The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr Emomotimi Agama, has said the Commission’s ongoing reforms are laying the foundation for a deeper, more inclusive and globally competitive capital market, while strengthening investor protection and boosting confidence in Nigeria’s investment environment.
 
Speaking during a capital market webinar organised by Arthur Stevens Asset Management, Agama said a modern regulator must go beyond enforcement to create an enabling environment that supports responsible growth, innovation and investor protection.
 
According to him, the capital market of the future is already taking shape through deliberate reforms introduced by the Commission to improve market efficiency and align Nigeria with global best practices.
 
He said the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2025 has provided the country with one of the most forward-looking legal frameworks for the capital market by bringing digital and virtual assets within the regulatory framework, while the migration to a shorter settlement cycle has positioned Nigeria among the world’s most advanced markets.
 
Agama pointed out that the commission’s adoption of regulatory technology, data-driven supervision and risk-based regulation demonstrates its commitment to building a transparent, efficient and resilient market.
 
He stressed that regulation should not be seen as the responsibility of the regulator alone but as a shared commitment involving capital market operators, issuers, investors, technology providers and policymakers.
 
He said the commission’s vision is to build a capital market that is deep, liquid, inclusive and trusted, where every Nigerian, regardless of location or social status, can invest with confidence while small and medium-scale enterprises have greater access to long-term capital.
 
According to him, achieving that vision requires collaboration among government, regulators, operators, and investors to ensure that the capital market becomes accessible to every Nigerian and serves as a platform for wealth creation.
 
Agama said Nigeria is well positioned to achieve that goal because of its large, youthful and technology-driven population, urging stakeholders to support initiatives that will deepen investor education and increase public participation in the market.
 
He also called on the media to devote greater attention to capital market issues to improve public awareness and encourage more Nigerians to embrace long-term investing.
 
The SEC boss categorically stated that all reforms introduced by the Commission have been carefully designed to achieve the twin objectives of investor protection and market development.