SEC, VNL Capital urge strategic, risk-aware investments across sectors

By Babajide Komolafe

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and VNL Capital Asset Management have urged investors to adopt strategic and risk-conscious approaches in allocating their funds,   highlighting the need to navigate global uncertainties while capitalising on emerging opportunities within the country’s key sectors.

Speaking at the  VNL Capital Economic Roundtable held in Lagos, SEC Regional Director, Lagos John Briggs, cautioned investors to remain aligned with their risk appetite. He warned that unregulated schemes continue to pose serious threats to financial security.  

“Understanding your investment objective and risk appetite is critical. Investors should not be swayed by promises of high returns without considering the associated risks,” he said.

He advised retail investors to focus on relatively simple and professionally managed products such as mutual funds, which help mitigate risks, rather than venturing into complex instruments better suited for institutional investors.

In his opening remarks, Adam Nuhu, Chairman of VNL Capital Asset Management, described the current global environment — marked by inflationary pressures, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain disruptions — as both a challenge and an opportunity.  

He said: “Nigeria’s structural advantages, coupled with ongoing reforms and a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, present investors with unique opportunities for sustainable wealth creation.  

“At VNL Capital, we see ourselves not just as asset managers, but as architects of this moment. Our mission is to transform Nigeria’s structural advantages into sustainable wealth for our clients—individuals, families, institutions, and members of the diaspora who believe in this country as strongly as we do.”

Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, Chief Investment Officer at VNL Capital, projected that Nigeria’s GDP is expected to grow between 3.1 and 3.5 percent in 2026, driven by a recovering oil sector and expanding non-oil industries. He identified financial services, transportation, commodities, and fintech as sectors offering high potential returns. “Volatility should not deter investors; rather, disciplined, research-led strategies will position them for long-term gains,” he added.

Chief Economist of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Professor Joseph Nnanna, in a keynote address, also emphasised that periods of global crisis often provide the best windows for growth. “Businesses and investors must remain agile and forward-looking. Those who pivot strategically during turbulent times stand to gain the most,” he said, highlighting renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and the creative economy as attractive sectors.

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