For a new investor, I don't think there is one investment plan that is automatically "the best." The best starting point depends on your goal, time horizon, risk tolerance, income and how much money you can afford to invest. A beginner can think about investments in this order: 1. Start with financiRead more
For a new investor, I don’t think there is one investment plan that is automatically “the best.”
The best starting point depends on your goal, time horizon, risk tolerance, income and how much money you can afford to invest.
A beginner can think about investments in this order:
1. Start with financial stability.
Before investing aggressively, have some emergency savings and deal with expensive debt. There is little benefit in chasing investment returns while having no cash for an emergency.
2. Understand your time horizon.
Money you may need soon should generally not be placed in investments whose value can fluctuate significantly. Long-term money gives you more options.
3. Choose based on risk.
A beginner shouldn’t choose an investment simply because someone says it gives high returns. Understand what can make you lose money and how much volatility you can tolerate.
4. Learn the different options.
Depending on your circumstances, these may include savings products, money market funds, Treasury bills, bonds, mutual funds, stocks and ETFs. They have different levels of risk, liquidity and potential returns.
5. Start small.
You don’t need to wait until you have millions of naira before learning how investing works. Starting with an amount you can afford to leave invested allows you to gain experience without putting your financial foundation under unnecessary pressure.
6. Don’t invest in what you don’t understand.
If you cannot explain where your return is coming from, what could make you lose money, and how you get your money back, take time to learn before investing.
Most importantly, don’t confuse the highest possible return with the best investment. The best investment for a beginner is one that matches their financial situation, goal and ability to handle risk.
Your first investment should therefore be in understanding how money, risk and investments work. Once you understand those, choosing specific investments becomes much easier.
I don't think the right question is simply, "Is buying land better than renting?" The better question is: What is the best use of my money at this stage of my life? Buying land can be a good long-term investment, especially when the location has strong development potential and the title and ownershRead more
I don’t think the right question is simply, “Is buying land better than renting?”
The better question is: What is the best use of my money at this stage of my life?
Buying land can be a good long-term investment, especially when the location has strong development potential and the title and ownership documents have been properly verified. But land is not automatically a good investment just because it is land.
Before buying, consider:
• Location: Is the area actually developing, or are you only hearing promises about future development?
• Documentation: Can the seller’s ownership and title be independently verified? Land documentation and registration can be complicated in Nigeria, so this should never be treated casually.
• Liquidity: If you need your money urgently, how easily can you sell the land at a fair price?
• Opportunity cost: If you put ₦5 million into land, what other productive use of that ₦5 million are you giving up?
• Your housing situation: If you still need somewhere to live, buying land may not solve your immediate housing problem because you may still need to rent while waiting to build.
• Your financial stability: Don’t use your emergency fund or money needed for your business and basic needs just to acquire land.
Renting isn’t necessarily “throwing money away” either. You’re paying for a service: the use of a home without taking on the full responsibility and capital requirement of ownership.
So, for me, land versus renting is not an either-or investment rule. It depends on your income, savings, housing needs, location, investment horizon, and what the money could accomplish elsewhere.
If you have surplus money, a good emergency cushion, stable income, and you’ve found properly verified land in a location with genuine growth potential, buying can make sense.
But if buying the land would leave you financially stranded, renting while building your financial foundation may actually be the wiser decision.
The goal isn’t simply to own land. The goal is to make your money work for your long-term financial stability.
Indexation can be useful for long-term investing because it helps account for the changing value of money over time. In simple terms, ₦1 million invested today will not necessarily have the same purchasing power several years from now because of inflation. Indexation adjusts a value using an approprRead more
Indexation can be useful for long-term investing because it helps account for the changing value of money over time.
In simple terms, ₦1 million invested today will not necessarily have the same purchasing power several years from now because of inflation. Indexation adjusts a value using an appropriate index so that the effect of changes in prices or purchasing power can be taken into consideration.
For a long-term mutual fund investor, the important point is that you should not look only at the amount your investment has grown in naira. You should also consider:
• How much the investment has grown after inflation.
• The fund’s actual investment performance.
• Fees and other costs.
• The tax treatment that applies to that particular investment.
• Your investment time horizon.
Mutual funds themselves can be suitable for different objectives. For example, the SEC describes equity funds as vehicles focused on capital growth and income that generally perform better over a long-term horizon, while money-market funds are more focused on liquidity, income and capital preservation.
