SEC Urges Nigerians to Harness Demographic Dividend for Economic Growth

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has called on Nigerians to take advantage of the country’s demographic dividend to promote financial inclusion and stimulate economic development by 2030.

Demographic dividend refers to the economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a country’s age structure, typically when the working-age population is larger than the non-working-age share.

Speaking at the United Capital Asset Management Investment Forum held in Lagos on Wednesday, the Director-General of the SEC, Emomotimi Agama, stressed the need for strategic investments in knowledge and wealth creation to narrow Nigeria’s widening inequality gap.

“Our theme, ‘Advancing Financial Inclusion through Investments’, is not aspirational; it is foundational to national survival,” Agama stated. “We stand at a pivotal moment. By 2030, Nigeria can either harness its demographic dividend or face deepening inequality. The knowledge-wealth gap is not merely an economic challenge; it is a moral imperative.”

He emphasised that genuine financial inclusion goes beyond access, involving active participation in the capital market where individuals are empowered to use capital as a tool for transformation.

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Agama also pointed out the significance of closing the gender gap in financial inclusion, noting that achieving this could lift as many as 700,000 Nigerians out of poverty.

“Nigeria has a great population, yet only a tiny fraction participates in the capital market. That is one reason for persistent poverty: we are running from money,” he remarked. “Our market capitalisation presents a tremendous opportunity to change this narrative.”

He commended the success of MTN Nigeria’s recent public share offering, which brought in 150,000 new investors—75 per cent of whom were women and 85 per cent under the age of 40.

To accelerate inclusion and investment, Agama outlined a four-pillar strategy focused on expanding financial education, creating investment pathways for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and forming strategic partnerships with institutions like the Bank of Industry to de-risk loans for women-led businesses.

“We need to educate people about finances. As we drive this market, we do so with a purpose. I enjoin everyone to be both disciples and apostles. Getting this market to move is a deliberate action,” Agama concluded.