The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE)has unveiled its 2015 NSE Investment Challenge at the Exchange building on 55 Westlands Road. The NSE Investment Challenge is the Exchange’s flagship financial literacy initiative which was launched in April 2008 targeting to teach an investment culture among the youth in universities and other tertiary institutions of higher learning.
At the launch, Geoffrey Odundo, CEO NSE, said: “The Exchange is committed to educating and informing the public on the Capital Markets as this in turn contributes to sustainable economic growth. The investment challenge gives the youth a safe, entertaining and affordable means of learning how to invest in our capital markets.”
“This initiative is aimed at ensuring that we have a future generation that is financial savvy and can make informed choices on their finances, encourage entrepreneurship and innovation all with the goal of driving the economic development and prosperity of this country,” said NIC Bank Group Managing Director John Gachora.
The Exchange is slated to launch various products such as; Derivatives, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), this year. These products will be incorporated on the Investment Challenge electronic platform exposing the participants to them. The NSE is also looking to partner with other African Stock Exchanges such as the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), to profile the companies listed on their Exchange and provide the winners of the Challenge with an opportunity to go for study tours to other bourses.
This year the winners stand a chance to walk away with cash prizes worth Kshs.600,000, contributed by the official sponsor NIC Securities. The winners will receive internship opportunities at the NSE and NIC Securities. The Exchange is currently carrying out countrywide registration in universities and other tertiary institutions; so far 5,263 students have registered for the competition which begins in May 2015.