By Gabriel Ameh
📍Abuja
The Securities and Exchange Commission Nigeria (SEC Nigeria) has announced the re-election of its Director-General, Emomotimi Agama, as Vice Chair of the Africa/Middle-East Regional Committee (AMERC) of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) for a second term spanning 2026–2028.
IOSCO, established in 1983, is globally recognised as the leading international policy forum for securities regulators and serves as the standard-setter for the securities industry. Its membership oversees more than 95 per cent of the world’s securities markets across over 100 jurisdictions.
Agama’s re-election, confirmed by IOSCO, underscores growing international recognition of Nigeria’s capital market and its strategic importance within the Africa and Middle East region. It reflects the confidence of global regulatory peers in Nigeria’s leadership, reforms, and commitment to strengthening market systems.
The development positions Nigeria to deepen its influence at the highest level of global securities regulation. As AMERC Vice Chair, the country retains a seat on the IOSCO Board the organisation’s top decision-making body where key policies shaping global capital markets, regulatory standards, and cross-border cooperation are formulated.
Speaking on the development, Agama noted that beyond representation, the role enhances Nigeria’s ability to contribute to global regulatory discussions, particularly in areas such as enforcement cooperation, market integrity, and investor protection.
He added that the position offers a stronger platform for collaboration with other jurisdictions on cross-border regulatory issues, including tackling illicit financial flows and strengthening supervisory frameworks.
According to him, the re-election will also support ongoing efforts to align Nigeria’s capital market with international best practices, boost investor confidence, and attract greater participation in global financial markets.
The SEC DG emphasised that the milestone reinforces Nigeria’s position as a key player in regional and global capital market development, with expected benefits including a more resilient, transparent, and robust financial ecosystem across Africa and the Middle East.
SEC Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging this opportunity to advance regulatory excellence, deepen market integration, and support sustainable economic growth.
