The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, has said that Nigeria’s transition to a T+2 settlement cycle in the capital market will significantly enhance market efficiency, reduce risks, and strengthen investor confidence.

Speaking at a Trade Associations Roundtable on “Ensuring Stakeholder Readiness for T+2 Settlement” held in Abuja on Wednesday, Agama said the migration from the current T+3 to T+2 cycle represents a strategic step toward aligning Nigeria’s capital market with global best practices.

According to him, the move is not just a technical reform but a major milestone that will make the Nigerian market more competitive and resilient.

He said: “A shorter settlement cycle is a hallmark of a mature, dynamic, and
competitive market. It directly addresses several key objectives: It significantly reduces counterparty risk and
market exposure. The less time between trade execution and final settlement, the lower the potential for a default to ripple
through the system.

“It boosts market liquidity by returning
capital to investors more quickly, allowing for its redeployment and fostering greater market activity. It aligns our market with international best practices, enhancing our attractiveness to foreign investment
and reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a key player in the global financial arena.

“Ultimately, a more efficient and safer settlement system strengthens the bedrock of our market—investor confidence”.

Dr. Agama explained that by shortening the time between trade execution and final settlement, the T+2 system will lower market exposure and minimize the potential for defaults, adding that faster settlement would improve liquidity by returning capital to investors sooner, enabling them to reinvest and contribute to greater market activity.

He noted that many advanced markets are already moving toward T+1 settlements, adding that Nigeria must continue to evolve to remain globally relevant.

“The global financial landscape is constantly changing, driven by technology and investor demand for efficiency. The transition to T+2 is, therefore, a strategic imperative to keep our market competitive and future-ready,” he said.

The SEC boss emphasized that the success of the transition depends on the collective readiness of all market participants — from brokers and custodians to clearing houses and investors. He urged trade associations to take a leading role in preparing their members for the operational and technological changes that the new system will require.

“Your readiness and that of your members is the single most important determinant of our success. This means recalibrating back-office operations, upgrading technology systems, streamlining settlement processes, and ensuring that all market participants are informed and prepared,” he said.

Dr. Agama assured stakeholders that the Commission would work closely with trade associations, market operators, and Financial Market Infrastructures such as the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the Central Securities Clearing System to ensure a smooth and coordinated transition.

He said the Commission would also intensify investor education and awareness campaigns to ensure that all market participants understand the implications and benefits of the change.

“The move to T+2 is a necessary leap forward for the Nigerian capital market. It is a testament to our collective ambition to build a market that is efficient, resilient, and globally competitive,” he stated.

Agama called on stakeholders to engage constructively and collaboratively to identify potential bottlenecks, share best practices, and agree on a clear roadmap for implementation.

He reaffirmed SEC’s commitment to providing the necessary regulatory support and guidance, urging all market participants to work together to make the T+2 transition a “resounding success and a proud milestone” for Nigeria’s financial markets.

Access Bank Plc has taken a major step toward seamless intra-African payments with the recent integration of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) into its flagship mobile application, AccessMore. This strategic move underscores Access Bank’s commitment to enhancing cross-border payment experiences for its customers across the continent.

To mark the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of PAPSS, Mike Ogbalu III, paid a courtesy visit to the Bank’s head office in Lagos, where he held high-level discussions with Chizoma Okoli, Deputy Managing Director of Access Bank, and Seyi Kumapayi, Executive Director for African Subsidiaries at Access Bank. The discussions centered on deepening collaboration and optimizing the capabilities of PAPSS within the AccessMore ecosystem to deliver real-time, cost-effective, and secure cross-border transactions.

Speaking on the partnership, Chizoma Okoli, Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank said, “The integration of PAPSS into the AccessMore app is a significant milestone in our mission to unify Africa’s payment landscape. With Access Bank’s extensive footprint across the continent, this collaboration ensures that millions of our customers can now experience fast, efficient, and transparent cross-border payments like never before.

Our goal is to leverage what we are building together to unlock innovations that seamlessly connect the continent, and we are delighted to partner with PAPSS in making this vision a reality”

Mike Ogbalu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), commenting on the collaboration said, “Our partnership with Access Bank is a game-changer for cross-border trade and payments across Africa. With the integration of PAPSS on AccessMore, we are enabling customers, individuals, SMEs, and corporates alike to transact effortlessly across borders, thereby supporting the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
We’ve created a rail, and Access Bank has the network and customers. Within that, our rail can be used for all sorts of innovations. Access Bank can create products that we can carry on our network for every customer to use”.

Also speaking on the broader strategy, Seyi Kumapayi, Executive Director, African Subsidiaries at Access Bank, commented, “Access Bank’s vision is to be the world’s most respected African bank, and collaborations like this are essential to achieving that. By embedding PAPSS into AccessMore, we’re unlocking a new era of financial connectivity for our customers across our subsidiaries in over a dozen African markets.

PAPSS is significantly cost effective for cross border transactions, which makes it a highly valuable opportunity. To fully harness its potential, we need greater communication, stronger engagement, and coordinated rollouts across multiple countries at the same time. With the right momentum, we can accelerate adoption and achiever the scale this innovation deserves.”

