The best site to get your Nigerian News, Latest News, Breaking News & Trending. From Politics, Entertainment, Sport, Education and Health.
Let’s be honest — most Nigerians still rely heavily on cash. From the woman selling food by the roadside to the guy running a small POS shop, cash is king. But as the world moves towards digital wealth and smarter investments, more of us are starting to ask the same question: how do I grow my money and make it work for me?
Investing can feel intimidating at first — all those terms like mutual funds, ETFs, and fixed income can sound like financial grammar. But the truth is, there’s no single “correct” way to invest. What matters is understanding what you want, how much risk you can handle, and what fits your lifestyle.
“Beginners usually start with the goal to become financially free and independent, but they don’t break it down to what it means for them,” said Tijesunimi Oresanya, Manager, Solution Architecture (CEMEA) at Visa.
“You need to define your goals from the start — short-term or long-term — because that determines the kind of investments that suit you.”
And he’s right. Maybe you just want to save towards your next rent, or maybe you’re planning ahead for your kids. Either way, knowing your “why” helps you choose wisely.
Another thing beginners often forget? Fees.
“Sometimes investments come with hidden charges,” Oresanya explained. “A 1% fee over time can eat deep into your profit.”
So yes — read the fine print.
If you’ve ever wanted to invest in big US companies like Apple or Tesla, Bamboo lets you do that right from your phone. With over 500,000 users and more than 3,500 stocks to choose from, it’s one of the most beginner-friendly platforms out there.
You only need your NIN and contact details to get started — no paperwork! You can invest in both Naira and USD, starting from just $1.
💰 Up to 8% returns in USD and 21% returns on Naira savings.
Think of Risevest as your investment “plug” for dollar-based assets. It’s not a trading app — it’s a digital wealth manager. Their experts pick the best portfolios for you — from U.S. stocks to real estate — while you sit back and track your returns.
Returns range from 8% to 15%, and the app currently has over 620,000 users.
Perfect if you want a hands-off, stress-free approach.
Trove is great for learners. Apart from letting you invest in over 4,000 Nigerian and U.S. assets, it also has Trove University, where you can learn about investing and even earn points that you can exchange for airtime or trading credits.
You can also gift shares to friends or family and see what others are investing in — making it feel more like a community.
💰 Invest with as little as $1, earn up to 20% returns on Naira and 5.5% on dollar savings.
You’ve probably heard of PiggyVest — it started as a savings app, but now, it offers short-term investments too.
With Investify, you can buy corporate or government-backed notes starting from ₦5,000, with up to 35% returns in 6–12 months.
They also offer vetted opportunities in real estate, agriculture, and transportation, though you’ll have to act fast — they sell out quickly!
Optimus gives you the best of both worlds — savings and investing, all in one app.
You can invest in mutual funds, treasury bills, Nigerian and U.S. stocks, starting from just ₦1,000.
It even includes the Afrinvest Halal Fund, which is Shariah-compliant, and the Afrinvest Dollar Fund for those who want to diversify into foreign assets.
If you prefer to be hands-on with your investments, Meritrade lets you trade directly on the stock market. You can buy shares for yourself — or even for your kids — and track all your past investments.
Meristem also offers margin loans (up to ₦3–₦5 million) so you can borrow against your current holdings.
Plus, they have basic courses to teach you how to invest smarter.
Take it from people already doing it.
Lydia Oke, one long-term investor, said:
“What I’m looking to achieve with Naira investment is different from what I’m looking to achieve with dollar investments.”
She divides her investments across different platforms — Meristem for Naira, Bamboo for dollar, and Stanbic for mutual funds — creating a balanced portfolio that plays to each platform’s strengths.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what you’ll need to begin:
Once your brokerage account is verified, your stockbroker will create your CSCS account — your digital home for all your stocks. From there, you can fund your account and start trading.
Trading hours: 9:30 am – 2:30 pm (weekdays).
Small beginnings add up — it’s consistency that compounds your wealth over time.
At the end of the day, investing isn’t about how much you start with — it’s about starting early and staying consistent.
If there’s one thing we can all learn from this, it’s that building wealth doesn’t require millions. It requires patience, planning, and a little courage to press that “Invest” button.
So, whether you’re investing in Naira or dollars, through apps or banks, remember — your money deserves to grow as hard as you work for it.
English