SEC Calls for Financial Literacy to Empower Nigerians
By Patience Ikpeme
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has described financial literacy as a crucial life skill and a survival tool in Nigeria’s modern economy.
This was stated by the SEC’s Director-General, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, at a ceremony in Abuja for the handover of the reviewed National Universities Commission (NUC) curriculum on Securities and Investment Management (SIM).
Dr. Agama said that embedding financial education into the national curriculum is an investment in human capital, which he called the most critical driver of sustainable and resilient economic growth.
He explained that the Commission’s goal is to empower young people to participate productively in the financial and capital markets. He also noted that the SEC’s dual mandate to protect investors and grow the market cannot be fulfilled without an informed, financially literate populace.
“Financial literacy determines how individuals earn, save, invest, and build wealth,” Dr. Agama said. “It also influences how they engage with the financial system, ensuring they are not left behind in an increasingly digital and knowledge-driven economy.”
He added that the collaboration with the NUC is a strategic step to integrate financial education into Nigeria’s national curriculum from the primary to the secondary levels.
Dr. Agama stated: “Our gathering today goes beyond policy harmonisation or curriculum design. It is about shaping the financial mindset of future generations, equipping young Nigerians with the tools to make informed choices and contribute meaningfully to our development.”
He pointed to the success of pilot programs in Nasarawa and Ibadan, which showed strong adaptability and enthusiasm among students and teachers.
“These early successes affirm that when given the right tools and guidance, Nigerian youth can quickly understand and apply concepts such as saving, investing, budgeting, and responsible financial decision-making,” he stated.
According to Dr. Agama, this initiative is well-timed as Nigeria works to build a trillion-dollar economy, with financial literacy being a key pillar of this ambition.
The Chairman of the Committee of Experts that reviewed the curriculum, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, said the team was tasked with expanding the existing curriculum to align Nigerian universities with global trends and equip students with the necessary knowledge to thrive in a modern capital market.
He also announced that a key recommendation from the committee is the creation of a basic course in capital market studies to be taken by all first-year university students.
“This initiative is inspired by the recognition that awareness and understanding of the capital market remain relatively low, especially among young Nigerians. By introducing this foundational course, we aim to promote early exposure, foster capital market literacy, and ultimately deepen financial inclusion — key pillars of the SEC’s developmental mandate,” Prof. Uwaleke said.
He further disclosed that the committee also recommended that this course be extended to all tertiary institutions, including polytechnics and colleges of education, to mainstream financial literacy across the entire educational system.
Prof. Uwaleke concluded: “As we present this Report today, we do so with a sense of fulfillment and optimism. We believe that its implementation will mark a major milestone in building a financially literate generation and in strengthening the foundation for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive Nigerian capital market.”
