GCPBS Alumni Host Inaugural Executive Workshop on Wealth Creation in Port Harcourt…. Tonte Igbikialabo 

The Alumni Association of the Garden City Premier Business School (GCPBS) has held its inaugural Annual Executive Workshop, bringing together financial experts, policymakers, and professionals to explore strategies for wealth creation through investments in money and capital markets.

The event, themed “Wealth Creation through Investment in Money and Capital Markets,” took place at the Corporate Residence on William Jumbo Street, Port Harcourt. It attracted a distinguished audience, including alumni of the institution, officials from the Securities and Exchange Commission, leaders in financial markets, the Head of Service of Rivers State, and other seasoned professionals.

In her opening remarks, the Chairman of GCPBS Alumni, Her Excellency Dr. Mrs. Mina Tele Ikuru, welcomed participants and urged them to maximize the opportunity to gain valuable financial knowledge. She emphasized the importance of continuous learning and informed investment decisions in today’s dynamic economic environment.

Also speaking, the Head of Service, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi Brown, encouraged participants to embrace smart investment strategies. According to her, “the wealthiest individuals are not those who work the hardest, but those who make their money work the smartest.” Her remarks set the tone for discussions centered on financial intelligence and sustainable wealth building.

Key Investment Insights

Participants at the workshop were exposed to practical strategies for navigating the financial markets. Experts highlighted the importance of:

* Making investments that offer liquidity

* Exploring commercial papers issued by large corporations such as Honeywell and Dangote

* Leveraging money market instruments, including bank deposits

* Understanding market timing—knowing when to buy, hold, or exit shares

* Utilizing compounding as a tool for long-term wealth growth

The concept of SWOOT (Stocks Worth Over One Trillion) was also discussed, with notable companies such as FirstBank, UBA, GTCO, Access Bank, and Zenith Bank identified as key players in the Nigerian stock market.

Avoiding Investment Pitfalls

Speakers cautioned against common mistakes made by investors, particularly:

* Holding excessive cash without investing, thereby losing value to inflation

* Falling victim to Ponzi schemes, often characterized by unrealistic returns, vague explanations, and lack of regulatory backing

* Failing to diversify investments, which increases financial risk

Panel Discussion and Expert Contributions

A panel session anchored by Prof. John Ohaka featured experts including Barr. Bernard Ibe and Figbene Briggs, who spoke on the topic “Monitoring Your Investment.”

Financial expert Uche Uwaleke (FCMA) provided further insights, emphasizing the need to track market capitalization and price indices. He summarized his investment strategy using the acronym DHL—Diversify, Hedge, and Long-term planning. He also stressed the importance of continuous market monitoring to determine the right time to buy, hold, or sell assets.

Awards and Recognitions

The event also featured goodwill messages from sponsors and the presentation of awards to notable individuals and organizations for their contributions to economic development and professional excellence.

Among the awardees were:

* Oida Energy Limited

* Xenergi Limited

– Aslan Resources Ltd

* Her Excellency Dr. Mrs. Mina Tele Ikuru

Special recognition awards were presented to:

* Prof. Silver Opuala-Charles, President/Chairman of GCPBS

* Dr. Mrs. Ingi Brown, Head of Service, Rivers State

Closing Summary

The workshop concluded with a comprehensive summary delivered by Prof. Adline Ben-Chioma, who highlighted the key lessons from the sessions and reiterated the importance of informed investment decisions in achieving financial stability and growth.

The inaugural workshop marks a significant step by the GCPBS Alumni in fostering financial literacy and empowering professionals with the tools needed to build sustainable wealth in Nigeria’s evolving economic landscape.

In the closing ESV Okputu gave the vote of thanks and appreciated the organizers, guest speakers, respective sponsors, and members of the alumni.