The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, has said the Commission is committed to fostering innovation and investor protection in the Nigerian capital market through the adoption of emerging technologies such as blockchain, quantum computing and others
Agama gave this hint in his keynote address at the Comercio Partners H2 2025 Outlook event in Lagos, where he stressed the transformative impact of new technologies on global financial system and urged stakeholders in the nation’s investment space to embrace innovation-driven strategy to grow their investments and businesses.
According to him, the Commission is committed to fostering a regulatory environment that encourages innovation while safeguarding market integrity and currently engaging with fintech startups, blockchain innovators, and quantum researchers to develop frameworks that balance progress with investor protection.
Describing the global shift in trade, finance, and investment as a turning point, the investment expert explained that the traditional economic models were being reshaped by rapid technological advances and geopolitical changes and listed quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and blockchain as the key drivers of this transformation.
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The Director-General maintained that for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, adoption of the emerging technologies presents both unprecedented opportunities and formidable challenges, noting that recent disruptions, including the COVID-09 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, have exposed the vulnerabilities of global trade models.
Agama described quantum innovation as the next frontier with applications ranging from computing and cryptography to secure communication that could revolutionise how capital markets operate.
He clarified: “For capital markets, quantum computing could redefine risk modelling, asset pricing, and fraud detection, offering unparalleled speed and accuracy.”
The commission’s Director-General, therefore, charged stakeholders to invest in STEM education and digital skills to prepare for a technology-driven future, and harped the need for collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector to build a workforce ready for the quantum era.
Agama further pointed out that quantum innovation required significant R&D investment and urged private sector stakeholders to collaborate with government in funding research hubs and pilot projects in order for Nigeria to optimize their benefits for development.
Specifically, he projected that Nigeria has the potential to lead Africa into the quantum economy by leveraging blockchain for capital market transparency, adopting AI to boost financial inclusion, and creating innovation sandboxes to test new technologies.
To achieve this laudable goal, Agama canvassed: “Nigeria, as Africa’s largest economy, must lead this charge. The SEC is exploring policies to support tokenised assets, digital securities, and green bonds, all aligned with a sustainable, tech-driven future.”
