Cowrywise crosses 1 million stock trades as retail investing grows

Cowrywise, a Nigerian investment fintech, has processed over 1 million stock trades since launching its Stocks product one year ago, as retail investors increasingly turn to digital platforms for Nigerian equities. The company is now offering a curated stocks feature, allowing users to select from carefully chosen companies with analyst ratings of "buy," "sell," or "hold."

This move brings the investment app closer to personalized investment decisions. Retail participation in Nigeria's stock market is growing, driven by younger investors using apps for more frequent equity trades. Cowrywise's Associate Vice President of Product, Yarmirama Ashama, noted a shift in how young Nigerians view investing, emphasizing the need for a simpler and more intuitive way to access the market.

Stock trading on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) has seen a surge, with ₦4.53 trillion ($3.42 billion) traded in the first eight months of 2026, nearly double the ₦2.33 trillion ($1.76 billion) traded in the same period last year. The NGX All-Share Index has gained 56.93% by August 2026, encouraging retail investors to engage with digital platforms.

Startups like Cowrywise and Bamboo are at the forefront of this trend, with Cowrywise's average retail investor age at 28. The Dangote Refinery public offer has provided another outlet for retail demand, with investors able to subscribe for as little as ₦5,250 ($3.96). Cowrywise processes brokerage commissions on retail trades on NGX, and Bamboo recently launched Managed Portfolio, enabling customers to invest in a curated portfolio of US stocks with a minimum investment of $100.