX average P/E is 8 to 15. If P/E is 7, it’s cheap. If P/E is 35, it’s very expensive — unless it’s a fast grower like MTN or Airtel. Avoid anything above 25 if you are a beginner.
3. ROE – Return on Equity (How Smart is Management ?)
– What it is: For every ₦100 of shareholders’ money, how much profit management creates.
– Formula:`ROE = Profit / Shareholders Fund x 100%`
– How to judge:Higher is better. It shows management is not wasting your money.
– Nigerian Standard: Look for ROE above 15%. GTCO, Zenith, Dangote Cement, BUA Foods usually do 20-30%. If ROE is below 8%, management is lazy.
4. Debt-to-Equity (D/E) – How Much Loan ?
– What it is: How much the company borrowed vs what it owns.
– How to judge: With Nigerian interest rate at 26-30% now, debt is dangerous. A company with high debt will pay all profit to bank.
– Nigerian Standard: For non-banks (Dangote, BUA, Nestle), D/E must be below 1.0. If D/E is 2.5, they borrowed ₦2.50 for every ₦1 they have — too risky.
5. Dividend Yield (Your Yearly Rent)
– What it is: Cash the company pays you yearly for holding.
– Formula: `Yield = Dividend per share / Share Price x 100`
– How to judge: It must be consistent for 3 years.
– Nigerian Standard: Good yield is 4% – 10%. If yield is 15%+, check if it’s a trap — they may not pay next year.
6. Revenue Growth & Profit Margin (Is it Growing or Dying ?)
– What it is: Is the company selling more every year ?
– How to judge: Open 3 years financials. Revenue should go up. Profit Margin `(Profit / Revenue)` should not be dropping. If revenue is up but margin fell from 20% to 4%, cost is killing them.
How to test with general market effect:
Compare the company to its sector average. Don’t compare GTBank with Dangote Cement.
– For Banks: Compare GTCO ROE with Zenith, Access ROE. Who is better ?
– For Cement: Compare Dangote vs BUA vs Lafarge.
If your stock has lower P/E and higher ROE than its competitors, it’s the best in that sector.
Where do you get these measuring instruments? Not from Google rumors.
You get them from 3 official places — FREE:
1. NGX Website (Most Reliable): http://ngxgroup.com > Company Financials. You will see quarterly reports.
2. The App Itself: In Bamboo/Chaka/Trove, click any stock > Financials / Key Statistics. EPS, P/E, Dividend are already calculated.
3. Company Website: e.g., http://dangotecement.com > Investors and Financial Reports. Download PDF.
My 1-Minute Decision Personal Formula for ₦1M investor:
Before I buy, I score like this:
> Is EPS positive and growing? YES = 1 point
> Is P/E Is ROE > 15%? YES = 1 point
> Is D/E Has it paid dividend 3 years straight? YES = 1 point
If I get 4/5 or 5/5 — I BUY. If I get 2/5 — I LEAVE, even if it’s top gainer and green today.
See less