First…

You don’t need millions to start investing.

You don’t need to be an expert.

What you need is:

• the right knowledge
• the right platform
• the right mindset

Let Me Explain With a Simple Story

Imagine Mama Ngozi wants to start selling rice.

She does NOT need to own a warehouse.

She starts small:

• learns where to buy
• understands good vs bad rice
• buys small quantity
• sells and grows gradually

That is exactly how you should approach investing.

Oya… Let’s Start Step-by-Step

STEP 1: Understand What You Are Buying

Before putting money anywhere, understand this:

A stock = ownership in a company

When you buy shares, you are becoming a part-owner of that business.

For example:

If you buy shares in:

• a bank
• a telecom company
• a manufacturing company

You are owning a small piece of it.

STEP 2: Decide Where You Want to Invest

As a beginner in Nigeria, you have two main options:

Option A: Nigerian Stock Market

You invest in companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange.

Examples include:

• banks
• cement companies
• telecom-related firms

To do this, you need:

• a stockbroker
• a CSCS account

Option B: Foreign Stocks (via apps)

Platforms allow you invest in companies like:

• Apple
• Tesla
• Amazon
• Microsoft

These are usually accessed through apps.

Important Truth

There is no “best” option.

The best option is the one you understand.

STEP 3: Choose a Platform

This is where many beginners get stuck.

In Nigeria, you can start through:

For Nigerian stocks:

• Licensed stockbrokers (very important)

For foreign stocks:

• Investment apps

Always make sure:

• the platform is legitimate
• it is properly regulated

STEP 4: Open Your Account

You will be asked for:

• BVN
• valid ID
• bank details
• passport photo

Once verified, your account will be ready.

STEP 5: Start Small (VERY IMPORTANT)

Do NOT rush to invest big money.

Start with something like:

• ₦5,000
• ₦10,000

Why?

Because you are still learning.

STEP 6: Don’t Buy Randomly

This is where many beginners lose money.

Before buying any stock, ask:

• What does this company do?
• Does it make profit?
• Is it stable over time?

If you don’t understand it…

Don’t buy it.

STEP 7: Consider Equity Funds (Beginner Friendly)

If picking stocks feels confusing…

You can invest in equity funds.

This means:

• professionals manage the investment
• your money is spread across many companies

This reduces risk for beginners.

STEP 8: Be Patient (This Is Where Wealth Comes From)

Stock investing is NOT:

• betting
• gambling
• quick money

It is:

• long-term growth
• consistency
• discipline

Let Me Be Honest With You

Your first investment may:

• go up
• go down

That is normal.

Do not panic.

Even experienced investors see losses sometimes.

Golden Rules You Must Never Forget

1. Never invest money you cannot afford to leave
2. Avoid “hot tips” and hype
3. Think long-term (years, not days)
4. Keep learning continuously

Final Truth

Starting is the hardest part.

But once you take that first step…

Everything becomes easier.

Let Me Leave You With This

Many people spend years saying:

“I want to invest.”

But they never start.

Not because they don’t have money…

But because they are waiting to “fully understand everything.”

That day never comes.

So ask yourself:

• What is stopping me from starting small today?
• What will my future self say if I delay 5 more years?

Because in investing…

action beats perfection.

I am Rose Ejituru

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First…

Yes — it is possible to have two CSCS numbers.

And it does NOT mean anything is wrong.

It simply means the shares were bought at different times through different channels.

Let Me Explain Using a Simple Story ( Just Like Iking Ferry😌😁)

Imagine you opened a bank account in 2014 at one branch.

Then in 2024 you opened another account using a mobile banking app.

Does that mean the first account disappeared?

No.

You now just have two accounts in the same banking system.

That is exactly what is happening here.

Now Let’s Understand What Really Happened

1. The IPO You Bought 10 Years Ago

When you bought those bank shares through IPO:

• Your name was registered with the company registrar
• A CSCS number was created for you (even if you never saw it)
• Dividends were sent directly to you

So yes… you already had a CSCS account long ago.

2. The New Shares You Bought Through Bamboo

When you used Bamboo:

• The platform created a new trading account for you
• A new CSCS number may have been generated
• You were also given something called an NCH number

Now here is the key thing to understand.

What Is the Difference?

CSCS Number

This is where your Nigerian shares are stored.

Think of it as a vault that keeps your shares safe.

NCH Number

This is simply a trading account number created by the broker/app you are using.

It is not the same as CSCS.

It is just the ID the broker uses to manage your trades.

So How Do You Know If You Truly Have Two CSCS Numbers?

Very simple.

You just need to confirm using one of these methods:

Option 1: Contact a Stockbroker

Give them:

• Your full name
• Phone number
• Bank details used for dividend

They can search the CSCS system and confirm if more than one account exists under your name.

Option 2: Request a CSCS Statement

Ask for:

“Full CSCS account search under my name.”

