The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria, Emomotimi Agama, has urged stronger collaboration among stakeholders in Nigeria’s financial system to unlock the full potential of the capital market and drive sustainable economic growth.
Speaking at an investor summit organized by Emerging Africa Capital Limited, Agama noted that recent regulatory reforms by SEC are already yielding positive outcomes. However, he stressed that collective action is essential to position Nigeria as a competitive global investment destination.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by global economic uncertainties but maintained that Nigeria offers strong long-term investment opportunities despite other markets attracting short-term capital. According to him, the country’s capital market has shown resilience, supported by reforms such as electronic offerings, bond market expansion, alternative investment platforms, and a growing focus on sustainable finance.
Despite this progress, Agama pointed out that the market’s full potential remains untapped. Key gaps include low market capitalization relative to GDP, limited retail investor participation, and an underdeveloped derivatives market.
To address these issues, he called on:
- Corporate issuers to improve governance, transparency, and investor relations to attract funding.
- Institutional investors, including pension and insurance firms, to increase participation and strengthen investment capacity.
- Regulators such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, Debt Management Office Nigeria, National Insurance Commission Nigeria, and National Pension Commission Nigeria to enhance policy coordination and present a unified, investor-friendly framework.
Agama also reassured foreign investors that Nigeria remains open to investment, with the SEC committed to maintaining transparent, globally aligned regulations.
He concluded by emphasizing that Nigeria is at a critical economic turning point, where decisions made in the coming years will determine whether the country fully harnesses emerging global opportunities or misses them.
