Experts at the 5th edition of the Blakey National Economic Conference in Lagos have highlighted stock investment as the most reliable pathway to long-term wealth for Nigerian households. Speakers urged individuals to adopt disciplined, long-term participation in listed companies as a sustainable strategy to overcome poverty and protect purchasing power in an inflation-prone economy.
The conference emphasized that holding inflation-protected assets, particularly equities, is more effective than keeping cash or low-yield instruments, which lose value over time. Deacon Basil Aharanwa, Managing Director of Centurion Registrars Limited, explained that rising consumer prices mean income growth alone cannot safeguard wealth. His presentation, “Building Long-term Financial Security: Planning for Today and Tomorrow,” warned that portfolios dominated by fixed returns are vulnerable to silent erosion in real value.
Keynote speaker Chief Blakey Okwudili Ijezie, founder of Okwudili Ijezie & Co, reinforced this message, describing equities as strategic long-term tools rather than speculative instruments. “The future belongs not to the swift but to the patient architect of value,” he said, highlighting the importance of consistent, disciplined investing. Ijezie cited Warren Buffett’s famous advice: “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone else planted a tree a long time ago,” underscoring that patience and time are critical drivers of investment success.
Conference presenters framed equities on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) as structural hedges against inflation, capable of adjusting alongside macroeconomic shifts. Ijezie encouraged diversified exposure to resilient sectors like banking, telecommunications, and industrial goods, mentioning leading companies such as Access Holdings Plc, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Dangote Cement Plc, and Zenith Bank Plc as anchors for long-term capital growth. Fixed-income assets were described as supportive tools rather than replacements for equity compounding potential.
The 2025 performance of the Nigerian stock market reinforced the conference’s message. Data from Nairametrics shows the NGX All-Share Index surged by 51.19%, far outpacing inflation and fixed income yields. Consumer goods, telecommunications, industrial goods, and banking sectors drove nearly 79% of total market capitalization, with at least 45 companies posting returns above 100%. The rally demonstrates that patient, long-term stock investment remains one of the most effective channels for preserving and building wealth for Nigerian households.
source: nairametrics