FG Tasks Capital Market Operators on Investor Confidence, Financial Literacy, as Nigeria Eyes $1 Trillion Economy
The Federal Government has called on capital market operators to strengthen investor confidence, improve financial literacy, and actively prepare for the implementation of the newly enacted Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2025, as well as the forthcoming Capital Market Master Plan (CMMP) 2030.
The charge was delivered by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, during the 2025 First Capital Market Committee (CMC) Meeting held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Represented by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Minister stressed the critical importance of the capital market in driving Nigeria’s economic transition towards a $1 trillion GDP within the next decade.
Mr. Edun emphasized that the capital market must serve as the primary engine for mobilizing long-term finance in strategic sectors such as infrastructure, housing, manufacturing, energy, and technology. “This vision is overdue. Nigeria had the potential to reach this milestone 20 years ago,” he stated. “With the reforms we’ve undertaken—fuel subsidy removal, FX harmonisation, and fiscal tightening—the foundation is now set for private capital to power growth.”
He described the recently passed ISA 2025 as a landmark piece of legislation that modernizes Nigeria’s regulatory environment in line with global standards. However, he noted that attracting investment is not enough without functional exit mechanisms for both domestic and foreign capital.
“The real question we must ask is: If a billion-dollar investment enters this market, do we have the structure for it to exit smoothly? Until we can answer that, we can’t claim the market is truly ready,” Edun said.
The Minister also called for the creation of a Market Literacy Fund to enhance financial awareness and support the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) investor education agenda. He urged stakeholders to build a rule-based, transparent, and resilient market capable of unlocking inclusive growth for all Nigerians.
In his remarks, the Director General of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, welcomed the enactment of ISA 2025 and reiterated the Commission’s focus on investor protection, digital innovation, and capital mobilisation. He highlighted the Nigerian capital market’s performance in 2024, including a 37.65% gain in the NGX All-Share Index, market capitalisation exceeding ₦62 trillion, and ₦460.55 trillion in debt market turnover.
Dr. Agama also outlined SEC’s collaborative efforts with relevant agencies to deepen SME participation, streamline recapitalisation processes, and enhance transparency through technological upgrades. He confirmed the Commission’s commitment to implementing the ISA 2025 and rolling out the CMMP 2030, while also supporting Nigeria’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list by strengthening anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) compliance.
The 2025 CMC Meeting attracted a broad spectrum of stakeholders from across the financial ecosystem, including the NGX, NASD, FMDQ, AFEX, CSCS, LCFE, NG Clearing, PCX, and GCMX, alongside public sector institutions such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Debt Management Office (DMO), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
Highlights of the meeting included the official launch of SEC’s revamped corporate website and the unveiling of the ISA 2025 Handbook.
With the Federal Government’s renewed drive for capital market development and the ambitious implementation of ISA 2025 and CMMP 2030, industry players are optimistic that Nigeria’s financial sector is on course for transformative growth—paving the way for the realisation of a $1 trillion economy.
