The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has unveiled an ambitious push to anchor Nigeria’s capital market on data, artificial intelligence and technology-driven regulation, saying the shift is critical to attracting domestic and foreign investment.
The Director-General of SEC, Emomotimi Agama, disclosed this on Wednesday at the FSDH Investor Conference 2026 in Lagos, where he outlined sweeping reforms aimed at repositioning the market for what he described as the era of intelligent investing.
Agama said the future of investing would depend more on the quality of data and intelligence available to investors than on the amount of capital they control.
According to him, the era of “intelligent investing” has already begun, powered by artificial intelligence, real-time analytics, distributed ledger technology and algorithmic systems that are changing how investments are priced, allocated and protected globally.
“We are at the threshold of what scholars and practitioners are calling the era of intelligent investing — a paradigm in which data does not merely inform decisions, but actively participates in them,” he said.
The SEC boss said the commission has embarked on what he described as the most comprehensive regulatory reform agenda in its history, designed to keep Nigeria competitive in the fast-changing global investment landscape.
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He explained that the reforms are targeted at building a forward-looking market structure capable of supporting intelligent investing through faster settlement systems, tokenised securities and deeper derivatives markets.
Agama said the commission’s seven-pillar capital market infrastructure vision includes plans to achieve T+1 settlement cycles, expand digital assets regulation and develop a comprehensive framework for tokenised securities.
He added that the SEC is also creating governance frameworks for artificial intelligence applications in the capital market to strengthen transparency, accountability and investor confidence.
“We are developing AI governance frameworks for capital market participants — frameworks that demand explainability, accountability and algorithmic fairness. An investor in Nigeria deserves to know not only what decisions were made on their behalf, but how those decisions were reached,” he said.
Agama stressed that intelligent investing must be inclusive and accessible, noting that the SEC’s fintech-bank integration strategy is targeting about 20 million retail investors nationwide.
He said technology-driven tools and data-based investing systems could widen access to wealth creation opportunities for small businesses, artisans and low-income earners who have traditionally been excluded from formal investment platforms.
The SEC DG also highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between regulators, financial institutions, fintech companies and investors to build a resilient, technology-driven market ecosystem.
According to him, ongoing reforms and the adoption of intelligent investing frameworks would enhance investor confidence, improve transparency and position Nigeria as a leading investment destination in Africa.
He hinted that the commission is strengthening investor protection through tougher enforcement measures, financial literacy programmes and the establishment of a dedicated Investor Protection Department.
“Confidence is the ultimate asset in a capital market. Every disclosure we enforce, every fraud we prosecute, every investor we educate adds to the stock of market confidence,” Agama said.
He added that Nigeria’s expanding role in African capital market integration and digital finance initiatives would help mobilise long-term capital for infrastructure, gender finance and other key sectors of the economy.
Commending the FSDH Merchant Bank for hosting discussions on the future of intelligent investing, Agama stressed that sustained collaboration and data-sharing among market participants would be essential to building globally competitive financial markets in Nigeria.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X