FG advises women on capital market investment opportunities

The Federal Government has called on women across the country to explore investment opportunities in the capital market, describing it as a vital tool for wealth creation and economic empowerment.

The appeal came during the launch of the Securities and Exchange Commission Podcast in Abuja on Tuesday, an event aimed at boosting financial literacy and inclusion.

The Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga, revealed this in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.

The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, who officiated the launch, emphasised the transformative potential of women’s participation in the capital market.

She said, “Opening opportunities for women in the capital market would create a pathway to wealth creation.

“We need to come up with more policies, reforms, or frameworks that encourage more women to participate in the financial sector.

“By leveraging the capital market, Nigerian women can unlock new opportunities for wealth creation, economic growth, and prosperity.”

The statement further tied the initiative to Nigeria’s broader economic ambitions, noting, “As the country strives to achieve its $1 trn economy target, the active participation of women in the capital market will play a vital role in driving sustainable development and economic transformation.”

Highlighting the innate financial acumen of women, Uzoka-Anite noted their ability to manage resources effectively.

“Women are very good with investing; we know what to do with money. We know how to manage money in the house, and it will go around the whole family. If a woman learns how to make that money multiply and how to save it in a way that it will continue to add value and meet her needs and her family’s needs, I think she will love that,” she remarked.

The Minister also acknowledged the unique challenges women face in balancing professional and familial responsibilities, calling for a dual approach to support their involvement in the financial sector.

She added, “Assisting women in the capital market is a multi-pronged approach; the individuals need to do more to be heard.

“The institutional approach, where we encourage the institutions to give women a chance, to treat women based on their competencies and capacities, and encourage them, is equally critical.

The SEC Podcast, hailed as ‘very innovative and highly needed at this time’ by Uzoka-Anite, is designed to bridge the knowledge gap about the capital market.

Speaking at the event, SEC Director-General, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, elaborated on its purpose.

“We want people in the most remote parts of this country to be aware of the capital market and how they can participate to create wealth,” he said.

Meanwhile, the SEC has said that it will be training selected women in capital market activities through its training arm, the Nigerian Capital Market Institute.

SEC Director-General, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, disclosed this initiative during a meeting with the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, which was part of SEC’s activities to commemorate International Women’s Day 2025 under the theme ‘Women: The Voice of the Capital Market.’

Agama said, “In all we do, protection is key, and investor education is also very important. We pledge to support the work you are doing by offering to provide financial knowledge to women. We will offer financial education at the NCMI to selected women once a month.

“Women have been left out of the capital market for too long; they need to be empowered. The $1tn economy being proposed by President Bola Tinubu cannot be possible without women. If you want to grow this market today, one of the greatest apostles will be women. There is a multiplication for everything you give the woman. Commodity trading is mainly done by women; they are involved in buying and selling different kinds of commodities. Given the importance of women in the development of the capital market, we feel the most auspicious time to meet with you is the International Women’s Day celebration. We have tagged it ‘The voice of the women in the capital market.’ We need the women to push out this message. Our being here today is part of our commitment to bring about a new paradigm shift in the education of women on capital market issues.”