Tinubu Wants Nigerian Students to Learn About the Stock Market

Tinubu Wants Nigerian Students to Learn About the Stock Market

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has advocated for greater financial education among Nigerian undergraduates, suggesting that stock-market knowledge should be introduced into classrooms to help young people better understand investment and wealth creation.

The President made the remarks on Thursday, August 6, 2026, during a meeting with the Board and Management of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) at the State House in Abuja.

While discussing the performance and future of Nigeria's capital market, Tinubu said the principles of the stock market could be taught to university students, giving them an opportunity to understand investment from an early stage.

The proposal comes as Nigeria's stock market continues to record significant growth. During the meeting, the NGX reported that the value of listed equities had climbed from roughly ₦30 trillion in 2023 to about ₦160 trillion.

The President's comments also drew attention to the broader issue of financial literacy among young Nigerians. With students and young adults increasingly exposed to stocks, cryptocurrencies, online trading and other financial products, understanding how these markets operate could help them make more informed financial decisions.

However, financial education should involve much more than teaching students how to buy and sell shares. Young investors also need to understand risk, diversification, company valuation, dividends, market volatility and the difference between long-term investing and short-term speculation.

The idea is therefore less about turning every undergraduate into a stock trader and more about giving young Nigerians the financial knowledge needed to participate responsibly in the economy.

If introduced effectively, such education could help students understand that building wealth is not necessarily about finding the next quick-money opportunity. It can also involve learning how businesses grow, how investments work and how money can be managed over the long term.

As financial products become increasingly accessible through smartphones and online platforms, the ability to understand financial markets may become just as important as knowing how to access them.

Would you support making stock-market and financial literacy education part of university learning in Nigeria?