Agama Elected IOSCO AMERC Vice Chair, Vows Capital Market Reforms

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, has been elected Vice Chairman of the Africa/Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC) of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

By virtue of the election, Agama will also serve on the IOSCO Board the apex decision-making body of the global securities regulatory organization, until 2026.

IOSCO is the world’s leading international policy forum for securities regulators. Its over 100 member jurisdictions collectively supervise more than 95% of global securities markets.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Agama thanked AMERC members for their confidence, describing the appointment as both an honour and a call to action.

“This is more than a personal honor. It is a mandate to transform our capital markets into engines of inclusive growth, innovation, and shared prosperity for Africa and the Middle East,” he stated.

Outlining his vision, Agama pledges to aggressively expand listings across the region by collaborating with the African Financial Markets Initiative (AFMI) and Sub-Saharan African exchanges to harmonize standards, reduce listing costs, and strengthen cross-border linkages.

He also proposes regional market-making schemes and pension fund reforms to channel domestic savings into productive investments.

He emphasizes the need to de-risk infrastructure projects to attract global capital, while also empowering Africa’s predominantly young population through retail investor programs, fintech innovation hubs, and stock market listings for high-growth startups.

On the fast-evolving digital asset landscape, the SEC boss noted that the sector could represent a $10 trillion opportunity by 2030, calling for Africa and the Middle East to take the lead.

He announces plans for AMERC-IOSCO joint task forces to develop clear regulations for stablecoins, frameworks for tokenized securities, and investor protection standards for crypto assets.

“We must balance innovation with stability, ensuring our markets are both dynamic and secure,” he adds.

Agama further disclosed that the committee would deepen engagements to launch a “Listings Growth Initiative” for SMEs, create a regional cross-border settlement system, set up a Digital Assets Working Group, and expand capital market literacy programs.

Established in 1983, IOSCO sets the global standards for the securities industry and continues to play a pivotal role in safeguarding market integrity and investor confidence worldwide.