₦airaland Forum

Mankind2024:
From Lockdown Despair to US Stock Success: How the COVID-19 Crisis Sparked My Journey to a $200K+ Portfolio

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria's nationwide lockdown marked one of the most turbulent periods in the country's history. The future felt uncertain, and tomorrow seemed bleak.

This challenging time coincided with a severe market meltdown. The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) was deep in the red, portfolios were bleeding value, and the federal government introduced "Ways and Means" financing—essentially printing money and borrowing without asset backing.

These events pushed me to diversify beyond local markets and explore opportunities abroad.

One fateful day in 2020, while browsing the "US Stocks Pick Alert" thread on Nairaland, I discovered a foreign broker that allowed qualified Nigerians to register. I signed up successfully, though at the time, I had little idea which stocks suited me best. Day trading and chasing "hot stocks" dominated the scene.

In the beginning, it was mistake after mistake: dabbling in penny stocks, battling emotional volatility, and falling prey to greed.

Then, in 2023, I paused for reflection and committed to staying within my circle of competence. I began studying the "Magnificent 7" stocks and their profound impact on the global economy. I started carefully selecting investments in the dynamic US market.

Today, those efforts are paying off handsomely in US dollar terms. As of the close of business yesterday, my portfolio—started as a seed for my three beautiful children—stands at $203,424, with unrealized gains of $61,463.

May God continue to bless us all in the new year and beyond.

If you decide to liquidity this investment 100%.How many percent of the total amount will come to u after all deduction. I mean get back to you in nigeria

Thank you for the comment, bro.
No one builds lasting wealth purely on luck—it's vision, discipline, patience, and backing solid businesses that grow over time.

Look at Tony Elumelu, Pa Emma, Mr Nosa, Madam Mercy—these investors didn't become billionaires by accident. They identified opportunities, invested strategically, and held through challenges to compound value. I didn't "get lucky" catching some pump; I bought in 2021 because I believed in the company's fundamentals: iconic assets like Transcorp Hilton, strong recovery potential post-pandemic, and capable leadership driving real growth.

Fast forward: Transcorp Hotels has delivered 60% revenue growth in H1 2025, 49% in Q3, with profits surging accordingly—backed by operational efficiency, higher occupancy, and new initiatives. Market cap around N1.75 trillion? That's tiny compared to Microsoft or Apple (each over $3 trillion USD)—not even close. And while valuations can be debated (high P/B, yes, due to premium branding and growth expectations), the numbers show real earnings expansion, not just hype.

I'm not misleading anyone—I'm sharing my boring, long-hold approach to inspire new investors to think marathon, not sprint. Zombies? Nah, discerning folks understand compounding and grit win in the end.
Enjoy your Christmas too, and stay winning! 🎄🚀

sboga:
dey play...u gat lucky...d stock is one of d most manipulated toks in dis market

d valuation is higher than even microsoft apple put together...

kontinue to mislead peeps sha...dem no kno wetin p/e be or wetin EPS be...wetin b ratio analysys...na zombies plenty....

you got lucky you got caught in between tony pumping dat compnay...enjoy mellyxmas

100% commission free.
Minus swift fee by local bank.

Streetinvestor2:
If you decide to liquidity this investment 100%.How many percent of the total amount will come to u after all deduction. I mean get back to you in nigeria

N3+ div, 1 for 5 bonus issue.
NFA/DYOR

Sunrisepebble:
Buy Vitafoam if you can. NFA

VFD GROUP Directors brought from the market big time!

crownprince2017:
I guessed vfd buttered your bread today.

My most profitable session per hour:

Comes out to N612k in 2 hours.
That's $211 per hour after tax

equivalent to over $300 per hour gross.

ositadima1:
You be Baba, haaaa! ₦300k to ₦17 million no be here oooo. You too much. Happy Xmas.

this is how ELLAHLAKES will look like in few years time

I also shattered my 2% margin ceiling.

