The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is calling on all Nigerians to use the capital market to achieve personal and national financial independence. In an Independence Day address, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, SEC Director-General, emphasised that true freedom goes beyond political sovereignty and must include financial freedom for every citizen.
Agama stated that the capital market is being actively repositioned to be a “public square of prosperity for all Nigerians,” not just a place for the privileged few.
How the SEC is Making the Market More Accessible:
The SEC is implementing several reforms to increase participation and investor confidence:
- Simplifying Access: Dematerialisation of shares (removing physical certificates) to make investing easier.
- Encouraging Retail Investors: Introducing inclusion-focused policies and collaborating with FinTech companies.
- Fighting Scams: Sustaining campaigns against Ponzi schemes, especially in light of the rising threat of AI-driven scams that use manipulated videos to target investors.
Dr. Agama called these efforts the “building blocks of a financial democracy,” arguing that investing in shares makes citizens part-owners of Nigerian companies, while buying bonds helps fund national infrastructure. He encouraged Nigerians to adopt financial literacy and develop consistent, long-term investment habits to build sustainable wealth and support the country’s economic transformation.
