The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr Emomotimi Agama, has called for a coordinated, nationwide effort to deepen financial inclusion by bringing millions of unbanked and investment-excluded Nigerians into the capital market.

Describing this neglected population as ‘untapped economic energy,’ Agama emphasised that broadening participation in investment activities is now a matter of national economic strategy, not just regulatory reform.

Speaking at the second edition of United Capital Asset Management’s flagship Investment Forum in Lagos, Agama delivered a keynote address and participated in a fireside dialogue with the Group Chief Executive Officer of United Capital Plc, Peter Ashade.

The event, themed ‘Advancing Financial Inclusion through Investments: Bridging Nigeria’s Knowledge and Wealth Gap,’ gathered some of the most influential voices in Nigeria’s financial ecosystem, from regulators and asset managers to policymakers, digital media entrepreneurs, and financial literacy advocates.

Agama notes that for Nigeria to truly grow, it must lower the barriers that prevent ordinary citizens, particularly those in the informal sector from accessing the capital market.

He argued that simplifying access to investment channels and empowering individuals with knowledge and confidence is essential to building a more inclusive, resilient economy.

According to him, recent policy reforms, particularly the newly enacted Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025, are designed to foster this inclusion.

The Act introduces measures that enhance market transparency, strengthen investor protections, and widen the pool of participants who can benefit from capital market opportunities.

“We must remove the fear, remove the opacity. In the informal sector, millions of Nigerians must be brought into the investment mainstream. That is how we grow our economy inclusively,” Agama said, urging market operators to rethink how they engage with excluded demographics.

Peter Ashade reaffirmed United Capital’s mission to democratise wealth-building tools and create a platform for broad-based economic participation.

He called for collective action towards deepening capital market patronage, stating that while access to basic financial services has improved in recent years, Nigeria’s capital market participation remains relatively low.

This, he said, represents a missed opportunity to unlock latent economic power across households and communities.

“When we launched the inaugural edition of this forum, our goal was simple: to create a space for meaningful engagement on the role of the capital market in building wealth and driving inclusive economic growth. Today, that goal remains the same but the urgency is even greater,” Ashade said.

He stressed that financial inclusion must go beyond merely opening bank accounts to empower Nigerians to understand, engage with, and benefit from investment opportunities that can shape their long-term economic future.

Ashade also highlighted the growing influence of credible digital platforms and social finance influencers in driving public awareness and investor education.