The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, has projected that digital assets could represent a $10 trillion global opportunity by 2030, urging African and Middle Eastern markets to aggressively embrace innovation while instituting safeguards to manage associated risks.
“With our young, tech-savvy populations, Africa and the Middle East must lead — not follow,” Agama said. He stressed that the region, through the Africa/Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC) of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), will work to establish clear regulations for stablecoins, develop frameworks for tokenized securities, set investor protection standards for crypto assets, and balance innovation with stability to ensure dynamic and secure markets.
Agama’s remarks followed his election as Vice Chairman of AMERC, a position that also secures him a seat on the IOSCO Board—the highest decision-making body of the global securities regulatory organization—until 2026.
IOSCO is widely recognized as the world’s leading policy forum for securities regulators, with members overseeing more than 95 percent of global securities markets across over 100 jurisdictions. Agama said the region’s leadership in digital finance would depend on swift regulatory clarity and the ability to harness technological innovation for inclusive growth.
