As Nigeria marked its 65th Independence Anniversary, the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, has called on citizens to embrace the capital market as a pathway to personal and national financial independence.
In a goodwill message titled “Forging a New Legacy of Financial Independence”, Agama said true independence extends beyond political sovereignty to include financial security for every Nigerian. He described the capital market as a “public square of prosperity” where citizens can convert savings into investments that fuel enterprise growth and national development.
Highlighting reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the guidance of Finance Minister Wale Edun, the SEC boss listed initiatives such as dematerialization of shares, retail investor expansion, new asset classes, FinTech collaborations, and faster securities processing. He added that financial literacy campaigns, stronger corporate governance, and a clampdown on Ponzi schemes were also reshaping the market.
“These are the building blocks of a financial democracy,” Agama said, noting that Nigerians across all walks of life can now have a stake in the economy. He urged citizens to adopt long-term investment habits, describing participation in the capital market as both a patriotic duty and a path to sustainable wealth.
“As we celebrate 65 years of nationhood, the growth of our economy must mirror the growth of our citizens’ financial independence,” he said.
