EKSU Financial Markets Programme: Pioneer Cohort Set to Graduate in 2026
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- The pioneer cohort of Ekiti State University's (EKSU) professional diploma program in Securities Trading and Financial Markets will graduate by the end of 2026.
- The eight-month program combines classroom instruction with practical trading simulations and exposure to financial markets.
- The initiative aims to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and the practical skills required in the financial industry, with a model that could be replicated in other Nigerian universities.
The pioneer cohort of Ekiti State University's (EKSU) professional diploma program in Securities Trading and Financial Markets is on track to graduate by the end of 2026. This marks a significant step in the institution's commitment to equipping students with practical skills essential for careers in the dynamic financial markets.
We combined theoretical instruction with practical simulations so students gain a full, hands-on understanding of risk management, investment strategies, and live trading in global markets.
The eight-month EKSU Financial Markets Training Programme (E-FMTP), approved by the university senate on February 25, 2026, integrates classroom learning with hands-on trading simulations and direct exposure to financial markets. Professor Oke Michael Ojo from the Department of Finance highlighted the program's role in bridging the gap between academic theory and the practical demands of the financial industry.
A large percentage of recent graduates seeking finance roles lack the critical, practical skills demanded by modern capital markets.
The program is anchored by the EKSU trading room, a modern facility established through the vision of Chancellor Dr. Tunji Olowolafe and supported by the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation (TOF). This facility is designed to provide students with practical experience in risk management, investment strategies, and trading within global financial markets. "We combined theoretical instruction with practical simulations so students gain a full, hands-on understanding of risk management, investment strategies, and live trading in global markets," Ojo stated.
By providing students with access to a fully accredited diploma programme, live simulated dealing rooms, and global virtual work experiences, we are not just giving them a degree; we are instilling a professional instinct.
This initiative aligns with the increasing global emphasis on financial literacy and investment education as crucial tools for economic strengthening. The Chancellor noted that the program was conceived to address a significant deficit in practical skills among recent graduates seeking finance roles. E-FMTP aims to shift higher education from a predominantly theoretical focus to practical, real-time execution by offering students simulated dealing rooms and global virtual work experiences. Bomo Anthony, General Manager of TOF, observed the students' growth from learning about financial instruments to actively placing trades, signifying the transition from classroom exercise to career preparation.
I’ve watched these students grow, week by week, from learning about shares and bonds to actually placing a trade. That’s the moment it stops being a classroom exercise and starts being a career.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by ThisDay. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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