SEC Deepens Investor Protection Drive with Nationwide Campaign on Unclaimed Funds
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to strengthening investor confidence and safeguarding shareholders’ wealth through sustained market education, transparency, and enhanced regulatory oversight.
This commitment came to the fore during the Commission’s one-day Nationwide Market Outreach Programme on Unclaimed Funds, held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, where shareholders, market operators, registrars, shareholder associations, and other stakeholders converged to address the persistent challenge of unclaimed dividends and investment-related fraud within Nigeria’s capital market.
The sensitisation programme underscored the urgent need for shareholders to proactively claim their outstanding dividends by engaging their respective capital market registrars and ensuring that their personal records, including bank account details, contact addresses, signatures, and Bank Verification Number (BVN) where applicable, remain accurate and up to date.
The Commission noted that prompt regularisation of investors’ records remains one of the most effective measures for reducing the growing volume of unclaimed funds in the Nigerian capital market.
Beyond dividend recovery, the SEC delivered a strong warning against the increasing activities of fraudsters who exploit unsuspecting investors through fake investment opportunities, phishing schemes, identity theft, and other financial scams.
Shareholders were advised to protect confidential personal information, verify investment offers before committing funds, and transact only with SEC-registered capital market operators.
Investors were further encouraged to exercise due diligence and avoid investment schemes promising unrealistic or guaranteed returns, which often serve as vehicles for financial fraud.
A major highlight of the outreach was the Commission’s appeal to shareholder associations to deepen collaboration with the SEC in promoting market integrity. The Commission stressed that organised shareholder groups play a strategic role in investor education, market surveillance, and early detection of fraudulent practices.
Through stronger partnerships, shareholders can contribute significantly to identifying suspicious activities, reporting unethical market conduct, and supporting regulatory efforts aimed at preserving transparency, fairness, and accountability across the capital market ecosystem.
The programme also emphasised the importance of continuous financial literacy and investor education as indispensable pillars for sustainable capital market development.
The SEC urged shareholder associations, quoted companies, registrars, financial institutions, government agencies, educational institutions, and the media to intensify public awareness campaigns to equip investors with the knowledge needed to make informed investment decisions and protect themselves from financial exploitation.
The Commission reiterated that investor protection remains central to its regulatory mandate. It assured stakeholders that it will continue to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework governing Nigeria’s capital market to preserve the integrity of capital formation, regulate investment products and schemes, enhance market transparency, and protect investors’ funds against abuse and systemic risks.
The SEC further reaffirmed its resolve to deploy technology-driven regulatory mechanisms, strengthen market supervision, improve stakeholder engagement, and enforce strict compliance with extant capital market laws.
These measures, it noted, are designed to foster a resilient, transparent, and globally competitive investment environment that attracts both domestic and international investors.
The Nationwide Market Outreach Programme reflects the Commission’s broader strategic vision of building an inclusive and investor-friendly capital market where shareholders are empowered with knowledge, protected by effective regulation, and actively involved in sustaining market confidence.
By addressing the twin challenges of unclaimed dividends and investment fraud through education, collaboration, and robust regulatory oversight, the SEC continues to reinforce its position as the guardian of Nigeria’s capital market and a catalyst for long-term economic growth and wealth creation. #SEC Deepens Investor Protection Drive with Nationwide Campaign on Unclaimed Funds#
