Caption: From left, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Group, Sunny Anene; Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Dr. Emomotimi Agama; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Asset Management Dr. Odiri Oginni; and Group Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Group, Peter Ashade, during sn Investment forum organised United Capital Asset Management on Wednesday in Lagos.
Dr. Emomotimi Agama, Director-General of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), on Wednesday in Lagos, stressed the need for increased investments that would result in greater financial inclusion for national survival, or face deepening inequality by 2030.
Agama, in his keynote titled: “Advancing Financial Inclusion through Investments: Bridging Nigeria’s Knowledge and Wealth Gap,” at an Investment forum organised on Wednesday in Lagos by the United Capital Asset Management, said closing the financial inclusion gender gap could lift 700,000 Nigerians from poverty.
He noted the need for Nigeria to harness its demographic dividend to boost investment, stressing that the theme of the forum, is not aspirational, but fundamental to national survival.
According to him, “we stand at a pivotal moment. By 2030, Nigeria can either harness its demographic dividend or face deepening inequality. The knowledge-wealth gap is not merely an economic challenge; it is a moral imperative.”
He said the term inclusion should be reframed as active financial involvement, where access meets empowerment, and capital becomes a tool for transformation.
Nigeria, Agama lamented, “has a great population yet we have a tiny drop of this number of persons involved in the capital market.
“That’s one reason for poverty, because we are running from money. We have to do something. Our market capitalisation is an opportunity to do something.
“We need to change the narrative and move the market forward. We must reach out to make the difference. We are committed to protecting investors and developing the market. Our goal is to do the right thing no matter whose ox is gored. We will work by the principles of fairness and equity to change the market. We will provide a fair ground for everyone to aspire,” he stressed.
He noted, for example, that share offering by telecommunications giant- MTN Nigeria, drew a total of 150,000 new investors, 75% of who are women, just as 85% were under 40.
Agama recommended a four-pillar strategy for bridging the gaps, namely: democratisation of financial knowledge, catalysing Micro Small and Medium-scale Enterprises Investment Channels, and blended Finance Vehicles like partnering the Bank of Industry (BOI) to de-risk loans for women-led SMEs.
“We need to educate people about finances. As we drive this market, we do so for a purpose. I enjoin everyone to be the disciple and the apostles. Getting this market to move is a deliberate action” He added.
