By Christopher Nnanta InvestAdvocate

Lagos (INVESTADVOCATE)-Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group has advised the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) to ensure that 20 percent (20%) of the Asset Under Management (AUM) of Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) is invested in the Nigerian Capital Market (NCM).

This was contained in a Statement Friday by Wole Tokede, Senoiur Manager, Media Relations/Corporate Communications of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and made available to www.investadvocateng.com in Lagos Nigeria.

Dangote gave this advice on Wednesday in a keynote address at the maiden investors’ clinic organised by NSE in conjunction with Morgan Stanley in Lagos Nigeria.

The Chairman of the Dangote Group affirmed that doing this would assist in deepening the Market and encourage it to rebound. “Any country that does not have a robust Capital Market will have a weak economy” he said.

According to him, many of the Companies that came to the Market to raise money in time past were not properly screened by the Regulators; which caused many investors to lose their investments.

“Revolution is taking place at NSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as enforcement of regulations in the Market is now robust” he said.

Dangote appealed to investors to forget the past and come back and invest in the Market. “This is the right time to buy shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. All the bad habits of the past have been cleared out. The Market is save now to invest in.  If you don’t invest in your Market where else will you invest?” he said.

On his part, Oscar Onyema, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigeria’s Exchange said that all hands must be on deck to move the Market forward. “You cannot say it’s the NSE’s Market, because, you invested in it. Begin to see the Market as yours and say positive things about it and you will see it responding positively”, he advised

The NSE CEO also advised investors to ensure that they engage in asset allocation and diversification of their portfolio. “Within an asset class you have to diversify your investment and to always remember your investment objectives” Onyema said.

In the same vein, Max Mesny, Morgan Stanley Investment Banking, said despite the short-term challenges, they believe Nigeria is one of the most promising growth Markets regionally and globally.

“The Nigerian Stock Exchange has already initiated and, we understand, is developing measures, whether on new tradable instruments, new services to Issuers and investors, new technology solutions for Market participants, or new best-in-class Market rules in close cooperation with its Regulators, with a view to providing growth opportunities domestically and transforming it into one of the most vibrant Capital Markets regionally” Mesny said.