Net margin for the session was 3.67%

awesomeJ:
I also shattered my 2% margin ceiling.

Net margin for the session was 3.67%

What stock gave you this ROI

Sunrisepebble:
N3+ div, 1 for 5 bonus issue.
NFA/DYOR

You be great man.

stokfrick:
What stock gave you this ROI

It wasn't a stock.
It was the market.

I trade the broad market.

About 0.1% of all trades.

awesomeJ:
My most profitable session per hour:

Comes out to N612k in 2 hours.
That's $211 per hour after tax

equivalent to over $300 per hour gross.

Omo you dey trade with 16Billions
When you are big you are large

awesomeJ:
It wasn't a stock.
It was the market.

I trade the broad market.

About 0.1% of all trades.

So you trade every stock? Because I’m not aware of the ASI being traded.

Mankind2024:
Thank you for the comment, bro.
No one builds lasting wealth purely on luck—it's vision, discipline, patience, and backing solid businesses that grow over time.

Look at Tony Elumelu, Pa Emma, Mr Nosa, Madam Mercy—these investors didn't become billionaires by accident. They identified opportunities, invested strategically, and held through challenges to compound value. I didn't "get lucky" catching some pump; I bought in 2021 because I believed in the company's fundamentals: iconic assets like Transcorp Hilton, strong recovery potential post-pandemic, and capable leadership driving real growth.

Fast forward: Transcorp Hotels has delivered 60% revenue growth in H1 2025, 49% in Q3, with profits surging accordingly—backed by operational efficiency, higher occupancy, and new initiatives. Market cap around N1.75 trillion? That's tiny compared to Microsoft or Apple (each over $3 trillion USD)—not even close. And while valuations can be debated (high P/B, yes, due to premium branding and growth expectations), the numbers show real earnings expansion, not just hype.

I'm not misleading anyone—I'm sharing my boring, long-hold approach to inspire new investors to think marathon, not sprint. Zombies? Nah, discerning folks understand compounding and grit win in the end.
Enjoy your Christmas too, and stay winning! 🎄🚀

You don comot Agba for your NSEMPA billionaire list
Na Nosa replace me bayi. What God cannot do does not exist

Agbalowomeri:
Omo you dey trade with 16Billions
When you are big you are large

I don’t even understand this system. It must be very complex, I don’t see how a ₦16 million turnover translates to 0.1% of the market.

Agbalowomeri:
Omo you dey trade with 16Billions
When you are big you are large

By November 2026 when you exit your fixed deposit, I should have exceeded 10% of your portfolio size, despite the fact that you probably started while I was still in college 😁

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pBpnHLh7Zo

A summary of today's trading session on the NGX.

Princkez:
this is how ELLAHLAKES will look like in few years time

LWkD...that aso brother

awesomeJ:
My most profitable session per hour:

Comes out to N612k in 2 hours.
That's $211 per hour after tax

equivalent to over $300 per hour gross.

At what point do u withdraw profit. And what happens the day u make loss too.
That means ur daily trading is bases on TA tool u use.I am wondering how u decide what u buy in a day and equally sell.
Let say transcorp hotel if you sold today and made gain what happens if you don't ever see it on the price u sold to buy again. And now happens to buy it higher. Will you still consider the first transaction a gain

Streetinvestor2:
At what point do u withdraw profit. And what happens the day u make loss too

If e float him money fund, you need to invest ooo. Na our fellow NSEMPA be that ooo, e don show plenty evidence say money dey come out.

awesomeJ:
By November 2026 when you exit your fixed deposit, I should have exceeded 10% of your portfolio size, despite the fact that you probably started while I was still in college 😁

As long as you no make the kind of losses that I made in my journey

Haha, my big brother, sharp as ever! 😄
No mind me o, I no comot any Agba from the list—na just say I dey highlight people wey plenty folks sabi their story well: Tony Elumelu wey build empire with vision and grit, Pa Emma wey turn small beginnings to billions through decades of disciplined moves, and Mr. Nosa wey quietly compound wealth over time, Madam Mercy wey shabi cherry picking of stocks and silently surpassed the billion naira portfolio.
I no mention you because you too dey sentimental about the market, calling compounding stocks "manipulation" everywhere. 😂
Me, I no believe say true wealth come from lottery or accidental pump—na patience, research, and holding quality assets through storm. Those ones I mention no dey attribute their billions to "I just lucky," and that's the energy I dey celebrate.

