The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) has launched an Academy to deliver structured professional training for capital market operators, investors and the general public.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Muhammad Nami, explained that the establishment of the CIS Academy was coming at a time Nigeria’s economy is facing challenges, and required the right policy interventions.
He noted that the CIS Academy would be the frontier of knowledge, skills, and competence needed at this cruel time to cope with the increasing digital revolution and competitiveness in the business landscape saying the Academy would improve the performance of the Nigerian economy.
According to him, it is expected that the CIS Academy will set and maintain high standards, for capacity building, not only for practitioners in the Investment and Securities Market in Nigeria but for all workforces in the financial service sector.
In his goodwill message, the Director-Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Lamido Yuguda, who was represented by a Director, in the Lagos Zonal office of the Commission, Mrs. Hafsat Rufai commended the management of CIS for establishing the Academy.
According to him, since its establishment in 1990, CIS has been an important contributor to the development of the Nigerian capital market with giant strides in building and maintaining its pride of place, providing trainings and certifications for Securities and Investment professionals in the market and the financial services sector.
“Today’s event yet marks another important milestone in the Institute’s drive to re-position itself to more effectively and efficiently meet the knowledge and competences needs of the current and old-age finance professionals, including members and non-members of the Institute. It is my sincere hope and desire that upgrading the training and continuing professional development function of the Institute to a full-fledged Academy status will serve to significantly add scale and robustness to the scope of training provided by the institute”, said Yuguda.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President and Chairman of CIS, Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe, said the Academy was expected to run a professional training programmes in Finance, Securities and Investment, Business and Management and Marketing, among other areas.
According to him, it will promote synergy among Capital market operators and the Academia to deepen Securities and Investment knowledge and provide well-structured training that forms the essential building blocks for personal and organizational development.
“In providing these services, CIS Academy will partner with prestigious universities, institutes and specialized training centres locally and internationally, to produce well-trained and competent manpower needed, not only in the capital market, but in the economy”, Amolegbe said.
The General Manager, CIS Academy, Mr Chukwudi Nga, said the Academy’s brand promise was to provide result-oriented training and quality courses at competitive prices.
“The Academy shall provide top-notch performance-improvement solutions systematically tailored to suit unique needs. We shall deliver learning solutions that will empower employees and organisations, even government parastatals and ministries to achieve excellent performance. Our goal is to transit online completely, as soon as possible, through our Learning Management System. We shall deploy innovative technology in our operations through our transformational work force and resourceful teamwork. We shall bring the industry to meet with academics”, said Nga.
The Chairman, Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr Sam Onukwue who commended the Institute for the initiatives said: “The inauguration of this Academy could not have come at a better time, given the noticeable emergence of specialized platforms, innovative products and the attendant need to upskill and develop requisite capacities for efficient service delivery. With this upgrade of the Institute’s training department to an Academy, we are confident that the Institute will not only meet the training needs of certified professionals in the market but the entire staff of our member firms.”
The President, Association of Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, Professor Uche Uwaleke, spoke extensively on “The Role of Academics in National Development: A case for CIS Academy “. Uwaleke highlighted the need for CIS Academy thus: “In addition to implementing the CIS’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Policy, the Academy is expected to develop up-to-date training programmes for financial market professionals. This will keep them informed on the developments relevant to their work. It will enable them to champion financial markets’ literacy revolution through cutting-edge educational programmes for a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including provision of bespoke research services.The new initiative shall provide technical support for teaching of capital market subjects in secondary schools and tertiary institutions”.
The inauguration also attracted goodwill messages from top class professionals in the financial market, including the President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr Bayo Olugbemi, the President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mrs Comfort Eyitayo, the President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mr Adesina Adedayo and the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Mountain Top University, Professor John Akinyomi, among others.