If there are two accounts, it will show.

Option 3: Check Your Old Dividend Messages

Sometimes the CSCS number is hidden inside:

• old dividend alerts
• registrar messages
• e-dividend registration forms

Important Advice (Don’t Ignore This Part)

If you truly have two CSCS accounts,
you should merge them.

Why?

Because leaving them separate can cause:

• missing dividends
• confusion during share sales
• problems when transferring shares later

Let Me Be Honest With You

This is not a big problem.

Thousands of Nigerians who bought shares during:

• bank recapitalization period
• old IPO era
• public share offers

now have more than one CSCS account.

The good news?

It can be corrected easily once you verify it.

Final Truth

The issue is not that you made a mistake.

The issue is simply that the system has changed over the years — from paper shares to digital trading apps.

So don’t panic.

Just confirm:

• Do I truly have two CSCS numbers?
• Which one is holding my old shares?
• Which one is holding the new shares?

Once you answer those three questions, everything becomes clear.

I am Rose Ejituru

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First…

Let me correct a very important misconception.

Your father’s shares are NOT lost.

Yes…
Even if it has been 2, 5, or even 20 years.

In Nigeria, shares and dividends do not disappear.
They are held safely by regulated institutions like:

• Registrars (companies that manage shareholder records)
• The Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS)
• Companies that declared the dividends

So calm down… nothing has vanished.

Now Let Me Explain Using a Simple Story ( Just like Iking Ferry😁😁)

Imagine your father bought farmland in the village years ago.

But he didn’t tell anyone where the land is.
And after he passed, the family forgot about it.

Does that land disappear?

No.

It is still there…
but the problem is nobody knows where the documents are or how to claim ownership.

That is exactly what is happening with shares and dividends.

Oya… Let’s Break It Down Properly

There are TWO things you are trying to recover:

1. Shares (Ownership in companies)

2. Dividends (Money paid to him from those shares)

Both follow similar processes — but require proper documentation.

Step 1: Confirm That the Shares Exist

Before anything, you need proof.

Look for:

• Old share certificates
• CSCS statements
• Bank statements showing dividend payments
• Emails or SMS from registrars
• His stockbroker details (if he used one)

If you don’t find anything…

You can still proceed — but it will take more effort.

Step 2: Get Legal Authority (VERY IMPORTANT)

You cannot claim anything yet.

Why?

Because legally, the shares belong to a deceased person.

So you must obtain either:

• Letter of Administration (if no will)
OR
• Probate (if there was a will)

This document proves you have the legal right to act on behalf of your father’s estate.

Without this, no registrar or company will release anything.

STEP 3: Do Share Search with Registrars

In Nigeria, every company has a registrar that manages its shareholders.

Examples include:

• Meristem Registrars
• First Registrars
• CardinalStone Registrars
• GTL Registrars

You will need to:

• Write to multiple registrars
• Provide your father’s full name
• Attach death certificate
• Attach probate/letter of administration

They will search their database and confirm:

• Which shares he owned
• The number of units
• Outstanding dividends

STEP 4: Open/Link a CSCS Account

If your father had a CSCS account, the shares may already be there.

If not…

You will need to:

• Open a CSCS account in the name of the estate
• Or request transmission of shares into beneficiaries’ names

This is usually done through a stockbroker.

STEP 5: Claim Unclaimed Dividends

Now this is where many people lose money.

Dividends that were not claimed are called unclaimed dividends.

To recover them:

You will:

• Fill registrar claim forms
• Provide probate/letter of administration
• Provide valid ID
• Provide bank details

IMPORTANT UPDATE (VERY CRUCIAL)

Due to Nigerian regulations, unclaimed dividends older than 6 years may be transferred to a government trust fund under the Finance Act 2020.

BUT…

You can still claim them —
it just becomes a longer process through government channels.

So don’t panic — but don’t delay either.

STEP 6: Register for E-Dividend

Once recovered, stop future stress.

Register for e-dividend so payments go directly into your bank account.

No more lost dividend warrants.

Let Me Be Honest With You

This process is not “one day work.”

It may take:

• Weeks
• Sometimes months

Because:

• Records may be scattered
• Names may be misspelled
• Some shares may be in paper form

But with patience and correct documentation…
you WILL recover them.

Final Advice (Very Important)

If the process feels overwhelming, you can involve:

• A stockbroker
• A registrar
• A financial consultant

Avoid “agents” that promise quick recovery without proper documentation.
That’s how people lose money twice.

Let Me Leave You With This

Many Nigerian families are sitting on:

• forgotten shares
• millions in unclaimed dividends

Not because the money disappeared…
but because nobody followed the process.

So ask yourself:

• Do we have any documents at home?
• Has anyone checked registrars before?
• Have we obtained legal authority?

Because once you understand the system…

Confusion disappears.
And recovery becomes possible.

I am Rose Ejituru
On a mission to learn from Iking Ferry

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