So, indexation can help give a more realistic picture of long-term value, but it should not be treated as a guarantee of higher returns.
The key lesson is:
Don’t measure long-term investment success only by how many naira you have. Measure what that money can actually buy after considering inflation, costs and applicable taxes.
Yes—but there is an important distinction. You may not completely transform your financial life in 30 days, but you can absolutely change its direction in 30 days. Thirty days is enough time to begin making decisions that can have a long-term financial impact. For example, you can use those 30 daysRead more
Yes—but there is an important distinction.
You may not completely transform your financial life in 30 days, but you can absolutely change its direction in 30 days.
Thirty days is enough time to begin making decisions that can have a long-term financial impact.
For example, you can use those 30 days to:
• Track where your money is actually going.
• Create a realistic budget based on your income.
• Identify unnecessary spending and cut what you can.
• Start saving consistently, even if the amount is small.
• Pay down or make a plan for expensive debt.
• Build your first emergency fund.
• Learn the basics of investing before putting your money into investments.
• Look for a legitimate way to increase your income.
• Separate your business money from your personal spending if you run a business.
The biggest mistake is expecting 30 days to make you wealthy.
Instead, think of it this way:
30 days can create the habits, discipline and financial clarity that begin changing the next 30 years.
Financial transformation is usually not one dramatic decision. It is the result of many small decisions repeated consistently.
So don’t ask, “Can I become financially free in 30 days?”
Ask:
“What financial decision can I make today that my future self will thank me for?”
Having a CSCS account does not necessarily mean you can directly buy and sell NGX shares yourself. Think of the two roles this way: CSCS = where your securities are recorded and held. Stockbroker = the licensed intermediary that executes your buy and sell orders on the Nigerian Exchange. NGX statesRead more
Having a CSCS account does not necessarily mean you can directly buy and sell NGX shares yourself.
Think of the two roles this way:
CSCS = where your securities are recorded and held.
Stockbroker = the licensed intermediary that executes your buy and sell orders on the Nigerian Exchange.
NGX states that investors who want to trade securities on the exchange must appoint a licensed stockbroker/trading license holder to facilitate their trading account and transactions.
So if you have a CSCS account but cannot buy shares, check whether you also have an active trading account with a licensed stockbroker and whether your KYC details and account setup are complete.
For example, simply knowing your CSCS/CHN number does not give you a button on CSCS where you can enter “Buy 100 shares.” Your broker is normally the channel through which that trade is executed, while CSCS handles the clearing, settlement and custody records.
If you already have a broker and still cannot place an order, contact the broker and ask them to check your trading account status, KYC details, funding and whether there is any restriction on the account.
The important distinction is:
CSCS account ≠ stock trading account.
You generally need the appropriate relationship with a licensed stockbroker to actually execute trades on NGX.
If you mean Dangote Cement (DANGCEM), you should not expect a fixed monthly return from ₦100,000. Shares don't normally pay you a guaranteed amount every month. Your potential return can come from two main sources: 1. Capital appreciation — if the share price rises after you buy, your investment becRead more
If you mean Dangote Cement (DANGCEM), you should not expect a fixed monthly return from ₦100,000.
Shares don’t normally pay you a guaranteed amount every month. Your potential return can come from two main sources:
1. Capital appreciation — if the share price rises after you buy, your investment becomes more valuable. If the price falls, you can also lose money.
2. Dividends — if the company declares a dividend and you qualify as a shareholder on the relevant date.
For example, Dangote Cement declared a ₦45 dividend per share for its 2025 financial year. That’s an annual dividend, not a monthly payment.
At the current share price, ₦100,000 would buy roughly 96 shares before transaction costs. If a ₦45-per-share dividend were paid on that number of shares, the gross dividend would be about ₦4,320 for the year—not ₦4,320 every month.
So I would not look at a ₦100,000 stock investment as “How much will I make every month?”
A better question is:
“What total return could this investment generate over the period I intend to hold it, and what risks am I taking to achieve that return?”
That’s the mindset a long-term investor should develop.
What Are The Best Investment Plans For New Investor?
For a new investor, I don't think there is one investment plan that is automatically "the best." The best starting point depends on your goal, time horizon, risk tolerance, income and how much money you can afford to invest. A beginner can think about investments in this order: 1. Start with financiRead more
For a new investor, I don’t think there is one investment plan that is automatically “the best.”
