The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring women across various sectors—traders, entrepreneurs, professionals, and investors—gain equitable access to financial services and investment opportunities.
Speaking at the She’s Included Gender Inclusion Conference and Summit 2025, themed “Breaking Barriers, Building Resilience for Sustainable Economic and Financial Inclusion,” SEC’s Executive Commissioner for Corporate Services, Mrs. Samiya Usman, emphasized the Commission’s role in fostering a financial ecosystem that actively empowers women.
“As Nigeria’s apex capital market regulator, we recognize that financial inclusion is key to national development. A financially empowered woman builds an empowered household, which is the foundation of a prosperous economy,” Usman said.
She highlighted SEC’s ongoing efforts, including policy advocacy, regulatory frameworks, and partnerships aimed at driving women-focused financial products and services. She cited initiatives such as United Capital’s Women Wealth for Women Fund and innovative financial products in the commodities market that enhance women’s participation in agribusiness.
SEC has also intensified investor education efforts through webinars and financial literacy programs targeting market women, SMEs, and women-led businesses. However, Usman acknowledged existing barriers, including cultural limitations, financial literacy gaps, and limited access to credit, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
Calling for collective action, she urged stakeholders to collaborate in dismantling these obstacles and pledged SEC’s commitment to expanding financial inclusion policies, encouraging market operators to develop tailored products, and supporting women-led businesses in accessing capital market financing.
“We are dedicated to building a capital market that serves all segments of society, ensuring no one is left behind in the quest for economic empowerment,” Usman added
