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The Securities and Exchange Commission has launched a nationwide campaign to help investors recover unclaimed dividends and other funds linked to capital market transactions.
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The initiative will educate Nigerians on verifying and claiming unclaimed dividends, public offer refunds, merger proceeds, and other investor funds administered by the National Investor Protection Fund.
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The campaign, which began in Lagos, will be extended to all six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory as part of efforts to reconnect investors with their assets.
July 17, (THEWILL) — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has launched a nationwide public enlightenment campaign to help Nigerians recover unclaimed dividends and other outstanding funds arising from capital market transactions.
The initiative, which kicked off with a town hall meeting in Lagos, is designed to educate investors on the existence of unclaimed monies, the role of the National Investor Protection Fund (NIPF), and the procedures for verifying and recovering legitimate claims.
The Commission said the campaign forms part of broader efforts to strengthen investor protection and ensure that funds belonging to investors are returned to their rightful owners.
SEC Begins Nationwide Investor Awareness Campaign
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, the Director-General of the SEC, Dr Emomotimi Agama, represented by the Director of Registration and Exchanges, Market Infrastructure Department, Hafsat Rufai, said the initiative became necessary because many investors remain unaware that they have unclaimed funds, or do not know the process for recovering them.
According to the Commission, the nationwide outreach will educate investors on their rights while providing guidance on the steps required to verify and claim outstanding monies.
The Lagos town hall marks the first phase of the exercise, with similar programmes expected to be held across the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory.
Agama stressed that protecting investors remains one of the Commission’s core responsibilities and that no legitimate investment proceeds should remain permanently unclaimed.
Unclaimed Funds Extend Beyond Dividends
The SEC explained that the unclaimed monies administered by the National Investor Protection Fund go beyond unpaid dividends.
They also include refunds from public offers, payments arising from mergers, acquisitions and corporate restructuring exercises, as well as other funds belonging to investors that have remained unclaimed over time.
According to the Commission, many of these funds have remained outstanding because investors changed addresses, failed to update their records, misplaced investment documents, or were simply unaware that payments were due to them.
The regulator noted that improving awareness is critical to ensuring that investors receive every benefit accruing from their investments in the capital market.
Campaign Seeks to Reconnect Investors with Their Money
The SEC described it as unacceptable for investor funds to remain unclaimed indefinitely, especially where rightful owners or their families may not even know such funds exist.
The Commission said the nationwide campaign is intended to bridge that information gap by encouraging investors to verify their investment records and initiate claims where necessary.
Beyond helping investors recover outstanding funds, the initiative is expected to strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s capital market by promoting transparency, investor protection, and greater participation in long-term investments.
As the campaign expands across the country, the SEC hopes more Nigerians will take advantage of the opportunity to recover legitimate investment proceeds that may have remained dormant for years.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
