The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has initiated a comprehensive technology adoption assessment for registered capital market operators (CMOs) as part of its ongoing efforts to modernise the Nigerian capital market.

The move underscores the regulator’s commitment to ensuring that market players are equipped to leverage advanced technologies for improved efficiency, transparency, and resilience.

The commission announced that it had designed a technology adoption survey to evaluate the extent to which CMOs are integrating modern digital tools into their operations.

The exercise, which runs from May 5 to May 20, 2025, aims to provide critical insights into the readiness of market participants to embrace cutting-edge solutions that can enhance the overall functioning of the capital market. egistered CMOs are required to complete the survey by logging into the SEC’s e-portal using their current access credentials.

The SEC emphasised the importance of this initiative, noting that technology is reshaping the financial landscape globally, and the Nigerian market must adapt to remain competitive.

Director-general of the SEC, Dr Emomotimi Agama has been a strong advocate for technological innovation in the capital market. He highlighted the commission’s three-pronged regulatory approach to managing market innovation: ensuring safety, deepening market activities, and providing effective solutions to emerging challenges. According to Agama, this approach has been instrumental in creating a more efficient and reliable capital market ecosystem.

He also stated that the SEC had introduced a Regulatory Incubation Programme to support the growth of FinTech businesses within the market.

The initiative allows innovative companies to operate within a controlled regulatory environment for up to one year while the Commission develops tailored rules to address their specific technological models.

This approach is designed to strike a balance between encouraging innovation and maintaining investor protection and market stability. “As the financial landscape continues to evolve with the emergence of new technologies, the SEC remains committed to adapting its regulatory framework to support these advancements while safeguarding market integrity,” Agama said.

He also stated that the commission’s forward-looking stance is aimed at building a dynamic, technology-driven capital market that can effectively serve the needs of investors and businesses alike.