SEC Unveils Plans for 2025 Compliance Summit
By Patience Ikpeme
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced key details of the SEC/Nigerian Capital Market Institute (NCMI) Compliance Summit 2025, scheduled to hold from November 24–25 in Lagos.
The summit will focus on reforms to the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) and the adoption of technology-led compliance practices across Nigeria’s capital market.
Positioned as a continuation of the gains recorded at the 2024 edition, the 2025 summit will centre on strengthening transparency, efficiency, and resilience within the market, according to the Commission. The SEC said the event is designed to “promote innovation-led regulatory practices that address emerging risks while supporting the evolving market structure.”
The summit, themed Innovation and Compliance – Balancing Risks and Opportunities, will bring together capital market operators, self-regulatory organisations, FinTech innovators, regulators, and compliance professionals to examine forward-looking and risk-based compliance strategies for the sector.
The Commission noted that compliance officers are expected to participate actively, describing them as central to maintaining market integrity and ensuring that institutions respond promptly to regulatory changes.
According to the SEC, this year’s gathering will deepen conversations on innovation-driven compliance, improve regulatory efficiency, and advance discussions on beneficial ownership transparency and customer due diligence. It will also spotlight the growing importance of RegTech and data analytics for real-time transaction monitoring.
The summit will additionally focus on encouraging stronger board and senior management involvement in driving a healthy compliance culture. The Commission added that public-private sector cooperation remains critical to sustaining Nigeria’s progress in Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).
The SEC said participants would gain access to expert-led sessions offering detailed analysis of ISA 2025 compliance requirements and the evolving expectations for market operators. With rapid digitisation, including the expansion of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) and FinTech platforms, the discussions will pay particular attention to technology innovation, risk management, and the deployment of advanced compliance tools such as RegTech and analytics.
The Commission added that the forum will help clarify leadership responsibilities in compliance by addressing grey areas, strengthening governance structures, and promoting frameworks that integrate compliance into broader strategic decision-making. It will also outline short- and long-term strategies for implementing the new ISA, addressing likely gaps, and presenting practical regulatory and operational solutions.
According to the SEC, the summit is expected to support capacity building, enhance trust among stakeholders, and encourage the development of resilient, forward-looking compliance models.
The Commission described the 2025 Compliance Summit as “a pivotal step in advancing financial integrity, innovation, and investor confidence in Nigeria’s capital market as the regulatory landscape continues to evolve.”
