Nigeria’s SEC DG Agama Elected Vice Chairman of AMERC, Joins IOSCO Board
Election to Key Global Securities Role
The Director-General of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, has been elected Vice Chairman of the Africa/Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC) of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). By this election, he will also serve on the IOSCO Board, the highest decision-making organ of the global securities regulatory body, until 2026.
About IOSCO
IOSCO, established in 1983, is recognised as the leading international policy forum for securities regulators. Its members regulate more than 95% of the world’s securities markets in over 100 jurisdictions, and the organisation’s membership continues to grow.
Commitment to Inclusive Growth
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Agama expressed gratitude to AMERC members for their vote of confidence, describing his election as a mandate to transform capital markets into engines of inclusive growth, innovation, and shared prosperity for Africa and the Middle East. He pledged to work towards expanding listings by harmonising standards, reducing listing costs, and creating cross-border linkages, while also boosting liquidity through regional market-making schemes and pension fund reforms to channel domestic savings into productive investments.
Infrastructure and Youth Empowerment
He emphasised plans to attract infrastructure investments by partnering with the African Financial Markets Initiative (AFMI) and development institutions to de-risk projects and draw global capital. With over 70% of Africa’s population under 30, Dr. Agama underscored the importance of empowering youth through retail investor programmes, fintech innovation sandboxes, and the listing of high-growth startups to create jobs and wealth.
Focus on Digital Assets
On digital assets, the SEC boss stressed the need to embrace innovation while managing risks, noting that the sector could represent a $10 trillion opportunity by 2030. He advocated for clear stablecoin regulations, frameworks for tokenised securities, and robust investor protection standards for crypto assets, aiming to ensure markets are both dynamic and secure.
Next Steps
Dr. Agama called for continued mutual support among IOSCO members and revealed that the committee will work on launching a “Listings Growth Initiative” for SMEs, creating a cross-border settlement system to boost liquidity, establishing a Digital Assets Working Group for the region, and expanding capital markets literacy programmes. He reaffirmed his commitment to driving reforms that will benefit investors, markets, and the wider global economy.
