Dr. Emomotimi Agama

Dr. Emomotimi John Agama is an accomplished economist, financial market regulator, chartered management accountant and investment professional with over three decades of experience in accounting, banking, capital market regulation and financial sector development. He currently serves as the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigeria's apex capital market regulatory authority. He was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 19 April 2024, bringing extensive experience in securities regulation, investment analysis, financial innovation and institutional development.
During his tenure at the SEC, Dr. Agama held several strategic leadership positions, including Deputy Head of Exchanges, Head of Public Offerings and Head of Registration, Exchanges, Market Infrastructure and Innovation. He contributed to the regulation of securities offerings, market infrastructure development, corporate governance and the introduction of new financial instruments. He also played an important role in Nigeria's adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and initiatives supporting the introduction of derivatives trading in the Nigerian capital market.
Before his appointment as Director-General, he served as Managing Director of the Nigerian Capital Market Institute (NCMI), the SEC's specialised institution for capital market education and professional development. In this capacity, he championed initiatives aimed at strengthening financial literacy, regulatory expertise and institutional capacity within Nigeria's investment sector. His international professional experience includes a secondment to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in 2018, where he gained exposure to international securities regulation and market supervision practices.
As Director-General, Dr. Agama has led regulatory initiatives aimed at deepening Nigeria's capital market, strengthening investor protection and expanding opportunities for domestic and international investment. His leadership has supported the implementation of the Investments and Securities Act, 2025, which strengthens the SEC's regulatory powers and establishes a legal framework for the supervision of digital assets, virtual asset service providers and emerging investment products. He has also championed capital market digitalisation, financial technology innovation, improved market surveillance and stronger enforcement against fraudulent investment schemes.
Under his leadership, the Commission has advanced initiatives to improve market liquidity, modernise clearing and settlement infrastructure and strengthen the regulatory environment for financial technology companies. These efforts include the Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme (ARIP), which provides a supervised framework for emerging digital asset businesses. In 2026, he continued to advocate for artificial intelligence, data-driven investment systems and the development of technology-enabled capital market infrastructure to improve efficiency and investor confidence.
Beyond his national responsibilities, Dr. Agama has contributed to international securities regulation through the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). In August 2025, he was elected Vice Chairman of IOSCO's Africa/Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC), strengthening Nigeria's representation in international capital market policy discussions. He was re-elected to the position in March 2026.
Dr. Emomotimi Agama remains a leading advocate for capital market development, financial inclusion and responsible financial innovation. His professional contributions continue to support the modernisation of Nigeria's investment environment, strengthen regulatory institutions and promote the capital market as an important source of financing for national economic development.