SEC DG urges Stakeholders to embrace sustainable finance, risk management
The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, has issued a compelling call for Nigeria’s capital market stakeholders to embrace drastic steps toward sustainable finance and enhanced risk management to maintain global competitiveness.
Speaking at the 2025 Annual Conference of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) in Abuja, Dr. Agama described the global integration of sustainability as an imperative that is fundamentally “redefining investment decisions, corporate governance and risk management.”
He stressed that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations are no longer optional but are actively shaping responsible investment and capital allocation across the world.
In response to this global shift, Dr. Agama highlighted SEC’s proactive measures to align the Nigerian market with international sustainability benchmarks.
“The Commission has taken bold steps to align our market with global sustainability standards,” he stated. These initiatives include the adoption of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) framework, the successful implementation of the Green Bond Programme, and strategic collaborations with development partners.
According to the DG, these efforts are laying the essential groundwork for a financial system that can effectively support Nigeria’s transition to a low-carbon, inclusive economy.
Dr. Agama explicitly tasked stockbrokers and other market operators with a critical role in this transformation.
He urged them to actively promote sustainable investment products, advise issuing companies on mandatory ESG disclosures, and guide investors towards assets that are deemed responsible.
The SEC DG underscored the shared vision between the SEC and the CIS to construct a capital market that efficiently mobilises savings for productive investment, facilitates job creation, and drives national economic diversification.
He acknowledged that the existing partnership between the two bodies, covering areas such as professional certification, investor education, financial literacy, and policy advocacy, continues to yield positive results. However, he insisted that “we must do even more.”
The ultimate goal, Dr. Agama noted, is to elevate the capital market to the central engine of Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda a market capable of financing crucial infrastructure projects, empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), supporting green and digital enterprises, and making a meaningful contribution to the realisation of the government’s ambitious text{N}1 trillion economy target.
Commending the market operators for their continued resilience and professionalism amidst challenging conditions, Dr. Agama concluded with a forceful demand for forward movement.
“With the world changing fast, the Nigerian capital market must not only keep pace but lead by example,” he said, urging a recommitment to “innovation that empowers, ethics that endure, and sustainability that delivers long-term prosperity for all.” He said.