December is not a DEADLINE
The start of December carries a unique kind of energy: calm, reflective, and a little emotional. It’s the moment many people begin to replay the year in their minds, feeling both proud of how far they’ve come and thinking about what they could have done better.
For many, December feels like a spotlight. Suddenly, you’re looking back at everything you planned in January and wondering where the months went. You start asking yourself if you achieved enough, saved enough, or made the kind of progress you hoped for. It’s a very human feeling, and one most of us experience.
Social media doesn’t make it easier. December is the highlight-reel month, filled with promotions, “well-deserved” vacations, business milestones, and wins. While you may genuinely be happy for others, it’s easy to slip into comparison mode: “We are age mates,” “We started out at the same time.” Suddenly, your own progress doesn’t feel enough.
The financial pressure is real. In the rush to make millions before the year ends, some people fall for quick-money schemes. Add that to the typical December spending: gifting, family obligations, weddings, social events, and the urge to enjoy even when your account is warning you to calm down. You want to show up, and sometimes that leads to overstretching yourself.
But here is the truth: December is not a deadline. It’s not proof of success or failure, just a checkpoint for clarity. You don’t have to fix the entire year in 31 days. You only need to understand what you want to do differently moving forward. And if you need a financial partner that works for you and with you, Vale is your go-to.
As you step into the last month of the year, choose clarity over anxiety. Choose reflection over comparison. Choose one intentional step instead of ten rushed ones. December isn’t the end of your financial story. It’s the moment you decide how the next chapter will begin.
NOW TO THE NEWS
Vale Reminds Users to Join the Millionaire Savings Challenge
At Vale Finance, we are helping users build wealth with intention through the Millionaire Savings Challenge, a goal-based savings Challenge designed to help users hit or exceed the ₦1,000,000 savings milestone with ease and discipline.
Participants can save consistently while earning up to 13% interest per annum on their balance. In addition, users who complete the challenge receive an extra 5% bonus on interest earned, making the journey to one million even more rewarding.
The challenge runs until 30th December and is open to both new and existing Vale app users. Don’t miss the opportunity to save with purpose and become a Millionaire.
Naira Rises to N1,470/$ in Parallel Market, FX Reserves Top $46.7B
The Nigerian Naira showed mixed performance last week, gaining slightly in the parallel market but weakening in the official market. In the unofficial market, the Naira appreciated to N1,470/$ from N1,475/$, while in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), it depreciated to N1,445.9/$ from N1,442/$.
Year-to-date, the Naira has gained about 7 percent against the US dollar, rising from an average of N1,607/$ in early 2025, partially reversing the 41 percent depreciation experienced in 2024. November saw a modest increase of 0.79 percent, with weekly rates ranging between N1,441/$ and N1,472/$.
Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves have risen to $46.7 billion, the highest since 2018 covering more than ten months of imports. This growth has been driven by higher oil revenues, strong balance-of-payments inflows, returning foreign and portfolio investment, and consistent diaspora remittances. These reserves provide strong buffers for the country’s foreign exchange needs and enhance economic stability.
The Central Bank of Nigeria’s interventions, including monetary easing and targeted dollar sales, have helped stabilize the Naira, reduce volatility, and improve liquidity. Combined with positive macroeconomic indicators, the improved FX reserves and ongoing reforms create a supportive environment for businesses and sustainable economic growth.
Nigeria Attracts $20.98B in Foreign Capital in 2025 – Cardoso
Nigeria recorded a significant surge in foreign capital inflows in 2025, receiving $20.98 billion in the first ten months, according to Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso. This represents a 70% increase compared to the total for 2024 ($12.3 billion) and a 428% jump from 2023 ($3.9 billion), reflecting renewed investor confidence in Nigerian assets due to stronger macroeconomic management, FX market reforms, and improved financial system transparency.
The country’s external sector also showed remarkable improvement, with the current account balance rising by over 85% from $2.85 billion in Q1 to $5.28 billion in Q2 2025. Foreign reserves reached $46.7 billion by mid-November, the highest level in nearly seven years, providing more than ten months of import cover and the strongest external buffers in a decade. The reserves were rebuilt organically through better FX market functioning, higher non-oil export earnings, and robust capital inflows rather than borrowing.
Non-oil exports were a key driver of growth, expanding by over 18% year-on-year due to exchange-rate flexibility and increased competitiveness under the market-determined FX regime. Diaspora remittances also strengthened, rising by roughly 12% in 2025, supported by enhanced transparency, settlement efficiency, and improved reporting across the FX ecosystem.
Governor Cardoso emphasized that the CBN will maintain its flexible exchange-rate framework, allowing the Naira to act as a shock absorber while limiting excess volatility. Overall, 2025 has seen Nigeria’s external sector strengthen decisively, bolstering investor confidence, liquidity, and the resilience of the economy.
CSCS Implements T+2 Settlement cycle marking a major shift in Nigeria’s post-trade market operations
The Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS) has officially implemented the T+2 settlement cycle in the Nigerian capital market, effective Friday, 28 November 2025. This marks the transition from the previous T+3 cycle and represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s post-trade infrastructure modernization, aligning the market with global best practices.
Under the new cycle, all trades will now settle two business days after execution, improving operational efficiency, reducing counterparty risk, and enhancing investor access to funds and securities.
The move was announced by the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dr Emomotimi Agama, during a Trade Associations Roundtable in Abuja, highlighting the market’s commitment to readiness for the T+2 framework. CSCS’s Managing Director and CEO, Haruna Jalo-Waziri, emphasized that extensive collaboration, testing, and stakeholder engagement have ensured smooth implementation and positioned Nigeria’s capital market competitively on the global stage.
CSCS worked closely with the SEC, exchanges, custodians, market operators, and trade associations to conduct readiness assessments, industry-wide testing, and participant engagements. Comprehensive implementation procedures and guidelines were provided to all market participants to facilitate seamless adoption and operational clarity. This transition underscores CSCS’s mission to drive innovation and operational excellence in the Nigerian capital market. By adopting T+2, the market strengthens efficiency, liquidity, and investor confidence while reinforcing Nigeria’s alignment with international post-trade standards.
