The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced plans to integrate cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced cryptocurrency topics into the academic curriculum in alignment with emerging market demands.
Dr. Emomotimi Agama, the Director General of the SEC, shared this development during the inauguration of a committee tasked with updating the current Securities and Investment Management curriculum. This curriculum, approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC), is intended for universities and tertiary institutions across Nigeria. Professor Uche Uwaleke, a leading figure in Capital Market Studies from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, has been appointed as the committee chair.
Dr. Agama emphasized the importance of adapting educational content to reflect recent advancements in fintech, cybersecurity, AI, and other rapidly evolving fields, noting the significance of equipping future capital market professionals with relevant and practical skills. “With recent advancements in areas like fintech, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, it’s essential that our curriculum expands to address these trends. We want to ensure that young Nigerians, in particular, gain a comprehensive understanding of the capital market,” he explained. Agama expressed his hopes for the committee to enrich the curriculum, stating, “Our ambition is to establish Nigeria as a leader in the capital market through superior knowledge and education.”
According to Agama, the committee’s responsibilities include:
- Reviewing the NUC’s Securities and Investment Management curriculum to incorporate Non-Interest Capital Market (NICM), the commodities ecosystem, financial derivatives, sustainable finance, and capital market regulations.
- Expanding the curriculum’s “Introduction to Cryptocurrency” section to reflect the latest developments.
- Developing a standardized Capital Market Studies curriculum for adoption by universities and other institutions.
In response, Professor Uwaleke conveyed his gratitude to the SEC for entrusting the committee with this national duty, expressing the members’ commitment to contributing towards a forward-looking capital market education for Nigeria.
