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NextFrontier Africa is a media platform spotlighting Africa’s emerging opportunities in technology, tourism, aviation, agriculture, health, logistics, real estate, trade, education, and e-commerce.

June 28.2025

2 Minutes Read

How Clunky Investment Apps Drive Retail Investors to Riskier Choices

A screen displaying financial statistics and trade indicators, representing clunky investment apps.

The Pressure of Poor Usability on Retail Investors

Nigeria has witnessed significant growth in retail investment, with individual investors surpassing institutional ones for the first time in Q1 2024. This uptick signals a burgeoning interest in wealth creation among everyday consumers; however, this enthusiasm is quickly stifled by clunky investment apps. A recent report by Check reveals that around 80% of retail investment platforms don’t meet global usability standards. Slow and confusing design pushes novice investors towards risky alternatives like Ponzi schemes, where staggering losses have been reported—₦90 billion lost in the past two years alone.

Market Trends and User Demand

Despite a retail trading volume surge from ₦618.79 billion in 2020 to ₦2.31 trillion in 2024, active participation in capital markets remains grim. With less than 500,000 out of 3 million registered investors actively trading, traditional platforms are losing ground to user-friendly apps like PiggyVest and various crypto solutions, which dominate with millions of active users. This trend highlights a critical takeaway for investment platforms: failing to adapt leads to losing potential investors to riskier and less reputable options.

Recommended Path Forward

Building a solid platform for emerging investors necessitates a focus on user experience. Enhanced investment in mobile-first experiences that prioritize speed, simplicity, and user education will not only retain users but also empower them in their investment journeys. The capacity for growth exists, but it hinges on the ability of investment platforms to foster trust and streamline usability. As Lanre Wright from Check suggests, market leaders of the future will be those who rise to meet these needs.

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How Clunky Investment Apps Drive Retail Investors to Riskier Choices

The Pressure of Poor Usability on Retail Investors

Market Trends and User Demand

Recommended Path Forward

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