FG Tells Women to Invest in Capital Market
…SEC Launches Podcast
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Government has called upon Nigerian women to actively explore investment opportunities within the capital market as a strategic pathway to wealth creation.
This appeal was made by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, during the official launch of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Podcast, coinciding with International Women’s Day celebrations in Abuja on Monday.
Dr. Uzoka-Anite emphasized the government’s commitment to creating a more inclusive financial sector, stating, “We need to come up with more policies, reforms, or frameworks that encourage more women to participate in the financial sector,” while acknowledging the existence of policies that still hinder the girl child’s progress.
Highlighting women’s inherent financial acumen, the Minister said, “Women are actually very good with investing, we know what to do with money. We know how to manage money in the house and it will go round 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 needs I think she will love that. They just need that added knowledge to be able to make the right choices at any given time.”
She urged women to seek information and actively engage with the capital market, stressing its openness for business. “Seek information and find out how you can invest in the capital market, the capital market is open for business and it is time for women to become active participants,” she said.
Dr. Uzoka-Anite advocated for a multi-pronged approach to assisting women in the capital market, involving individual empowerment and institutional support. “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, capacities and encourage them. It’s a multi-pronged approach getting all involved to be more conscious of supporting women to attain their fullest capacity and achieving their full potentials. Women are also known to be very trustworthy and dependable and that is why you are seeing more women in positions hitherto held by men. We are calling everyone involved to be more conscious of supporting women to attain their fullest capacity and fullest potential,” she noted.
She lauded the SEC’s innovative initiative to launch a podcast, recognizing its potential to educate the public and inspire greater female participation in the financial sector. “Podcasts serve as a valuable tool for educating the public and inspiring more women to engage in the financial sector,” she said.
Acknowledging the unique challenges women face, balancing professional and familial responsibilities, Dr. Uzoka-Anite commended the SEC for launching the podcast, describing it as “very innovative and highly needed at this time,” and expressed optimism that its objectives would be achieved.
She underscored the capital market’s critical role in driving economic growth and achieving the government’s $1 trillion economy target. “The capital market is very critical as it is needed to set the economy free, to help the country achieve the $1 trillion economy, to boost industries, to create jobs, to unlock the potentials of the Nigerian economy, diversify the economy, create capital for individuals and companies to access and by so doing liberating the economy and injecting the much needed prosperity we need in Nigeria,” she stated.
Dr. Uzoka-Anite emphasized the importance of financial literacy in building investor confidence and activating the market’s potential. “Financial literacy is one of the first fundamental steps to take to build investor confidence. In any market you must have a lot of participants for the market to be active. We have the population and we have the potentials, a lot of businesses trying to come to the market. We have all it takes to be Africa’s biggest market and it starts with things like this. It starts by people knowing that this is available and what they can do with the market,” she said.
She assured that the current administration is implementing reforms to enhance the capital market’s robustness, transparency, and efficiency. “The present administration is implementing reforms that will transform the capital market, make it more robust, more transparent, and more efficient and trustworthy. So that people can put their money and know it is safe,” she stated.
“This Podcast is a right step in that direction and I am sure we will get there. I congratulate the DG for this idea and assure the Commission that we are fully behind him. We need the capital market to be vibrant and that will only be dependent on the number of players. If we are having a podcast, we will be able to reach a wider population of Nigerians and our market will have that vibrancy that we desire. I congratulate the Management of the SEC for this innovative idea and I am available to support the Commission in any way possible,” she added.
Earlier, SEC Director General, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, explained that the podcast aims to disseminate information across Nigeria, fostering understanding of the capital market and its opportunities. “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. We are particularly interested in having more women participate in this market and we hope this podcast will assist us reach out to them,” he said.
