Stockbrokers operating in the Nigerian capital market have been charged to always maintain the highest level of professionalism and ethical conduct.
According to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), these are the critical ingredients needed to ensure a fair and transparent capital market.
The Director General of SEC, Mr Emomotimi Agama, speaking at the 29th annual conference of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) in Abuja over the weekend, said investors must have full confidence that the intermediaries who manage their wealth are guided by the highest standards of honesty and competence.
“These three dimensions—digitalization, ethics, and sustainability—are not separate pillars; they form the foundation of a modern, inclusive, and resilient capital markets.
“Across the world, capital markets are being reshaped by technological innovation. The digital era has introduced new possibilities—from online trading platforms and digital assets to data analytics, blockchain, and artificial intelligence.
“These innovations are changing how we raise capital, how we invest, and how we supervise,” the SEC chief said at the event themed Capital Markets in a Digital, Ethical, Sustainable Era: Pathways for Economic Transformation.
He described the theme of the conference as timely as it speaks directly to the global transition where technology drives innovation, where ethics anchor trust, and where sustainability defines the future of finance.
Mr Agama noted that the agency has embraced this transformation as an opportunity to enhance efficiency, transparency, and investor protection adding that ongoing efforts to strengthen market surveillance systems, automate regulatory processes, and introduce risk-based supervision frameworks are all aimed at positioning the Nigerian capital market for the realities of a digital economy.
“We are also actively engaging with stakeholders: including the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, to deepen digital literacy and capacity-building across the market. As technology evolves, so must our skills, our ethics, and our shared commitment to fairness and professionalism.
“No amount of innovation can replace the foundational importance of ethics. A truly transformative capital market must be built on integrity, transparency, and accountability,” he disclosed, saying the CIS has remained a key partner in this regard, setting professional standards and upholding the code of ethics that define the stockbroking profession.
“As regulators, we continue to emphasize that professionalism and ethical conduct are non-negotiable. Investors must have full confidence that the intermediaries who manage their wealth are guided by the highest standards of honesty and competence.
“Together, the SEC and the CIS must continue to strengthen ethics education, continuous professional development, and disciplinary frameworks to ensure that the market remains a place of trust,” he added.