The best starting point depends on your goal, time horizon, risk tolerance, income and how much money you can afford to invest.
A beginner can think about investments in this order:
1. Start with financial stability.
Before investing aggressively, have some emergency savings and deal with expensive debt. There is little benefit in chasing investment returns while having no cash for an emergency.
2. Understand your time horizon.
Money you may need soon should generally not be placed in investments whose value can fluctuate significantly. Long-term money gives you more options.
3. Choose based on risk.
A beginner shouldn’t choose an investment simply because someone says it gives high returns. Understand what can make you lose money and how much volatility you can tolerate.
4. Learn the different options.
Depending on your circumstances, these may include savings products, money market funds, Treasury bills, bonds, mutual funds, stocks and ETFs. They have different levels of risk, liquidity and potential returns.
5. Start small.
You don’t need to wait until you have millions of naira before learning how investing works. Starting with an amount you can afford to leave invested allows you to gain experience without putting your financial foundation under unnecessary pressure.
6. Don’t invest in what you don’t understand.
If you cannot explain where your return is coming from, what could make you lose money, and how you get your money back, take time to learn before investing.
Most importantly, don’t confuse the highest possible return with the best investment. The best investment for a beginner is one that matches their financial situation, goal and ability to handle risk.
Your first investment should therefore be in understanding how money, risk and investments work. Once you understand those, choosing specific investments becomes much easier.
See lessShould I Invest My Savings in Land or Continue Renting in Nigeria?
I don't think the right question is simply, "Is buying land better than renting?" The better question is: What is the best use of my money at this stage of my life? Buying land can be a good long-term investment, especially when the location has strong development potential and the title and ownershRead more
I don’t think the right question is simply, “Is buying land better than renting?”
The better question is: What is the best use of my money at this stage of my life?
Buying land can be a good long-term investment, especially when the location has strong development potential and the title and ownership documents have been properly verified. But land is not automatically a good investment just because it is land.
Before buying, consider:
• Location: Is the area actually developing, or are you only hearing promises about future development?
• Documentation: Can the seller’s ownership and title be independently verified? Land documentation and registration can be complicated in Nigeria, so this should never be treated casually.
• Liquidity: If you need your money urgently, how easily can you sell the land at a fair price?
• Opportunity cost: If you put ₦5 million into land, what other productive use of that ₦5 million are you giving up?
• Your housing situation: If you still need somewhere to live, buying land may not solve your immediate housing problem because you may still need to rent while waiting to build.
• Your financial stability: Don’t use your emergency fund or money needed for your business and basic needs just to acquire land.
Renting isn’t necessarily “throwing money away” either. You’re paying for a service: the use of a home without taking on the full responsibility and capital requirement of ownership.
So, for me, land versus renting is not an either-or investment rule. It depends on your income, savings, housing needs, location, investment horizon, and what the money could accomplish elsewhere.
If you have surplus money, a good emergency cushion, stable income, and you’ve found properly verified land in a location with genuine growth potential, buying can make sense.
But if buying the land would leave you financially stranded, renting while building your financial foundation may actually be the wiser decision.
The goal isn’t simply to own land. The goal is to make your money work for your long-term financial stability.
See lessHow Does Indexation Benefit Long-Term Mutual Fund Investments?
Indexation can be useful for long-term investing because it helps account for the changing value of money over time. In simple terms, ₦1 million invested today will not necessarily have the same purchasing power several years from now because of inflation. Indexation adjusts a value using an approprRead more
Indexation can be useful for long-term investing because it helps account for the changing value of money over time.
In simple terms, ₦1 million invested today will not necessarily have the same purchasing power several years from now because of inflation. Indexation adjusts a value using an appropriate index so that the effect of changes in prices or purchasing power can be taken into consideration.
For a long-term mutual fund investor, the important point is that you should not look only at the amount your investment has grown in naira. You should also consider:
• How much the investment has grown after inflation.
• The fund’s actual investment performance.
• Fees and other costs.
• The tax treatment that applies to that particular investment.
• Your investment time horizon.
Mutual funds themselves can be suitable for different objectives. For example, the SEC describes equity funds as vehicles focused on capital growth and income that generally perform better over a long-term horizon, while money-market funds are more focused on liquidity, income and capital preservation.
