Tomie Balogun is demystifying investing for working professionals through her platform, books, and investment club.
Tomie Balogun didn’t set out to become one of Nigeria’s trusted voices in investment education. Like many young professionals, her journey began with confusion, risk, and a few painful financial mistakes. She had done all the “right things,” studied Economics at the University of Ibadan, earned an MBA from Lagos Business School, and built a solid corporate strategy and consulting career.
However, the rules of investing weren’t clear. She lost money, trusted the wrong advice, and realised that even the most competent professionals had little idea what to do with their cash beyond saving it.
That realisation sparked a turning point for Balogun. Then, she began building.
Building an investment club
In 2014, the economist joined forces with four close friends to establish an investment club. They had a straightforward idea to pool their resources, learn, and invest more effectively together. What began as five friends gathering over spreadsheets transformed into a 45-member club investing in agriculture, real estate, and technology.
Soon, she noticed a trend—many working professionals like her wished to invest but lacked the knowledge. They didn’t trust the market or grasp the terminology, often falling for get-rich-quick schemes that led to disappointment. Then, she resolved to create a larger platform to assist individuals like her in gaining confidence and clarity in investing.
This discovery translated to the Green Investment Club (TGI Club), a Nigeria-based investment club that grew from 35 to over 2,000 members across 38 countries by 2022. By that same year, the club had co-invested an estimated $25 million in sectors such as real estate, agriculture, marketing, and venture capital, creating at least 1,000 jobs and delivering strong returns.
By 2019, she had co-founded Twelve, a digital financial services company that provided access to alternative investment opportunities in SMEs and capital markets.
Through digital tools, webinars, online courses, and her flagship Investment Club Masterclass, Tomie Balogun has built an ecosystem that simplifies investing into straightforward, local, and actionable lessons. She emphasises practical application over theory, incorporating case studies, data-backed frameworks, and her own stories of failure and success. Through TGIC and her digital platforms, she has also educated millennials across Africa on financial literacy and investment.
Tomie Balogun has authored two books: “The Rich Investment Club” and “Investment Clubs: How Working Professionals Are Building Wealth Together.” Both have become essential reads for Nigerians interested in collaborative investing and financial freedom.
Today, Tomie Balogun is a mentor, a storyteller, and a bridge between knowledge and action. She has been featured in local news channels and continues speaking on stages about the importance of financial literacy and investment inclusion.
