Emomotimi Agama, Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has said a new generation of young investors using fintech platforms is driving rapid growth in Nigeria’s capital market.
Speaking on Moneyline with Nancy, Agama said increasing adoption of digital investment applications has sparked fresh interest in equities and other capital market products, particularly among younger Nigerians.
According to him, the SEC is conducting a nationwide investor survey and will release fresh data on retail participation before the end of 2026 to provide a clearer picture of changing investment trends.
Agama noted that while official survey results are still being compiled, there is clear evidence that retail participation is expanding. “There is a new wave and a new interest in the Nigerian capital market, and that we must sustain,” he said.
He attributed the momentum to ongoing regulatory reforms, stronger investor protection measures, and government support aimed at deepening the market.
The SEC boss highlighted the market’s strong performance, noting that the Nigerian Exchange All-Share Index has crossed the 250,000-point mark, its highest level on record.
He said market capitalisation has surged to about N161 trillion, compared to N55 trillion when the current SEC leadership assumed office, representing nearly a threefold increase.
Market depth has also improved significantly, with the capitalisation-to-GDP ratio rising from 13 per cent to more than 33 per cent.
Agama added that the Commission has issued over 130 advisories warning investors against Ponzi schemes as part of efforts to strengthen investor education and market integrity.
According to Agama, fintech innovation is making investment opportunities more accessible to ordinary Nigerians.
He revealed that more than 30 investment applications are now actively operating in the market, helping to increase transaction volumes and attract younger participants.
While overall retail participation remains relatively low compared to Nigeria’s population of more than 220 million people, he said the narrative is changing rapidly. “The old story that not many Nigerians invest in the market is changing,” Agama said.
The SEC DG also highlighted recent improvements in market infrastructure, particularly the transition to a T+1 settlement cycle.
Under the new framework, investors receive proceeds from securities transactions one business day after a trade is executed, improving liquidity and enabling faster reinvestment.
The transition follows Nigeria’s gradual migration from T+5 to T+3, then T+2, before achieving T+1 settlement in 2026.
Agama said the shorter settlement cycle aligns Nigeria’s capital market with global best practices and is expected to strengthen investor confidence.
