The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has called on the Nasarawa State Government to support efforts to recover unclaimed dividends and other investment assets belonging to Nigerians.
The commission also urged the state government to deepen investor education, improve financial literacy and encourage more residents to participate in the Nigerian capital market.
SEC Chairman, Alhaji Mairiga Aliyu Katuka, made the appeal during a courtesy visit to Governor Abdullahi A. Sule in Lafia as part of the commission’s Capital Market Awareness, Unclaimed Funds and Investor Education Outreach Programme.
Katuka commended the state government for providing strategically located office space in Lafia for the SEC’s liaison office, which is expected to commence operations soon.
He said the facility, located within the complex formerly occupied by the State Ministry of Education, would bring the commission’s services closer to investors and residents.
The SEC chairman described Nasarawa as an important partner in efforts to expand participation in the capital market, citing the state’s economic potential and its drive to promote investment, enterprise and industrial development.
He called on the state government to mobilise business owners, cooperative societies, youth groups, market associations and other stakeholders to participate in the commission’s investor education initiatives.
According to him, greater financial literacy would help Nigerians understand investment opportunities and risks, protect their savings and make informed financial decisions.
Responding, Governor Sule commended the SEC for its regulatory responsibilities, particularly its efforts to protect investors, strengthen confidence in the capital market and promote informed investment decisions.
He also acknowledged the importance of public enlightenment in exposing residents to legitimate investment opportunities and advancing financial inclusion.
A major focus of the outreach programme was the recovery of unclaimed dividends and other investment assets, which may remain inaccessible because of incomplete records, outdated shareholder information, changes in bank account details or difficulties transferring investments after an investor’s death.
The commission stressed that such funds belong to their rightful owners and beneficiaries, calling for stronger mechanisms to help them reclaim their investments.
To address the challenge, the SEC highlighted the enhanced e-Dividend Mandate Management System, which enables dividends to be paid directly into shareholders’ bank accounts and allows investors to update their records.
Investors were encouraged to regularise their investment details and use the available facilities to claim outstanding dividends.
The commission also emphasised the need for closer collaboration among registrars and other capital market operators to improve record-keeping, resolve outstanding claims and enhance service delivery.
The programme attracted representatives of relevant institutions, academia, the Probate Registry, the National Population Commission and departments of the SEC, who discussed challenges associated with unclaimed investments and ways to improve public awareness.
Members of the SEC Board also delivered goodwill messages, stressing the importance of sustained investor education and stronger safeguards for investors.
The initiative is part of the commission’s nationwide efforts to promote financial literacy, combat fraudulent investment schemes and broaden participation in the Nigerian capital market.
Through partnerships with state governments, educational institutions and market operators, the SEC said it seeks to strengthen investor protection, improve confidence in the market and ensure Nigerians have access to reliable investment information.
