The Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ICMR) is set to hold its 14th Annual Conference and the official investiture of its new President-Elect in Lagos on 1st November, focusing on the critical role registrar services play in the global financial ecosystem.
The core theme of this year’s programme is: “Unlocking Global Value: The Evolving Role of Capital Market Registrars in Trust, Efficiency and Innovation.” This topic is particularly salient given the crucial, yet often understated, function of registrars. As essential record-keepers, registrars are the custodians of investor data, responsible for maintaining accurate lists of shareholders and bondholders, ensuring shares outstanding do not exceed the authorised amount, and guaranteeing the correct distribution of dividends and interest payments. Their diligence is fundamental to establishing the trust required for a functioning capital market.
A well-oiled capital market, which registrars underpin, is a vital engine for economic prosperity, connecting long-term savings with productive investments to stimulate growth and job creation. The ICMR’s focused evaluation highlights how technological adoption—innovation—is essential for Nigerian registrars to transcend national boundaries, reduce settlement risks, and boost the efficiency needed to attract global capital. Recent global discourse points to Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) as a key area for future efficiencies in payments and settlement, a move the Nigerian market must be poised to utilise.
The conference will serve as the formal investiture for Mrs Catherine Nwosu, the Chief Executive Officer of Africa Prudential Plc, as the Institute’s fourth President and Chairman of the Council. She succeeds Mr Oluseyi Owoturo, the current President and Chairman of Coronation Registrars Ltd.
Mrs Nwosu, a highly experienced corporate executive and Fellow of the ICMR, brings a mandate to reform the industry’s perception. Following her election, she stated a key objective: to challenge the narrative that the registrar industry is slow and unsupportive of investors. Her agenda is firmly set on enhancing the Institute’s reputation and driving digital transformation to improve service delivery and professional standards across the sector.
The high-profile nature of the event underscores the importance of this strategic shift. The conference is slated to be chaired by Alhaji Abdulsamad Isyaku Rabiu, Founder and Chairman of the BUA Group, with Dr Emomotimi Agama, Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), attending as a special guest of honour. Attendees will hear from prominent speakers, including Alake Olakunle, Vice President of Dangote Industries, and Toyin Sanni, Founder of the Emerging Africa Group, who is due to speak on elevating registrar services in complex and cross-border transactions.
The event is poised to address how local expertise can meet global best practices, ensuring that Nigeria’s registrar services maintain the governance and operational standards necessary to fully unlock and participate in international value creation.
