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SEC seeks stronger collaboration with Nasarawa State to improve financial literacy and protect investors.
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State government provides office space for the commission’s liaison office in Lafia.
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Investors urged to use the e-Dividend Mandate Management System to facilitate dividend payments and update records.
October 13, (THEWILL) – The Securities and Exchange Commission has partnered with the Nasarawa State Government to strengthen investor protection, improve financial literacy and facilitate the recovery of unclaimed dividends and other investment assets.
The initiative formed part of the commission’s capital market awareness, unclaimed funds and investor education outreach programme held in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
According to a statement by the SEC on Monday, the programme brought together representatives of relevant institutions, academia and other stakeholders to educate the public on investment opportunities, access to unclaimed dividends and ways to avoid fraudulent investment schemes.
The engagement also underscored the importance of collaboration among regulatory institutions, government agencies and other stakeholders in addressing challenges associated with unclaimed investments and expanding participation in the Nigerian capital market.
SEC seeks stronger state collaboration
A key highlight of the programme was a courtesy visit by SEC Chairman, Alhaji Mairiga Katuka, to Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, during which he appreciated the state government’s support and sought deeper collaboration on investor education and financial inclusion.
Katuka expressed gratitude to the governor for providing strategically located office space in Lafia for the commission’s liaison office. The facility, situated within a complex previously occupied by the State Ministry of Education, is expected to become operational soon.
He said the office would bring the commission’s services closer to residents and strengthen its presence in a state with growing economic potential.
According to the SEC chairman, improving financial literacy is essential to helping Nigerians make informed investment decisions, protect their savings, and contribute to economic development.
“An informed population is better equipped to make sound financial decisions, protect its savings, and contribute meaningfully to economic growth,” Katuka stated.
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He explained that the outreach was part of the commission’s nationwide efforts to promote financial literacy, create awareness of legitimate investment opportunities and help Nigerians recover funds owed to them.
The chairman also called on the Nasarawa State Government to mobilise business owners, cooperative societies, youth groups and market associations to participate in the initiative.
In his response, Sule commended the SEC for its role in protecting investors and promoting confidence in the capital market.
He acknowledged the importance of the commission’s regulatory activities in maintaining a transparent and orderly market, adding that collaboration between the state government and the regulator could support economic development.
SEC targets unclaimed dividends
The commission also highlighted the challenges surrounding unclaimed dividends and other investment assets, noting that such funds often remain inaccessible because of incomplete records, outdated shareholder information, and delays in probate processes.
These funds represent the savings of individuals and families and should be returned to their rightful owners, the SEC said.
To address the problem, the commission urged investors to adopt the enhanced e-Dividend Mandate Management System, which facilitates direct payment of dividends into bank accounts and simplifies the process of updating shareholder records.
It also called on registrars and other capital market stakeholders to improve record management and service delivery to reduce the incidence of unclaimed dividends.
Representatives of the Institute of Capital Market Registrars, the Probate Registry, relevant SEC departments, academia and the National Population Commission participated in the engagement.
Their involvement highlighted the need for coordinated efforts to resolve administrative bottlenecks, improve public understanding of the capital market, and ensure investors can access funds due to them.
The SEC’s engagement in Nasarawa forms part of broader efforts to deepen financial inclusion, strengthen investor confidence, and encourage more Nigerians to participate in the formal capital market.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
