The Nigerian Exchange Group has expanded access to its NGX Invest platform with the introduction of a WhatsApp subscription channel, allowing investors to participate in eligible public offers through the messaging platform.
The new channel allows investors to begin the subscription process through WhatsApp without downloading a separate application, according to the NGX.
Investors can start the process by sending “Invest” to the official NGX Invest WhatsApp number and following the prompts to view eligible offers and complete the required subscription steps. Applicants will still be required to select a stockbroker through whom their applications will be processed.
The development comes as the NGX increases the number of digital channels through which investors can access primary-market opportunities. The Exchange said the WhatsApp integration would provide issuers with another channel to reach potential investors.
The WhatsApp service is being added to the wider distribution network of NGX Invest, which connects issuers and investors through more than 100 channels, including stockbrokers, banks, fintech companies, mobile operators and other financial institutions through application programming interface connectivity.
According to the Exchange, NGX Invest has facilitated more than 23 primary-market transactions since its launch in 2024 and supported more than N3tn in capital raising. The platform provides access to public offers, rights issues and initial public offerings.
The latest move could change how some retail investors access investment opportunities in Nigeria’s capital market, particularly as digital channels become more common in financial services. For issuers, the additional channel provides another route to reach potential investors.
However, the NGX stressed that the existing regulatory and security requirements for investment transactions would remain in place. While WhatsApp serves as the interface, subscriptions are processed through the regulated NGX Invest infrastructure.
The Exchange advised investors to use only the official NGX Invest WhatsApp channel and warned them against sharing sensitive information such as passwords, PINs and one-time passwords with third parties.
The introduction of WhatsApp access forms part of NGX Group’s efforts to use digital channels to increase access to Nigeria’s capital market while maintaining the existing procedures required for public offers and other primary-market transactions.