The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has urged stockbrokers to uphold the highest level of professionalism and ethical conduct at all times to ensure a fair and transparent market.
Director General of SEC, Emomotimi Agama, made the call at the weekend during the 29th annual conference of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers in Abuja.
He said investors must have full confidence that the intermediaries managing their wealth are guided by the highest standards of honesty and competence.
“The regulators will continue to emphasise that professionalism and ethical conduct are non-negotiable… investors must have full confidence that the intermediaries who manage their wealth are guided by the highest standards of honesty and competence.
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“Together, the SEC and the CIS [Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers] must continue to strengthen ethics education, continuous professional development, and disciplinary frameworks to ensure that the market remains a place of trust,” Agama said.
Emphasising the theme of the conference, ‘Capital Markets in a Digital, Ethical, Sustainable Era: Pathways for Economic Transformation,’ he believes that it speaks directly to the global transition where technology drives innovation, where ethics anchor trust, and where sustainability defines the future of finance.
“These three dimensions—digitalisation, ethics, and sustainability—are not separate pillars; they form the foundation of a modern, inclusive, and resilient capital markets.
“Across the world, capital markets are being reshaped by technological innovation,” Agama said.
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He noted that the digital era has introduced new possibilities—from online trading platforms and digital assets to data analytics, blockchain, and artificial intelligence.
“These innovations are changing how we raise capital, how we invest, and how we supervise,” he pointed out.
According to the SEC boss, the commission has embraced digital transformation as an opportunity to enhance efficiency, transparency, and investor protection.
He stressed that ongoing efforts to strengthen market surveillance systems, automate regulatory processes, and introduce risk-based supervision frameworks are all aimed at positioning the Nigerian capital market for the realities of a digital economy.
“We are also actively engaging with stakeholders: including the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers [CIS], to deepen digital literacy and capacity-building across the market. As technology evolves, so must our skills, our ethics, and our shared commitment to fairness and professionalism.
“No amount of innovation can replace the foundational importance of ethics. A truly transformative capital market must be built on integrity, transparency, and accountability,” Agama maintained.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X
