The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has urged citizens to take advantage of opportunities in the capital market to build personal and national financial independence.

The director-general of SEC, Emomotimi Agama, in an independence message in Abuja on Wednesday, described the capital market as a critical engine of economic empowerment.

He said that true independence was beyond political sovereignty to include financial security for all citizens.

The director-general said that financial independence was central to dignity and prosperity, adding that the capital market provided a platform for citizens to transform savings into investments.

Mr Agama said that under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, the capital market had been repositioned as a “public square of prosperity for all” rather than an exclusive preserve for a privileged few.

He listed ongoing reforms to include the dematerialisation of shares, increased retail investor participation, introduction of new asset classes, promotion of FinTech collaborations.

Others, he said, were reduction in time-to-market for securities as part of efforts to deepen financial inclusion and democratise wealth creation.

Other initiatives, he said included international best practices in fund valuation, strengthening of corporate governance, promotion of financial literacy, and a sustained campaign against Ponzi schemes that continue to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

“These are not just regulatory updates; they are the building blocks of a financial democracy.

”Every Nigerian from the civil servant in Makurdi to the tech entrepreneur in Yaba, the farmer in Kano, and the fisherman in Yenagoa can now have a stake in the commanding heights of our economy.

“When you buy a share, you become a part-owner of a Nigerian company. When you invest in a bond, you are helping to fund the infrastructure that will power our future.

“This is the new face of patriotism,” he said.

Mr Agama further called on citizens to prioritise financial literacy, embrace consistent investment, and adopt a long-term perspective in order to build sustainable wealth and support the country’s economic transformation.

He described investment as a patriotic duty, stressing that widespread participation in the capital market would not only enhance personal financial security but also accelerate national development.

“As we celebrate 65 years of nationhood, let us embrace this powerful tool for wealth creation.

”The growth of our economy must mirror the growth of our citizens’ financial independence,” Mr Agama said.

 (NAN)