So, indexation can help give a more realistic picture of long-term value, but it should not be treated as a guarantee of higher returns.
The key lesson is:
Don’t measure long-term investment success only by how many naira you have. Measure what that money can actually buy after considering inflation, costs and applicable taxes.
See lessIs It Really Possible to Change Your Financial Life in Just 30 Days?
Yes—but there is an important distinction. You may not completely transform your financial life in 30 days, but you can absolutely change its direction in 30 days. Thirty days is enough time to begin making decisions that can have a long-term financial impact. For example, you can use those 30 daysRead more
Yes—but there is an important distinction.
You may not completely transform your financial life in 30 days, but you can absolutely change its direction in 30 days.
Thirty days is enough time to begin making decisions that can have a long-term financial impact.
For example, you can use those 30 days to:
• Track where your money is actually going.
• Create a realistic budget based on your income.
• Identify unnecessary spending and cut what you can.
• Start saving consistently, even if the amount is small.
• Pay down or make a plan for expensive debt.
• Build your first emergency fund.
• Learn the basics of investing before putting your money into investments.
• Look for a legitimate way to increase your income.
• Separate your business money from your personal spending if you run a business.
The biggest mistake is expecting 30 days to make you wealthy.
Instead, think of it this way:
30 days can create the habits, discipline and financial clarity that begin changing the next 30 years.
Financial transformation is usually not one dramatic decision. It is the result of many small decisions repeated consistently.
So don’t ask, “Can I become financially free in 30 days?”
Ask:
“What financial decision can I make today that my future self will thank me for?”
See lessWhy Can’t I Buy NGX Shares Even Though I Have a CSCS Account?
Having a CSCS account does not necessarily mean you can directly buy and sell NGX shares yourself. Think of the two roles this way: CSCS = where your securities are recorded and held. Stockbroker = the licensed intermediary that executes your buy and sell orders on the Nigerian Exchange. NGX statesRead more
Having a CSCS account does not necessarily mean you can directly buy and sell NGX shares yourself.
Think of the two roles this way:
CSCS = where your securities are recorded and held.
Stockbroker = the licensed intermediary that executes your buy and sell orders on the Nigerian Exchange.
NGX states that investors who want to trade securities on the exchange must appoint a licensed stockbroker/trading license holder to facilitate their trading account and transactions.
So if you have a CSCS account but cannot buy shares, check whether you also have an active trading account with a licensed stockbroker and whether your KYC details and account setup are complete.
For example, simply knowing your CSCS/CHN number does not give you a button on CSCS where you can enter “Buy 100 shares.” Your broker is normally the channel through which that trade is executed, while CSCS handles the clearing, settlement and custody records.
If you already have a broker and still cannot place an order, contact the broker and ask them to check your trading account status, KYC details, funding and whether there is any restriction on the account.
The important distinction is:
CSCS account ≠ stock trading account.
You generally need the appropriate relationship with a licensed stockbroker to actually execute trades on NGX.
See lessIf I invest #100,000 in dagote group, what will my monthly return look like?
If you mean Dangote Cement (DANGCEM), you should not expect a fixed monthly return from ₦100,000. Shares don't normally pay you a guaranteed amount every month. Your potential return can come from two main sources: 1. Capital appreciation — if the share price rises after you buy, your investment becRead more
If you mean Dangote Cement (DANGCEM), you should not expect a fixed monthly return from ₦100,000.
Shares don’t normally pay you a guaranteed amount every month. Your potential return can come from two main sources:
1. Capital appreciation — if the share price rises after you buy, your investment becomes more valuable. If the price falls, you can also lose money.
2. Dividends — if the company declares a dividend and you qualify as a shareholder on the relevant date.
For example, Dangote Cement declared a ₦45 dividend per share for its 2025 financial year. That’s an annual dividend, not a monthly payment.
At the current share price, ₦100,000 would buy roughly 96 shares before transaction costs. If a ₦45-per-share dividend were paid on that number of shares, the gross dividend would be about ₦4,320 for the year—not ₦4,320 every month.
So I would not look at a ₦100,000 stock investment as “How much will I make every month?”
A better question is:
“What total return could this investment generate over the period I intend to hold it, and what risks am I taking to achieve that return?”
That’s the mindset a long-term investor should develop.
See less