The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission Nigeria, Emomotimi Agama, has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders in Nigeria’s financial system to unlock the full potential of the country’s capital market.
He made the appeal during his keynote address at the Emerging Africa Capital Limited Investor Summit & Awards, themed “Deploying and Mobilizing Capital and Investment Strategies in a Shifting Global Economy.”
Agama noted that recent regulatory reforms by the SEC are beginning to yield positive results, but stressed that a coordinated effort among regulators, issuers, and investors is essential to position Nigeria as a leading global investment destination.
He explained that despite global macroeconomic uncertainties, Nigeria’s capital market continues to show resilience, supported by reforms such as electronic offerings, bond market deepening, expansion of alternative investment channels, and adoption of sustainable finance principles.
However, he acknowledged that the market’s full potential remains untapped, pointing out that market capitalisation relative to GDP is still below peer economies, retail participation remains low, and the derivatives market is still in its early stages.
Agama urged domestic companies to treat the capital market as a primary source of growth financing, emphasising improved governance, stronger disclosure practices, and better investor relations.
“The market rewards quality, and the companies that invest in quality today will access capital on terms that compound their competitive advantage,” he said.
He also encouraged institutional investors, including pension fund administrators and insurance firms, to deepen participation in domestic capital market instruments and strengthen their analytical capacity across asset classes.
Foreign investors and development finance institutions, he added, can continue to rely on Nigeria’s commitment to a transparent, principles-based regulatory environment aligned with international standards.
Agama further called for enhanced collaboration among key regulatory bodies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, Debt Management Office Nigeria, National Insurance Commission, and Pension Commission Nigeria, stressing the need for policy harmonisation and a unified investor-friendly approach.
He described capital deployment as central to economic development, noting that successful economies are built on strong institutions that channel resources efficiently toward productive use.
“Nigeria stands at an inflection point,” he said, warning that decisions made in the next few years will determine whether the country fully benefits from current global economic shifts or misses out on key opportunities.
