SEC assures of equitable access to financial services for women

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that female women traders, entrepreneurs, professionals and investors have equitable access to financial services, investment opportunities, and the necessary tools to build sustainable wealth.

Speaking at the She’s Included Gender Inclusion Conference and Summit 2025, themed “Breaking Barriers, Building Resilience for Sustainable Economic and Financial Inclusion,” SEC’s Executive Commissioner for Corporate Services, Mrs. Samiya Usman, emphasized the Commission’s dedication to fostering an inclusive financial ecosystem that empowers women across all sectors.

Usman said that as Nigeria’s apex regulator of the capital market, the SEC operates with a dual mandate: to regulate and develop the market.

She disclosed that over the years, the SEC has taken deliberate steps to ensure that the Nigerian capital market fosters inclusivity and caters to the unique financial needs of women.

• Oil marketers now loading petrol from PH, Warri refineries — PETROAN
• NLC nationwide strike against telcos tariff hike an error – Stakeholders

“Through policy advocacy, regulatory frameworks, and partnerships, we continue to encourage the development of women-focused financial products and services. I am pleased to highlight that some of our capital market operators have heeded this call by designing tailored investment solutions.

“A notable example is United Capital’s Women Wealth for Women Fund, which seeks to empower women with wealth creation opportunities. Similarly, within the commodities market, innovative financial products have been structured to enhance women’s participation in agribusiness, an area where many Nigerian women play a critical role,” she said.

Additionally, she said the Commission has actively promoted Investor Education for Women, through Webinars, reaching market women, SMEs, and women-led businesses through targeted financial literacy programmes.

Usman disclosed that through these initiatives, thousands of women have gained the knowledge required to participate meaningfully in the capital market.

The SEC Executive Commissioner said that despite the progress made, several barriers still hinder women’s full participation in the financial sector ranging from cultural limitations to financial literacy gaps, inadequate access to credit, and predominance of informal economic activities among women.

Usman stated that in Northern Nigeria, in particular, financial exclusion remains a pressing concern, making it imperative to intensify efforts to bridge the gap.

“We acknowledge that there remains a lot of work to be done. Knowledge is key, and financial empowerment ensures that communities as a whole reap the benefits of economic progress,” she stated.