By Abubakar Yunusa
The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dr Emomotimi Agama, has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders in Nigeria’s financial system to unlock the full potential of the investment space.
Agama made the appeal during his keynote address at the Emerging Africa Capital Limited Investor Summit and Awards, where he stressed the need for a collective push to sustain ongoing reforms in the capital market.
He noted that recent regulatory measures introduced by the commission were already yielding results, but warned that a unified approach was critical to position Nigeria as a leading global investment destination.
The SEC boss observed that despite global macroeconomic uncertainties, Nigeria remained an attractive long-term investment hub, even as some countries continued to draw investors seeking quick returns.
According to him, the nation’s capital market has shown resilience, with reforms such as electronic offerings, expansion of the bond market and alternative investment platforms boosting investor confidence.
He added that the commission’s alignment with sustainable finance principles had further strengthened market evolution and renewed interest from both domestic and foreign investors.
Agama, however, admitted that the market’s full potential had yet to be realised, citing low market capitalisation relative to GDP, weak retail investor participation and a still-developing derivatives segment.
He emphasised that the growth of the capital market required shared responsibility among regulators, investors and operators.
“The market cannot be built by one group alone. Its strength lies in stakeholders playing their roles with integrity, competence and long-term focus,” he said.
Agama urged corporate organisations to adopt the capital market as a primary source of financing by improving governance standards and enhancing transparency.
“The market rewards quality, and companies that invest in quality today will access capital on favourable terms that strengthen their competitiveness,” he stated.
He also advised pension fund administrators and insurance firms to increase their participation in domestic investment instruments and build stronger analytical capacity.
Addressing foreign investors, Agama assured that Nigeria remained open to investments, noting that the SEC was committed to maintaining a transparent and globally aligned regulatory environment.
He further called for deeper collaboration among key financial regulators, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, Debt Management Office, National Insurance Commission and the National Pension Commission, to ensure policy coherence.
Agama warned that decisions taken within the next few years would determine whether Nigeria fully harnesses emerging global opportunities or misses them.
“Nigeria stands at an inflection point. The choices we make now will shape our economic future,” he added.
