SEC lauds women for driving capital market growth

The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission Nigeria (SEC), Emomotimi Agama, has praised the role of women in the commission, saying their contributions have played an important part in the growth of the institution and the development of Nigeria’s capital market.

Agama spoke during the commission’s celebration of International Women’s Day held at the SEC headquarters in Abuja. The event was organised around the theme: “Give to Gain”.

The SEC director-general said women working in the commission have continued to show dedication and professionalism in their duties, adding that their efforts have helped strengthen the operations of the organisation and improve the performance of the capital market.

According to him, the women in the commission have not waited for opportunities to be handed to them but have taken the initiative to create their own path.

“The women of the SEC have not waited for a seat at the table; they have built the table,” Agama said.

He said the commission’s female staff members have contributed their knowledge, experience and commitment to ensure that the Nigerian capital market remains strong, transparent and accessible to more investors.

Agama commended women across different departments of the commission, including analysts, legal experts, compliance officers and members of the commission’s leadership.

“To the women of the SEC from our analysts to our legal experts, from our compliance officers to our Executive Commissioners, Ms Frana Chukwuogor, Hajia Samiya Hassan Usman and Non-Executive Commissioner, Ms Omolola Bridget Oloworaran, I say this: your contribution is the bedrock of our success,” he said.

He added that the dedication of the women in the commission has helped the organisation respond effectively to changes in the economy and maintain strong regulatory oversight of the capital market.

“They have given their intellect, their resilience and their foresight to navigate economic shifts and to regulate with a steady hand. In doing so, they have gained us a market that is more robust, more transparent and more inclusive,” Agama said.

Speaking further on the theme of the celebration, he said the idea behind “Give to Gain” reflects the impact women in the commission have made through their service and commitment.

According to him, when women contribute their knowledge and skills to the financial system, the country benefits from a stronger and more efficient market.

“The philosophy of ‘Give to Gain’ is the very essence of their legacy. They give their expertise, and we gain a fair and efficient market. They give their time to mentor the next generation of female analysts and stockbrokers, and the industry gains a deeper pool of talent. They give a voice to inclusive finance, and our nation gains an economy that works for everyone,” he said.

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Agama told the women that their efforts have not only advanced their individual careers but have also improved the standard of capital market regulation across Africa.

“You have proven that by giving your best to this institution, you have elevated not only your own careers but the very standard of capital market regulation in Africa,” he said.

The SEC director-general also assured the staff that the commission would continue to support policies that promote gender equality within the financial services sector.

“As your Director-General, I am committed to ensuring that the gain is mutual. We will continue to champion policies that foster gender equality within the financial services sector, break down barriers to leadership and create an environment where every woman can thrive,” he said.

Agama urged all members of staff of the commission to continue to support women in the organisation and work together to build a stronger capital market for the country.

He said the spirit of “Give to Gain” should guide the conduct of all staff members beyond the celebration.

“I urge all staff of the commission to embrace the spirit of ‘Give to Gain’ not just today but every day. Let us give our support to the women beside us and behind us so that together we may gain a future where the capital market is a true reflection of the society it serves,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Executive Commissioner for Legal and Enforcement at the commission, Frana Chukwuogor, commended the contributions of women within the organisation and encouraged them to continue giving their best in their professional roles.

She said the achievements of women in the commission often go unnoticed but remain very important to the success of the institution.

“All the faces in this room, we see you, we know you and we celebrate you. We know the contributions that you make, the resilience and the value you bring to bear in the work that you do,” she said.

Chukwuogor added that the impact women are making within the commission is significant even when it is not widely recognised.

“I am very excited when I realise how much impact you are making that people will never know,” she said.

She encouraged staff members to continue to give their best in their work and to support one another.

“Let us make a determination that we will give in a way that will be remarkable and of an equal proportion to what we receive from others,” she said.

Chukwuogor also used the opportunity to warn Nigerians against investing in illegal financial schemes, commonly known as Ponzi schemes.

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She urged members of staff of the commission and the public to remain vigilant and report operators of such schemes to the appropriate authorities.

“We want to use this opportunity to remind Nigerians not to patronise illegal operators otherwise known as Ponzi schemes,” she said.

According to her, everyone has a responsibility to help protect the financial system from fraudulent operators.

“We are over 400 in this hall. If every one of us takes it as a responsibility to report these people, we would be doing our country and ourselves a big favour,” she said.

She added that there are legitimate investment opportunities available in Nigeria’s capital market and advised Nigerians to avoid illegal schemes that promise unrealistic returns.

“Watch out and report these schemes. We have various products available in the capital market for investment; Nigerians do not need to patronise these illegal schemes,” she said.

In his remarks, Executive Commissioner for Operations, Mr. Bola Ajomale, spoke about the important role women play in the workplace, particularly their ability to handle multiple responsibilities.

Ajomale said the commission is deliberate in its efforts to support women and create opportunities for them to succeed within the organisation.

“Women are good at multi-tasking and in our determination to have a world-class capital market we need such skills and that is why we are deliberate about encouraging women to succeed here at the SEC,” he said.

He also encouraged female staff members to support younger colleagues by guiding and mentoring them as they build their careers.

“We encourage our female staff to remember they have a duty to mentor those that have been placed under them,” Ajomale said.

He added that staff members must remain thoughtful and resourceful in carrying out their responsibilities in order to help strengthen the commission and the capital market. “We need to be very reflective and resourceful in what we do,” he said.