By Abubakar Yunus
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC )has intensified efforts to help Nigerians recover unclaimed dividends and other investment assets, warning that incomplete records and outdated shareholder information continue to hinder access to their money.
The campaign, held in Lafia, Nasarawa State, is part of the commission’s nationwide drive to improve financial literacy, protect investors and encourage greater participation in the Nigerian capital market.
SEC Chairman, Alhaji Mairiga Katuka, said the initiative was designed to educate Nigerians on legitimate investment opportunities and help them reclaim funds that rightfully belong to them.
He said an informed population was better equipped to make sound financial decisions, protect its savings and contribute to economic growth.
The commission identified incomplete investor records, outdated shareholder details, changes in bank account information and difficulties transferring investments after an investor’s death as major reasons for unclaimed dividends.
It stressed that the funds represented the savings and investments of individuals and families and should be accessible to their rightful owners.
To address the problem, the SEC highlighted its enhanced e-Dividend Mandate Management System, which allows dividends to be paid directly into shareholders’ bank accounts.
The system also enables investors to update their records more conveniently, making it easier to resolve outstanding dividend claims.
The commission urged investors to regularise their investment details and use the available facilities to recover outstanding payments.
It also called for stronger cooperation among registrars and other capital market stakeholders to improve record management, speed up service delivery and resolve unresolved claims.
As part of the engagement, Katuka paid a courtesy visit to Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, to seek stronger collaboration in promoting investor education and financial inclusion.
The SEC chairman thanked the governor for providing strategically located office space in Lafia for the commission’s liaison office, saying the gesture would strengthen its presence and improve access to its services.
He also commended the state government’s efforts to promote investment, enterprise, industrialisation and sustainable economic development.
Responding, Sule commended the SEC for its regulatory role and efforts to protect investors and strengthen confidence in the Nigerian capital market.
The outreach attracted representatives of relevant institutions, including the Probate Registry, the National Population Commission, academia and various SEC departments.
Members of the SEC board also delivered goodwill messages, emphasising the importance of public enlightenment and sustained investor protection.
The commission said the programme would continue to promote financial literacy, expand access to reliable capital market information and encourage Nigerians to take advantage of legitimate investment opportunities.
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