But you know say respect dey—your own story still inspire plenty people, and space dey for everybody wey dey win legitimately.

Keep soaring, Agba NSEMPA! What God no fit do no dey exist. 🎉🚀
Merry Christmas, champ! 🎄

Agbalowomeri:
You don comot Agba for your NSEMPA billionaire list
Na Nosa replace me bayi. What God cannot do does not exist

UNIBENDON:
I think you're biased in your statement. What was First Bank dividend when compared to Access bank? For 2024 full year I think First bank paid about 60 Kobo while Access bank paid more than ₦2. I think Access bank has rewarded minority shareholders than First bank. I believe you are interested in the increase in stock price.

U are looking at dividend for last Yr.And I hold the two stock. If I ever see access at #30.I won't hesitate to sell the remaining I have.FBN is just coming out of bad management that wanted to use bad debt to kill the bank.Acces is a continuation of bad management from the last ceo in the name of African unending expansion with no value to shareholders..

Mankind2024:
100% commission free.
Minus swift fee by local bank.

No cgt or any kind of tax

Agbalowomeri:
As long as you no make the kind of losses that I made in my journey

I won't na.
Since I'm not following in your footsteps 😁

Streetinvestor2:
At what point do u withdraw profit. And what happens the day u make loss too.
That means ur daily trading is bases on TA tool u use.I am wondering how u decide what u buy in a day and equally sell.
Let say transcorp hotel if you sold today and made gain what happens if you don't ever see it on the price u sold to buy again. And now happens to buy it higher. Will you still consider the first transaction a gain

When I need money na.
Like today I sent in a withdrawal request for 200k, when I saw the market was better than I expected, I changed it to 500k, but my brokers only heard go, they didn't hear come again.

They only processed the 200k.


What do I buy, what do I sell? That's for me to know.

Losses are absorbed by more profits.

Only a few days are red. Less than 5% of days.

I can't remember the last time I had a red week.

The longer the time frame the less the probability of a loss.

@streetinvestor2

awesomeJ:
Losses are absorbed by more profits.

Only a few days are red. Less than 5% of days.

I can't remember the last time I had a red week.

The longer the time frame the less the probability of a loss.

@streetinvestor2

Did you subscribe to the expensive NGX api, or how do you feed data to your tool?

NSEstudent:
Did you subscribe to the expensive NGX api, or how do you feed data to your tool?

No.

I input manually.

For context, at that start of this year, all I had was N2m in my portfolio whereas at the same time I owed N7m to banks and friends.

I basically had -N5m net.

I had to borrow at up to 156% annualized cos for me, I must trade in every market session, even if I have to borrow expensive money trade.


So while it's been a good year, it wasn't a year in which I could have afforded to pay for expensive APIs.

awesomeJ:
When I need money na.
Like today I sent in a withdrawal request for 200k, when I saw the market was better than I expected, I changed it to 500k, but my brokers only heard go, they didn't hear come again.

They only processed the 200k.


What do I buy, what do I sell? That's for me to know.

OK I forgot u are using your own fund and not stockbroker fund or margin facility. So your broker is exempted from any kind of risk.

Streetinvestor2:
OK I forgot u are using your own fund and not stockbroker fund or margin facility. So your broker is exempted from any kind of risk.

The broker willing to give margin facility insists on 1% brokerage fees.

Let them keep their margin facility if I have to be paying extra N1.5m in trading fees per month.