The Last 100 Meters: Making Q4 Count
The ember months are here, and with them comes the familiar feeling that the year is quickly slipping away. It’s almost as if time moves faster when the calendar begins its final countdown. For many people, Q4 comes with a mix of anticipation, festivities, and end-of-year reflections. But it is also a reminder that time is moving quickly and the goals we set at the beginning of the year are approaching their final deadline.
Financially, this quarter carries more weight than most people realize. It is the defining moment that determines whether your goals for the year will be met, exceeded, or carried forward. Think of Q4 as the last 100 meters in a marathon: how you run this stretch can make all the difference in how you finish. The effort you put into this quarter has the power to shape not just how you close out 2025 but also how you position yourself for the year ahead.
If you’ve been consistent with your financial habits of saving, budgeting, and investing, this is the time to solidify them and avoid unnecessary risks that might derail your progress. On the other hand, if you’ve struggled or slipped off track during the year, Q4 offers the opportunity to reset. It’s never too late to make meaningful progress. Three months may feel short, but with discipline and intentionality, they are more than enough to achieve measurable results.
The ember months tend to pass by more quickly. Before you realize it, the year is ending, and a new one is just around the corner. This makes now the best moment to evaluate and take deliberate action. Assess where you stand, what goals you’ve hit, which ones still need attention, and what adjustments you can make to ensure you’re not scrambling when the year comes to a close.
Q4 is not just about wrapping up; it’s also about preparing for what’s ahead. The way you handle your money in these months sets the tone for how you step into the new year. Will you start on a solid foundation, with savings intact and goals carried forward with momentum? Or will you find yourself spending the entire next year trying to make up for the progress that could have been achieved now? All of this depends on the decisions you make between now and December.
So, as you step into this last quarter, approach it with both urgency and intention. Don’t let 2025 slip away without putting a strong financial seal on your goals. Whether you focus on sticking to your budget, boosting your savings, or finally committing to that investment plan you’ve been postponing, the steps you take in the next three months will be far more impactful than any resolutions you might set in January. Even if the year hasn’t gone exactly as you imagined, there’s still time to end it on a note of progress and control. Use this time wisely.
NOW TO THE NEWS
Vale Reminds Users to Join the Detty December Challenge
At Vale Finance, we are helping users save smarter while preparing for the festive season through our Detty December Challenge. This goal-based savings initiative is designed to make setting aside money for holiday expenses both fun and rewarding.
Participants can save specifically for festive needs such as gifts, travel, parties, and celebrations while earning up to 13% interest per annum on their savings. In addition, users receive an extra 5% bonus on interest earned, giving them even more value for their money.
The challenge runs until 15 December and is open to both new and existing Vale app users. Don’t miss the opportunity to save with purpose and enjoy a financially stress-free festive season.
Naira Gains Against US Dollar Amid Rising Remittances and Investor Inflows
The Nigerian naira strengthened slightly against the US dollar on Friday, rising to N1,545/$ in the parallel market from N1,552/$ the previous day. On the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), the naira appreciated to N1,531/$ from N1,533/$, gaining 0.14% against the dollar by the end of the month.
The improvement in the naira was supported by increased foreign exchange inflows, including higher diaspora remittances and foreign portfolio investments (FPIs). Nigeria’s external reserves grew by $1.72 billion to $41.3 billion, giving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) more capacity to support the currency.
CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso reported that diaspora remittances rose by 200% to $600 million over the last two months, while offshore investor inflows increased from $1.5 billion in June to $1.7 billion. He noted that improved remittance channels and stronger exchange rates are reducing Nigeria’s reliance on oil earnings and diversifying the country’s foreign exchange portfolio.
Nigeria, Brazil Hold Talks to Strengthen Economic and Financial Ties
Nigeria and Brazil have opened discussions to strengthen economic and financial cooperation, focusing on payment systems, fintech, and mobile money expansion.
The talks were held in Brasília between CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso and his Brazilian counterpart, Gabriel Galípolo, during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil. The engagement was part of a broader working visit by the CBN team to the Banco Central do Brasil, including technical meetings on monetary policy, financial stability, and regulatory cooperation.
Cardoso described the meetings as an opportunity to enhance institutional collaboration and share expertise between the two central banks. He highlighted the potential for knowledge exchange in digital finance, noting lessons from Brazil’s financial inclusion initiatives and insights from Nigeria’s fintech sector. He also pointed to Brazil’s Afro-Brazilian community as a key factor in expanding remittance flows and strengthening financial linkages between the countries.
Galípolo welcomed the initiative, expressing Brazil’s readiness to broaden collaboration with Nigeria. He noted that closer ties would help both economies strengthen financial stability and advance shared prosperity.
Nigerian Diaspora Remittances Hit $600 Million Monthly – Cardoso
Nigeria’s diaspora remittances have surged by 200 percent, rising from about $200 million to $600 million per month over the past two months. The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, revealed this while speaking at the Delta State-Brazil Business and Investment Roundtable in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Cardoso noted that the increase in remittances is significantly boosting Nigeria’s foreign exchange profile. He emphasized that strengthened exchange rates and improved remittance channels mean Nigerians abroad no longer need alternative routes to send money home.
The rising diaspora flows are helping to diversify Nigeria’s foreign exchange portfolio and reduce the country’s overdependence on oil revenues. Cardoso projected that monthly remittances could reach at least $1 billion by next year, further supporting the competitiveness of Nigeria’s exchange rate and the stability of its FX market.
