NUC Sets Up Committee to Accredit CIS Programme

Efforts by the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) to get accreditation for some of its programmes will soon yield the desired results as the National Universities Commission (NUC) has set up a committee on the implementation.

The CIS, led by its second Vice Chairman, Mr. Adedapo Adekoje, had visited the Executive Secretary, NUC, Professor Julius Okojie on the need by NUC to accredit its programme and approve the study of Securities and Investment in the school curriculum.
Okojie had assured the CIS team of necessary support for their programmes and other courses being proposed for inclusion in the school curriculum.

In his address, Adekoje who was accompanied by the institute's Council member, Mr. Oye Oyeniyi and the Registrar and Chief Executive, Mr. Adedeji Ajadi re-affirmed the desire of the institute to work with NUC to achieve the agenda of the Federal Government in the area of capacity building on our universities.

According to him, high quality and competitive programmes should be run in our universities in spite of the tough operating environment and CIS is well-positioned to assist the government realize this vision.

Adekoje specifically solicited the support of the Commission to work with the CIS to get the CIS Professional Diploma in Securities and Investment recognised and accredited for direct entry to Nigerian Universities; and also to introduce Securities and Investment Studies as a course at undergraduate level in Nigeria universities.

This, according to him, was to address the wide knowledge gap among the populace about the Capital Market, and introduce our teeming youths early to the basics of the Market.

Responding, Okojie explained that a visit by the CIS team could not have come at a better time than now when the NUC was putting in extra efforts to ensure that courses and programmes that would help support the growth and development of Nigeria in every facet were developed and promoted in our tertiary institutions.

Okojie also lauded the institute’s efforts at investors’ education, but noted that more work needed to be done by all stakeholders in this direction as most Nigerians did not understand the Capital Market.

He assured the CIS team of the Commission’s support in ensuring that the CIS Professional Diploma Programme was accredited as requested. He also pledged to work with CIS to actualise the dream of introducing Securities and Investment studies at undergraduate level in Nigerian University.

A major breakthrough from the visit was the setting up of a Committee of four by the Commission, to be headed by Professor Chiedu Mafiana, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Commission,

Already, the Committee has been mandated to work with a similar team from the CIS to actualise all the deliverables discussed and agreed upon without delay.