Agama Calls for Innovation in Capital Markets After Election as AMERC-IOSCO Vice Chairman
By Patience Ikpeme
The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, has been elected as the Vice Chairman of the Africa/Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC) of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).
The new position places him on the IOSCO Board, the top decision-making body for the global securities regulatory organization, until 2026.
Following his election, Dr. Agama spoke about the need for Africa and the Middle East to take a leading role in innovation while also managing the associated risks. He said that digital assets could represent a $10 trillion opportunity by 2030.
“With our young, tech-savvy populations, Africa and the Middle East must lead—not follow,” Dr. Agama stated. He announced that through AMERC-IOSCO joint task forces, the committee will develop “clear stable-coin regulations, frameworks for tokenized securities, and investor protection standards for crypto assets.” He added that the focus must be on finding a balance between innovation and stability to ensure markets are both dynamic and secure.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Agama expressed gratitude to AMERC members for their trust and said his election represents a mandate to transform the region’s capital markets into engines of “inclusive growth, innovation, and shared prosperity.” He outlined a bold agenda to expand listings, boost market liquidity, and empower youth.
To expand listings, he said the committee will work with the African Financial Markets Initiative (AFMI) to “harmonize standards, reduce listing costs, and create cross-border linkages.” He also noted a plan to “pioneer regional market-making schemes and advocate for pension fund reforms to channel domestic savings into productive investments” to boost liquidity.
Recognizing the continent’s youth demographic, Dr. Agama mentioned the importance of empowering young people through “retail investor programs to democratize market participation,” “fintech sandboxes to nurture youth-led innovation,” and by “listings of high-growth startups to create wealth and jobs.”
Dr. Agama called on members to continue their mutual support and cooperation for the benefit of investors, markets, and the global economy. He noted that the committee will work to launch a “Listings Growth Initiative” for SMEs, create a cross-border settlement system to boost liquidity, establish a Digital Assets Working Group for the region, and develop capital markets literacy programs.
IOSCO, which was established in 1983 as the leading international policy forum for securities regulators, has a membership that regulates over 95% of the world’s securities markets.