This partnership between Access Bank and PAPSS is a step forward in realizing a fully interconnected Africa, where payments and trade move without friction. Customers can now enjoy a simplified, reliable, and faster method to send and receive money across African borders—directly from their AccessMore app.

The Access Bank Payments and Remittances Group manages AccessAfrica — the Bank’s proprietary cross-border payments platform — and oversees all remittance activities between Access Bank’s subsidiaries and international money transfer partners. At the core of its operations, AccessAfrica simplifies global transactions with speed, affordability, and reliability.

Currently available in Nigeria and 11 Access Bank subsidiaries across Africa, AccessAfrica enables cross-border payments to over 140 destinations worldwide through multiple channels, including branches, AccessMore, USSD, and Internet Banking. Access Bank is a leading force in African cross-border and remittance solutions, we facilitate a broad spectrum of international transfers — P2P, P2B, B2P, and B2B — reaching over 140 countries, connecting with more than 20,000 banks, and operating in over 20 global currencies. The Group also drives remittance services in partnership with licensed International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs), enabling customers worldwide to send funds to beneficiaries in Nigeria either as cash payouts or direct bank credits.

Amaka Obiefuna

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has stated that it firmly believes that financial literacy is not merely an academic subject; but a life skill, and indeed, a survival tool in today’s complex and rapidly evolving economy.

Director General of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama stated this at the handing over ceremony of the reviewed National Univeristies Commission’s (NUC) Curriculum on Securities and Investment Management(SIM) by the SEC appointed Committee of Experts (drawn from the capital
Market and academia)in Abuja, Tuesday.

Agama said the important engagement, signifies not only institutional collaboration, but also the collective resolve to build a foundation for sustainable financial empowerment in Nigeria.

According to him, “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.

“Financial literacy determines how individuals earn, save, invest, and build wealth. 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 said this is why the SEC remains deeply committed to embedding financial inclusion as a cornerstone of national development, beginning with education, where knowledge and values are first formed.

The SEC DG disclosed that the collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC) represents a strategic leap forward; a deliberate and forward-looking effort to integrate financial education into Nigeria’s national curriculum from the primary through to the secondary levels.

“This initiative recognizes that financial discipline and awareness are best nurtured early, when curiosity is highest and habits are still forming. Early intervention is key to producing responsible, confident, and financially empowered citizens.

“I am pleased to note that the pilot implementations in Nasarawa and Ibadan have yielded encouraging results, reflecting strong adaptability, enthusiasm, and measurable impact among teachers and students alike.

“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.

Beyond imparting knowledge, the SEC Boss said the effort is about empowerment, about giving young people the confidence to participate productively in financial and capital markets adding that as the apex regulator of the capital market, the SEC’s dual mandate to protect investors and deepen the market cannot be achieved in isolation from an informed, financially literate populace.

Agama said embedding financial education into the national curriculum, is investing in human capital, the most critical driver of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economic growth.

He acknowledged the pivotal role of the NUC in harmonizing academic standards, ensuring that learning outcomes remain relevant to the evolving dynamics of our economy.

This partnership he added, strengthens the bridge between education and enterprise, between classroom theory and the financial realities of everyday life.

Agama noted that the SEC envisions a Nigeria where every student, regardless of background or region, understands the value of money, the principles of investment, and the discipline of financial planning. A Nigeria where financial inclusion is not a distant aspiration, but a lived experience that begins in the classroom and translates into responsible citizenship and national prosperity.

“This initiative could not have come at a more opportune time. As our nation pursues the goal of building a trillion-dollar economy, anchored on innovation, knowledge, and inclusive growth, financial literacy will be one of the strongest pillars supporting that ambition.

“The SEC remains committed to sustaining this momentum, through ongoing support for curriculum development, teacher training, resource provision, and stakeholder collaboration across all levels of education. We will continue to work closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the lessons and successes from the pilot states are scaled nationwide.

“Together, we can institutionalize a financial literacy framework that not only empowers the youth but also strengthens the moral and economic fabric of our society” he added.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Uche Uwaleke disclosed that the Committee was tasked with reviewing and expanding
the existing curriculum to reflect these developments with a view to making appropriate recommendations to the NUC that ensure that Nigerian universities are not only aligned with global trends, but are also equipping our students with the knowledge and competencies required to thrive in a modern capital market environment.

He said another equally important mandate of the Committee was to design and recommend to the NUC, a Basic Course in Capital Market Studies
to be taken by all first-year students across Nigerian universities. 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 the Committee’s work was guided by a strong sense of purpose and collaboration. The Committee held a total of eight meetings — seven virtual and one in-person — during which we
engaged in extensive deliberations, research, and consultations. The
commitment and intellectual depth brought to the table by each member were remarkable.

Furthermore, the Committee recommended to the Federal
Ministry of Education, that this basic course be extended beyond
universities to all tertiary institutions — including polytechnics and colleges of education — so that the culture of investment awareness and financial literacy can be mainstreamed across all segments of our educational system.

“As we present this Report today,
we do so with a sense of fulfilment 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” He stated.