What is the difference between direct ownership and a fund or ETF?

In a fund or ETF you own units in a pool of assets, not the underlying shares themselves. With direct share ownership you hold actual shares in specific companies, registered in your name.

How does Shares Saver register my shares in my name?

Shares Saver coordinates your purchases through regulated stockbroker partners who execute trades on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX). The resulting shares are then registered directly in your name with the appropriate registrar.

What proof of ownership do I receive?

You receive ownership documentation via your Shares Saver account. Your shareholding is recorded with the relevant broker and registrar in your name.

What happens to my shares if Shares Saver closes?

Because your shares are registered in your own name and held through regulated brokers, they remain yours. You can access and manage them through your broker directly.

What is CSCS and how does it relate to share ownership in Nigeria?

The Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) is Nigeria's official central depository for equities. When shares are purchased on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), settlement and registration are processed through CSCS. Your shares are recorded in CSCS under your name, providing an authoritative legal record of your ownership.

What is a CHN number and do I need one?

A Central Holding Number (CHN) is a unique investor identification number issued by CSCS. It links all your Nigerian equity holdings to your identity across different brokers and registrars. Shares Saver coordinates the CHN registration process as part of onboarding so that your shares are correctly registered in your name.

How long does it take to register shares in my name in Nigeria?

Standard settlement on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) follows a T+1 cycle, meaning trades settle one business day after execution. Registration in your name through CSCS follows the settlement process.

Is direct share ownership in Nigeria regulated?

Yes. The framework for direct share ownership in Nigeria is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC Nigeria) and the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX). Stockbrokers who execute trades must be licensed by SEC Nigeria. CSCS, which registers and holds securities, operates under regulatory oversight.

Can I transfer my shares from another platform to my own name?

If your shares are currently held in a nominee or pooled arrangement, transferring them to direct registration in your own name is typically possible through a formal transfer process involving your current platform and a licensed stockbroker. Contact Shares Saver for guidance on your specific situation.

Do I receive dividends with direct share ownership in Nigeria?

Yes. As a registered shareholder, you are entitled to dividends declared by the company in which you hold shares. Dividends are paid to shareholders recorded on the register at the dividend record date.

What is the difference between a nominee account and direct registration?

In a nominee arrangement, a third party holds the shares in their name on your behalf. You have a contractual claim but are not the registered owner. With direct registration, your own name appears on the share register and in CSCS — making you the legally recognised owner without dependence on any intermediary maintaining that status.

The strongest protection is ownership

Your shares. Your name.

Shares Saver registers every NGX-listed share you buy in your own legal name with the registrar and the CSCS. Here is what that means and how it works.

How Shares Saver works

Registered in your name

The registrar records you as the holder — not a Shares Saver nominee account and not a pooled fund.

Trades executed by licensed brokers

We are not a stockbroker. Every purchase is placed on the NGX by an SEC-licensed broker partner.

Money held separately

Contributions sit in a client account until they buy shares. They are never working capital.

What direct share ownership means

When you buy through Shares Saver, the shares are registered in your legal name with the company’s registrar and at the CSCS. You are the shareholder of record — not a platform, not a nominee, not a fund.

How direct registration works in Nigeria

Open a free account and complete identity verification.
Pick a company and a monthly amount from ₦10,000.
A regulated broker buys on the NGX at the next market open.
The trade settles at T+1 and your CSCS account is credited under your CHN.
The registrar records your name on the company’s shareholder register.
You receive dividends and notices directly, as a registered shareholder.

Benefits of owning shares directly

Your ownership exists independently of Shares Saver.
Dividends, AGM notices and rights issues come to you.
Ownership evidence — CSCS statements and registrar records — in your name.
Built for long-term holding, not short-term trading.

What Shares Saver doesCollects contributions, instructs brokers, tracks your holdings, produces your documents

What the regulated broker doesPlaces the order on the NGX, settles the trade, files the transfer with the registrar

What nobody doesTell you which shares to buy. We are not investment advisers and we don’t take a view

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Questions

Questions answered

Direct share ownership means the shares you buy are registered in your own legal name on the share register, not held in a collective fund or on your behalf by a nominee company.

Educational information only — not investment, legal or tax advice. Share values can fall as well as rise. All securities transactions are carried out through SEC-regulated stockbrokers.