In line with its commitment to fostering a robust and comprehensive capital market education, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has inaugurated a committee to review the curriculum already approved by the National Universities Commission on Securities and Investment Management for Nigerian Universities and other tertiary institutions.
The committee which has Uche Uwaleke, foremost professor of Capital Market Studies at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, as Chairman is expected to make more robust and up-to-date with the inclusion of Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence and advanced crypto among others in the curriculum hereby aligning it with current global trends.
Members of the committee include: Prof Augustine Agom of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Prof Seth Akutson, Kaduna State University; Prof Chuke Nwude, University of Nigeria Nsukka; and Dr Akeem Oyewole of Marble Capital Limited.
Others are: Prof Oladele John Akinyomi, Mountain Top University; Mrs Ojone Kabir, Head of Market Development Department of SEC; Dr Hassan H. Suleiman, and Head of Economic Research and Intelligence, SEC; while Mrs Jessica Ogwuche of the Financial Inclusion and Investor Education Department of the SEC will serve as the committee Secretary.
Speaking at the event, Director-General of the commission, Dr. Emomotimi Agama said the initiative which has been ongoing remains a priority to the Commission as part of its efforts to equip future professionals with relevant capital market knowledge and skills.
“Due to new development in fintech, cyber security, Artificial Intelligence and others, there is a need to expand the curriculum to accommodate the new trends. It is an important time and we want to latch in to be able to teach Nigerians, especially the young people about the capital market. In the light of this, the Commission has set up a Committee to review and enrich the existing curriculum to reflect these advancements.”
He lamented the situation where “people do not have a full grasp of capital market issues, we must do everything to share knowledge and educate people. We want to be the best Capital market among nations and that can only be possible due to the superiority of our knowledge. You are well placed to do this being in the Ivory Towers and I thank you for accepting to serve as we look forward to a robust discussion.”
Specifically, Agama listed the terms of Reference of the committee to include: “Review the NUC curriculum on Securities and Investment Management to include Non-Interest Capital Market (NICM); the Commodities Ecosystem; Financial Derivatives Market; Sustainable Finance, and Capital Market Regulations; Expand the “Introduction to Cryptocurrency” Section of the NUC curriculum to reflect current developments.; and Develop a standard Capital Market Studies curriculum to be a d o p t e d by Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions.”
Responding on behalf of the committee members, Prof Uwaleke expressed appreciation to the Commission, recognising part the committee’s “challenge is because our retail investor base is shallow in relation to our population and one way to change the narrative is through capital market literacy. We as lecturers can attest to the fact that capital market literacy within the academic environment is low and I think tackling that is one low hanging fruit.
“I am aware that the DG and others have been trying to increase the level of awareness with various programmes like quiz, essays, investor clinics and others, but for us to make more impact, we need to focus on tertiary institutions and that is why I think what we are doing is very crucial” he stated.
Uwaleke pledged that the committee members will add value given their track record, saying that the objectives and Terms of Reference of the Committee would be achieved.
