NIGERIA @ 66: THE GUARDIAN’S SPECIAL FOCUS ON REPUTABLE FUND MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANIES, BUILDING WEALTH AND RESILIENCE AMID ECONOMIC CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA

INVESTMENT ONE DEEPENS DIGITAL INVESTMENT ACCESS, WEALTH CREATION FOR NIGERIANS.
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‎Investment One Financial Services Limited is expanding access to digital investment opportunities and wealth-creation tools for Nigerians navigating economic volatility, rising inflation and mounting living costs. In an interview with The Guardian, the company outlined how its diversified investment solutions, digital platforms and financial literacy initiatives are helping individuals build and preserve wealth. Excerpts:

Nigeria’s economy has experienced significant volatility in recent years. How has Investment One Financial Services Limited adapted its strategy to help individuals and businesses build wealth and remain financially resilient amid these challenges? Nigeria’s economy continues to present opportunities for investors who adopt the right
strategy. At Investment One, our focus is on helping clients build resilient portfolios through diversification across fixed income securities, real estate, wealth management solutions, and capital market instruments. By spreading investments across different asset classes, clients are better positioned to manage market cycles,
as when one market is down, another would be performing well. For businesses, we provide tailored treasury and advisory services that support liquidity management and long-term growth. Our goal is to help individuals and businesses remain financially resilient while taking advantage of emerging opportunities.

Financial inclusion remains a critical driver of economic growth. What innovative
products, digital solutions, or initiatives has Investment One Financial Services Limited introduced to expand access to financial services for underserved Nigerians? One innovation we are particularly proud of is “*5678#”, Nigeria’s first investment USSD platform, which allows Nigerians to invest directly in the stock market and in fixed income instruments from their mobile phones without requiring internet connectivity. This solution has helped remove barriers to investing and expanded access to wealth-building opportunities to underserved populations. We enhance customer access through our digital platforms, including the Investment One Easy Invest web platform (easyinvest.investment-one.com) and the Investment One Mobile App, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. These platforms provide seamless access to our full range of investment products and services, enabling users to invest in wealth-building opportunities with few clicks. Customers can invest in equities, treasury bills in both the primary and secondary markets, and a wide range of fixed-income securities, all through a simple and convenient digital experience.

Lastly, through our Investment Academy, we offer free financial literacy resources and training programmes designed to empower individuals with the knowledge needed to make informed financial decisions. This initiative supports our commitment to expanding financial inclusion and bringing more Nigerians into the formal financial
ecosystem.

In an era of inflation, exchange rate fluctuations, and rising living costs, what practical advice would you give Nigerians seeking to protect and grow their wealth? Our advice is simple: don’t leave your money idle. In a high-inflation environment, it is important to invest rather than just save. Diversification is key, spread investments
across different asset classes. Stay disciplined, think long-term, and seek professional Public guidance where necessary. Financial planning has never been more important than
it is today. Technology is rapidly reshaping the financial services industry.

How is Investment

One Financial Services Limited leveraging digital transformation, artificial intelligence, data analytics, or automation to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency? Investment One is leveraging digital transformation through a mobile and web investment platform that serves thousands of users, supported by data analytics and automation. We have completed an AI readiness assessment, which resulted in a
three-phase roadmap to drive future innovation and operational efficiency. Our goal is to make investing simple, accessible, and convenient for customers, wherever they are in the world. We continue to enhance our digital platforms, leverage data analytics to better understand customer needs, and use automation to improve turnaround times and service delivery.

Trust is the foundation of every financial institution. What measures has your company implemented to strengthen governance, transparency, cybersecurity, and customer confidence in an increasingly digital environment?
Trust is the foundation of our business. Investment One has implemented strong governance frameworks, robust risk management processes, and industry-leading cybersecurity measures. Demonstrating our commitment to global best practices, we successfully underwent a rigorous recertification and transition audit, to become the first company in Africa to achieve the ISO 27001:2022 certification for our Information Security Management System (ISMS), certified by BSI. We originally obtained the prestigious ISO 27001:2013 certification in 2020, also certified by BSI. Additionally, we conduct bi-annual audit reviews of our ISMS, ensuring continuous compliance with
international security standards while reinforcing our dedication to protecting data and maintaining operational excellence. These measures strengthen customer confidence by ensuring the highest standards of security, transparency, and accountability.

As Nigeria celebrates 66 years of nationhood, what role do you believe the financial services sector must play in supporting economic recovery, job creation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable national development? We must continue to channel capital to productive sectors, support entrepreneurship, deepen financial inclusion, and provide access to funding for businesses. By doing so, we help create jobs, stimulate innovation, and contribute to sustainable national development.

Competition within the financial services industry continues to intensify. What differentiates your organization, and how have innovation and customer-centricity
contributed to your growth and market leadership? Two out of our three core values are service excellence and innovation, and they are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to delivering exceptional value to our clients through a combination of deep market expertise, innovative solutions, and a customer-first approach.

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One notable innovation is our Virtual Investment Simulator (VIS), which was launched in 2012. VIS is a simulated stock trading program that reproduces features of the live stock market so that users can practice trading stocks without risking their money. It allows users to try out various investment strategies that involve high risks in a real market situation, without committing actual cash, thereby building their confidence in investing. By enabling users to gain hands-on experience and better understand investment concepts, the platform helps demystify investing, encourages broader market participation, and delivers a seamless customer experience. Combined with our personalised approach to wealth management and market insight, our commitment to innovation has helped us to build strong client relationships and maintain a competitive edge.

Looking ahead, what is your outlook for Nigeria’s financial services industry over the next five years, and what strategic priorities will define your organization’s contribution to building a more financially resilient Nigeria? We remain optimistic about the long-term prospects of Nigeria’s financial services industry. The continued adoption of digital technologies, expansion of financial inclusion initiatives, growing investor awareness, and ongoing regulatory reforms present significant opportunities for sustainable growth.For Investment One, our priorities will remain focused on innovation, customer experience, investment education, and expanding access to wealth-building
opportunities. We want to continue playing a meaningful role in helping Nigerians build financial resilience and long-term prosperity.