By Abel Johngold
The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi John Agama, is set to deliver the 2026 University of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA) Worldwide Annual Public Service Lecture on Friday, October 9, in Ibadan.
The lecture, which is expected to bring together leading voices from government, academia, business and the professional community, will focus on the theme: “First and Best — But Whose Capital Built It? Rethinking How Nigeria Funds Its Own Future.”
The event is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the Dame Edith Okowa Auditorium, Dr. Michael Omolayole Alumni Complex, University of Ibadan.
Agama, a distinguished economist, financial analyst, chartered management accountant, academic and researcher, is expected to use the platform to examine critical questions around capital mobilisation, investment, economic development and Nigeria’s capacity to finance its own future.
With more than three decades of professional experience spanning capital market regulation, financial strategy, economic policy and institutional leadership, Agama has played significant roles in the development and modernisation of Nigeria’s capital market.
His appointment as Director-General of the SEC in April 2024 marked another major milestone in a career devoted to strengthening the country’s financial markets and aligning Nigeria’s capital market with global best practices.
Before becoming SEC Director-General, Agama served as Managing Director of the Nigerian Capital Market Institute (NCMI), where he spearheaded capacity-building and regulatory education programmes aimed at improving the competence of market participants in Nigeria and across Africa.
He had earlier held several strategic positions at the SEC, including Head of Market Infrastructure and Innovation, where he was involved in regulatory frameworks covering exchanges, depositories and clearing houses.
Since joining the SEC in 2004, Agama has risen through a succession of regulatory and leadership positions, including Divisional Head of Market Infrastructure and Head of Registration and Exchanges. He has also chaired and served on several high-impact committees, including the SEC Disciplinary Committee, Market Outlook Committee and the Securities Settlement Working Group with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
His academic and professional credentials include a PhD in Economics from Nile University of Nigeria, a Graduate Certificate in Capital Markets from George Washington University, United States, and master’s degrees in Economics and Banking and Finance from the University of Benin.
He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from Rivers State University of Science and Technology and is a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA, UK) and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (FCIS). He is equally a Fellow of the IFC–Milken Institute Capital Markets Program.
Speaking with newsmen in Ibadan ahead of the event, the Worldwide First Vice President of UIAA and Chairman of the Lecture Organising Committee, Dr. Irene Irenosen Akhideno, expressed excitement over Agama’s participation.
“We are excited to have Dr. Emomotimi John Agama,” Akhideno said, describing the lecture as an important platform for engaging leading professionals and thinkers on issues that affect Nigeria’s development.
She stressed that the UIAA Annual Public Service Lecture goes beyond academic discourse, noting that it is designed to stimulate ideas and proffer practical solutions to some of the challenges confronting society.
According to her, the choice of this year’s theme is particularly relevant as Nigeria continues to grapple with the challenge of mobilising adequate domestic capital to finance sustainable economic growth and development.
The lecture will be chaired by another distinguished alumnus of the University of Ibadan, Chief Bayo Oyero, a first-rate human capital and business development expert and former President of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes.
The event is expected to attract a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including government officials, members of the academic community, UIAA members from across the world, economists, oil and gas executives, captains of industry, banking and finance executives, maritime industry leaders, legal practitioners, ICT professionals, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of multilateral institutions, media practitioners and members of the public.
The organisers said the gathering is expected to provide an important platform for fresh perspectives on how Nigeria can deepen domestic investment, strengthen its capital markets and build a more sustainable financing framework for national development.
