The stock market holds great promise for building wealth, however. Investing without an appropriate understanding of the stock market is not investing but gambling. 

To protect you from wasting your money in the stock market all in the name of investing, we spoke to an experienced professional in the stock market.

In an insightful conservation with a seasoned market investor, who has over  30 years of experience in weathering the booms and busts of the stock market, Adebayo Adeleke, general manager, Lancelot Venture, we delved into the essential dos and don’ts of investing.

He highlighted that there are two major factors a potential investor must consider before investing in any company – Internal factors and external factors.

1. Internal Factors: 

These are factors within the control of an investor. The Internal Factors are broken down below:

• Define your investment goals: An investor must first define the intended goal to be achieved from the investment. Is it a long-term or short-term investment? Investment is just like building a house; the person needs to first define the type of house he wants to build. Is it a bungalow or a story building?

• Ability to manage emotions: An investor must be able to manage his or her own emotions and not allow the market noise to control his or her actions or let his or her emotions control his or her investment plans.

• Be disciplined and focused:  An investor who is not disciplined will listen to the market noise, and this will lead to confusion, which can affect the investor’s decision.

Speaking on the internal factors an investor need to ensure before investing, Adebayo Adeleke, Managing Director, Lancelot Venture, said:

“You don’t listen to the noise of the market. If there is an investor who is not focused, who is not disciplined, he will begin to listen to the noise of the market instead of facing the trade that he has come to do in the market.

“They listen to one news and take action, and after some time, they regret it. So, the investor is the first to work on himself before he begins to think of external reasons or external factors relating to investments.”

• Research and understand the industry before investing: To be able to decide which stock or company to invest in, the investor needs to understand the industry the company belongs to, how and when it makes money, how the company has been performing, and if the  revenue is increasing. Stay within your circle of competence.

2. External Factors:

Under external factors, the investor needs to look at metrics beyond his control and understand how they contribute to the success of the investment. External factors include:

• Understanding the Company Management: An investor needs to understand the people managing the business he wants to invest in, from the Board of Directors to the Managing Director. Understand their background and how successful they have performed in their previous endeavors.

3. Where to find information on Public Listed Companies

All publicly listed companies quoted on the stock exchange publish their quarterly results every three months and their yearly reports at the end of the year on the Nigerian exchange website.

Anyone could download these documents and read them, especially investors; the reports provide comprehensive information on each company and also provide opportunities to compare the company’s performance with the previous year, making decision-making easier.

Investing in the stock market requires educating oneself and research, and should not be treated as a gamble. However, investment decisions depend largely on individual investment goals; for instance, the type of stocks a person nearing retirement will invest in might be different from that of someone maybe in his 20s or 30s.

Therefore, an individual must understand his personal needs and define what he wants so that when he gets to the market, he won’t be lured by the noise in the market.

The event marked a significant milestone for Vesti, showcasing the company’s commitment to growth and excellence in the Nigerian market.

The grand opening ceremony commenced with a press conference moderated by Salma Ibra, Founder of Business Week Afrika.

The panel included Vesti’s co-founder and CEO, Olusola Amusan, co-founder and COO, Abimbola Amusan, and early investor Major (Rtd.) Adebayo Adeleke.

During the interactive press conference, Olusola Amusan, co-founder and CEO emphasized Vesti’s role as a “Software Engineering Location of Choice” and its dedication to nurturing and developing top talent.

He highlighted the company’s internal training programs, employee satisfaction surveys, and success stories as evidence of its commitment to employee development.

He also announced Vesti’s ambitious plans to create over 600 engineering jobs in Lagos over the next two years and 1,500 new engineering jobs in the state by 2027.

“At Vesti, these audacious and bold statements have been instrumental in driving the exponential achievement towards our mission to simplify immigration processes,” he added.

In the same vein, Abimbola Amusan, co-founder and COO, focused on Vesti’s global impact, emphasizing how the company’s products and services empower Africans to connect with the global market.

With a dedicated team of attorneys in three different countries, he shared success stories of clients who have benefited from Vesti’s offerings.

These included a Nigerian entrepreneur who expanded their business to the United States with the help of Vesti’s immigration services, and a student who secured funding for their studies abroad through Vesti’s financial services.

He also outlined the company’s plans for further expansion, including launching new products and services and expanding its operations to additional countries in Africa, Asia, and North America.

Also speaking during the press conference, Major (Rtd.) Adebayo Adeleke, one of Vesti’s early investors, expressed his confidence in Vesti’s growth potential.

He cited the company’s recent cash-positive status in H1 2024, partnerships, and expansion plans across Africa as indicators of its strong trajectory.

He emphasized the positive impact Vesti is having on the Nigerian economy, including attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), fostering innovation, and creating jobs.

He also mentioned the company’s preparations for future funding rounds and a possible IPO, which excites investors.

Following the press conference, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to officially unveil the new office facility. Dr. Olakunle Soriyan, a futurist and social impact investor, commissioned the facility, dubbing it the Center of Excellence in Software Engineering and Financial Technology.

Adeleke commended Vesti for its contribution to the relentless pursuit of innovation, collaboration, and the boundless potential of the human spirit.

He highlighted the company’s role in fostering a thriving tech ecosystem and attracting talented individuals to Lagos, Nigeria.

Guests were taken on a tour of the state-of-the-art facility, designed to provide a collaborative and inspiring work environment for Vesti’s employees.

The office features meeting rooms named after renowned global cities, collaborative workspaces, a lounge area, cafeteria, swimming pool, and gym.

The day’s activities concluded with an exclusive investor parley. This intimate gathering provided investors with an opportunity to gain deeper insights into Vesti’s future plans, engage in focused discussions with the leadership team, and network with other key stakeholders.

Other dignitaries at the event included Pst. Ayo Daniels, Mr. Sinari Daranijo, Olawale Ayilara, Dr. Fola David, Seyi Awolowo, Joel Ogunsola, Venita Akpofure, and strategic investors like Midlothian Angel Network, Microtraction, ODBA, Resilience17, amongst others.

More about Vesti

Founded by two brothers who immigrated to the United States, the company is backed by both Africa and US-based investors and boasts of a thriving community of dreamers who represent the next generation of builders.

Vesti’s AI-powered copilot, Miai, is a key component of its ‘Future of Innovation Program’, providing personalized support and guidance to immigrants throughout their migration journey. Through a set of tailored payment products, Vesti delivers hassle-free migration pathways and financial services to immigrants moving to the United States and other top destinations in North America and Europe.

Vesti’s vision is to be the go-to legal and financial services platform for the next 1 billion immigrants.

The company is on a mission to be the preferred platform for immigrants before they emigrate, providing information, community and ultimately a smooth transition to immigrants.