The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has called on parents and guardians to begin educating their children on the principles of investment and the dangers of Ponzi schemes, stressing the importance of financial literacy from a young age.
This call was made by SEC Director General, Emomotimi Agama, during a Children’s Day event held in Abuja, organized by Ryan & Jasmine Consult in partnership with Assertium.
Agama emphasized the need to “catch them young” by instilling investment culture early and arming children with the knowledge to avoid “get-rich-quick” traps, which are increasingly targeting Nigeria’s youth online.
“It’s important to start preparing our children early around investment culture and sensitisation against Ponzi schemes. This builds confidence about the future this country has for them,” Agama said.
He noted that while minors cannot directly invest in the capital market, they can participate through collective investment schemes or mutual funds set up by their parents or guardians. With children making up a significant portion of Nigeria’s population, he stressed that investments made on their behalf today can grow into wealth over time.
Referencing the recent fallout from digital investment fraud like CBEX, Agama reiterated that tackling Ponzi schemes must become a collective national responsibility.
Mary Makanjuola, a representative of Ryan & Jasmine Consult, echoed the SEC’s position, highlighting that Children’s Day is a perfect opportunity to blend fun with learning and empower young people to understand basic financial principles.
“We created this platform to help children control the butterflies in their system and build the confidence to invest,” she said.