As Nigeria joins in celebrating Children’s Day, the country’s financial sector is shining a spotlight on an extraordinary opportunity to build wealth and secure the future of its youth. With collective savings from mutual funds soaring past $8.6 trillion, the Nigeria Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is championing a bold vision to nurture the next generation of investors.
Emomotimi Agama, Director-General of the SEC, revealed this impressive figure during the recent “My Voice Matters” initiative launch in Abuja—a program designed to equip children with crucial life skills such as financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and creativity.
Agama stressed the importance of embedding an investment mindset early in life, saying,
“It is essential to start preparing children young, educating them on investment culture, warning them against schemes like Ponzi, and building their confidence in the promising future this country offers.”
The SEC has already taken decisive action by integrating financial education and capital market awareness into school curricula nationwide, aiming to foster smarter savers and investors from an early age.
At the event, Mary Makanjuola, Founder of Ryan and Jasmine Consult—which partnered with Assetium to launch the initiative—emphasized the power of children’s voices:
“Every child has something powerful to say—and they deserve the tools, space, and confidence to express it well.”
The enthusiasm of the program’s young beneficiaries is inspiring. Nine-year-old Modesire Makanjuola shared her excitement:
“I have learnt to build, save, and invest in gold, lithium, and much more.”
Adding to this vision, Monsurat Iyabode Ayoola of the Assetium Group highlighted their goal of raising financially savvy future leaders:
“We want them to be comfortable and wealthy CEOs by the time they reach our age. That’s the dream.”
Nigeria’s financial landscape is evolving rapidly, and initiatives like these underscore the critical role young citizens will play in driving economic growth. By equipping them with knowledge, skills, and confidence, the country is poised to unlock unprecedented prosperity for generations ahead.
With the SEC’s commitment to financial education and the empowering platform provided by “My Voice Matters,” Nigeria is planting the seeds for a future rich in opportunity and innovation.
