Experts Urge Youth to Start Saving, Investing Early For Wealth Creation

Financial experts have called on Nigerian youths and teenagers to embrace early saving and investing as a disciplined approach to securing long-term wealth and financial independence.

The experts spoke at the maiden edition of the Investdata Teens and Youths Investment summit organised by Investdata Consulting Limited held in Lagos. The summit brought together young participants both physically and online to learn practical steps for wealth creation.

In her presentation titled ‘The Investor Mindset: Shifting from Spender to Owner of Assets’, the head of Investment Advisory at Meristem Stockbrokers Limited, Morayo Jaiyeola, told participants they have a huge advantage over previous generations.

“You have the opportunity to start investing much earlier than your parents and even many of today’s billionaires did,” she said.

Taiwo Adekeye, a trader with Bamboo, who spoke on ‘Stock Market Decoded’ said financial knowledge is as important as formal education.

He noted that the decisions youths make today will determine whether the next generation multiplies wealth or poverty.

“If you remember nothing else, decide that if you are given N10,000, you will not eat everything, but save some for investment,” he stressed.

Adekeye explained that investing in shares on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) allows money to work for investors through capital appreciation and dividends paid half-yearly or annually.

He also highlighted fixed income securities with predetermined returns, but said equity investment remains the best hedge against inflation.

He cautioned participants to stay away from gambling and instead pursue structured wealth creation through the market.

Investment analyst, Kanayo John, warned youths to master their emotions while investing.

“Your biggest investment risk is not the market itself but you yourself. Understand your emotions and put it in check,” he said.

He listed golden rules including avoiding quick-money schemes, not borrowing to invest, and basing decisions on research rather than feelings.

Tunde Jeariogbe of Investdata Consulting challenged participants to ‘start small and dream big’, noting that “the stock market is where your money works for you and grows while you earn residual income.”

The chief research officer of Investdata Consulting, Ambrose Omordion, advised youths to buy shares of companies in their growth stage, especially those in essential sectors like food and beverages, banking, and manufacturing.

He also urged them to identify undervalued stocks and innovative companies through research.

Omordion disclosed that “what many people got in their 30s and 40s, you are getting now as teens. What happens next matters most.”

He urged parents to help their children make their first small investments from the stock picks shared at the summit.