The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has launched a nationwide awareness campaign to help Nigerians recover unclaimed dividends and other funds linked to investments in the capital market.
The campaign officially started with a town hall meeting held in Lagos on Thursday. During the event, the SEC educated investors on the existence of unclaimed funds, the role of the National Investor Protection Fund (NIPF), and the steps required to verify and recover money that belongs to them.
Speaking on behalf of the SEC Director-General, Emomotimi Agama, the Director of the Registration and Exchanges, Market Infrastructure Department, Hafsat Rufai, explained that many investors have funds waiting to be claimed without knowing it. She said the Commission believes it is important that every legitimate owner receives their money.
According to the SEC, the unclaimed funds include refunds from public offers, payments from company mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring transactions, and other investment-related funds that have remained uncollected for years.
The Commission noted that many investors, as well as their family members, are either unaware that these funds exist or do not understand the process of recovering them. To solve this problem, the SEC Board approved a nationwide public enlightenment programme to educate Nigerians on how to identify and claim these funds.
After the Lagos event, the campaign will continue across the six geopolitical zones of the country and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to ensure that more people benefit from the initiative.
The SEC also highlighted the importance of properly transferring investments after the death of an investor. It explained that many families discover too late that their deceased relatives owned shares or other investments. Even when they are aware, many struggle with the legal procedures needed to transfer ownership to beneficiaries.
To address this challenge, the Lagos programme featured experts who explained probate administration and the process of transferring securities. The session provided practical guidance to families on how to complete the legal requirements and protect inherited investments.
The Commission encouraged investors to keep accurate records of all their investments and advised families to safeguard inherited wealth by understanding the proper legal processes.
In addition, the SEC warned Nigerians to be careful of Ponzi schemes and other fraudulent investment platforms. It said scammers continue to take advantage of economic hardship and digital platforms by promising guaranteed profits and unusually high returns. The Commission reminded the public that every genuine investment carries some level of risk and advised people to avoid offers that seem too good to be true.
Also speaking at the event, Olujoke Ogunojemite, Deputy Director at the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, represented the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro. She praised the SEC for bringing the campaign to Lagos and acknowledged the important role of legal institutions in helping beneficiaries recover unclaimed assets.
She added that many families face difficulties accessing investments after losing loved ones and assured the public that the Ministry of Justice is committed to ensuring that legal procedures do not become unnecessary obstacles. Ogunojemite described the SEC’s campaign as a positive step that will help many Nigerians reclaim assets that rightfully belong to them.
