By Seun Ibiyemi
The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr Emomotimi Agama, has said that bridging the gender gap in financial inclusion could lift up to 700,000 Nigerians out of poverty by the end of the decade.
Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday at the United Capital Asset Management Investment Forum, Dr Agama said Nigeria must leverage its demographic potential by encouraging inclusive investment practices and deepening financial participation across underserved groups, particularly women.
In his keynote address, titled “Advancing Financial Inclusion through Investments: Bridging Nigeria’s Knowledge and Wealth Gap”, he described the promotion of financial inclusion not as a lofty goal but a critical pillar for national stability and long-term development.
“Our theme, Advancing Financial Inclusion through Investments, is not aspirational; it is foundational to national survival,” Agama said. “We stand at a pivotal moment. By 2030, Nigeria can either tap into its demographic dividend or face deepening inequality. The knowledge-wealth gap is not only an economic issue; it is a moral one.”
He noted that achieving greater financial inclusion requires more than access alone, calling for a shift toward active engagement in the financial system, where capital becomes a tool for genuine empowerment and opportunity is backed by practical capacity.
Agama identified the gender gap as a significant barrier to achieving widespread financial inclusion. He stressed that narrowing this divide could have immediate, measurable impacts on poverty levels across the country.
“Nigeria boasts a vast population, yet only a fraction participates meaningfully in the capital market. This lack of engagement is one of the underlying causes of poverty. Closing the financial gender gap alone could lift 700,000 Nigerians out of poverty,” he said.
He encouraged stakeholders across the public and private sectors to work together in advancing this agenda. “We must take deliberate steps to change the narrative and move this market forward. Our duty at the SEC is to protect investors and strengthen the market. We will carry out this mandate with fairness and integrity, regardless of whose interests are involved. Everyone deserves a level playing field.”
Citing examples of inclusive financial campaigns, Agama referenced MTN Nigeria’s public offer, which brought in 150,000 new investors—75 percent of them women, and 85 percent under the age of 40. This, he said, demonstrates the latent appetite for participation when barriers are removed.
To accelerate inclusion, Agama outlined a four-pronged strategy: expanding access to financial literacy; creating viable investment avenues for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); introducing blended finance instruments; and working with institutions such as the Bank of Industry (BOI) to de-risk funding for women-led businesses.
“We must educate people about finance. As we advance this market, our efforts must be intentional. I call on everyone here to become champions of this cause. Moving the market requires purposeful, collective action,” he said.