Preference shares have not died, but they are far less popular than ordinary shares for retail investors today, especially in the Nigerian market.
Here is the practical reality:
What Preference Shares Are
Preference shares are a hybrid between:
ordinary shares (equity), and
bonds/debt instruments.
They usually:
pay fixed dividends,
have priority over ordinary shareholders during dividend payment,
may have limited or no voting rights,
are generally less volatile than ordinary shares.
In accounting, companies’ equity section is often:
Ordinary Share Capital
Preference Share Capital
Retained Earnings
So what you learned is correct.
Why You Rarely Hear About Them Today
1. Nigerian companies hardly issue them publicly now
On the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), most companies raise money through:
ordinary shares,
corporate bonds,
commercial papers,
rights issues.
Preference share offerings are relatively rare.
2. Retail investors prefer capital growth
Most people investing today want:
price appreciation,
capital gains,
aggressive wealth growth.
Ordinary shares give that opportunity better.
For example:
a bank stock can rise 100–300%,
while preference shares may only pay a fixed dividend yearly.
So younger investors especially focus on growth assets.
3. Preference shares behave more like income instruments
They are mainly attractive to:
pension funds,
insurance firms,
institutional investors,
conservative investors needing stable income.
They are not usually “high wealth multiplier” assets.
Do Preference Shares Build Wealth?
Yes — but differently.
They are better for:
preserving capital,
generating predictable income,
reducing portfolio volatility.
They are weaker for:
explosive long-term wealth creation.
Think of it like this:
Asset Type
Main Goal
Ordinary shares
Growth
Preference shares
Stable income
Bonds
Capital preservation + income
Why You Don’t See Them on Many Investment Apps
Most Nigerian retail investment apps focus on:
ordinary NGX-listed stocks,
ETFs,
mutual funds,
treasury bills.
Preference shares have:
lower trading activity,
limited public offerings,
poor liquidity.
So apps may not prioritize displaying them.
Do They Still Exist?
Yes.
Some banks and companies still use preference shares privately or during restructuring/capital raising.
Globally, preference shares are still active in:
banking,
real estate,
infrastructure financing,
venture capital structures.
In advanced markets like the US and UK, preferred stocks are still traded actively.
How Someone Can Participate
In Nigeria
Opportunities are limited but possible through:
stockbrokers,
private placements,
corporate actions,
institutional offerings.
You would usually need:
a licensed stockbroker,
access to primary market offers,
notifications from issuing companies.
Examples of brokers/platforms include:
Meristem Securities
CardinalStone Securities
Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers
Important Distinction Many Investors Miss
A lot of what preference shares were traditionally used for has now been replaced by:
mutual funds,
bond funds,
REITs,
dividend stocks,
ETFs.
These instruments are:
easier to access,
more liquid,
easier to understand,
available directly on apps.
So preference shares became less visible in retail investing discussions.
For Wealth Building, What Matters More Today?
For most retail investors in Nigeria:
quality ordinary shares,
ETFs,
dividend stocks,
equity mutual funds,
REITs,
disciplined long-term investing,
usually contribute more to meaningful wealth accumulation than preference shares alone.
Preference shares are more of a portfolio stabilizer than a wealth accelerator.