The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced that Nigeria's collective investment schemes, also known as mutual funds, have grown to an impressive N8.6 trillion. This revelation came during a 2025 Children's Day event in Abuja, where the commission emphasized its commitment to promoting investment literacy among Nigerian children.

SEC Director General, Emomotimi Agama, who made this disclosure on Tuesday at an event organized by Ryan & Jasmine Consult in collaboration with Assertium, highlighted the importance of early financial education for children.

"It is important to start preparing our children earlier around investment culture, sensitisation against Ponzi schemes, and, of course, making them more confident about the future this country has for them," Agama stated.

The SEC DG explained that investment for children typically occurs through collective investment schemes or mutual funds, as individuals under 18 years cannot directly invest in the capital market. He expressed optimism that these investments would continue to grow, given that children constitute the majority of Nigeria's population.

"The collective investment is growing, over N8.6 trillion now in Nigeria; we believe it will grow bigger. In terms of the demography of Nigeria, you can understand that we have more children than adults. It is so important we inculcate the value of investing in children right from the cradle," he added.

The event, which was part of the 2025 Children's Day celebrations, aimed to introduce young Nigerians to investment concepts in a fun and educational environment.

Mary Makajuola, representative of Ryan & Jasmine, and Monitat Amoyegbe, Group Chief Executive Officer of Assertium, both emphasized the importance of teaching children about investments at an early age.

"We created the platform to enable children to control their butterflies in their systems and give them confidence to invest," Makajuola explained.

One of the young participants, Modesire Makajuola, shared her experience: "I have learned how to save and invest in goods and services. I will want the Nigerian government to build roads and be firm in politics. Happy Children's Day to everyone."

The SEC's initiative aligns with broader government efforts to enhance financial literacy across all age groups in Nigeria, with a particular focus on preparing the younger generation for future economic challenges and opportunities.