Calls for innovation, efficiency, and digital transformation took center stage at the 14th Annual Conference and Presidential Investiture of the Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ICMR), where Mrs. Catherine Nwosu was officially installed as the fourth President and Chairman of the Council. The ceremony, held on Saturday, marked a significant milestone for the Institute, which continues to shape the evolving role of registrars in Nigeria’s financial sector.
Nwosu, who was elected during the ICMR Annual General Meeting in Lagos, succeeds Mr. Oluseyi Owoturo, the outgoing president and CEO of Coronation Registrars Limited. Her election also ushered in new council members, including Dr. Kamal Okunola as First Vice President and Mr. Ugochukwu Okonkwo as Second Vice President. In his remarks, Owoturo urged registrars to embrace technology and forward-thinking strategies, emphasizing that the theme, “Unlocking Global Value: The Evolving Role of Capital Market Registrars in Trust, Efficiency and Innovation,” reflects the sector’s transformation from traditional record-keeping to strategic value creation.
The Group Chairman of NGX Group, Dr. Umaru Kwairanga, commended ICMR’s contribution to transparency and investor confidence, describing registrars as “the quiet custodians of credibility” in the capital market. He highlighted the critical role registrars play in maintaining shareholder records, processing dividends, and ensuring accountability in corporate actions. “The efficiency of the registrar community is inseparable from the efficiency of the capital market itself,” Kwairanga noted, urging professionals to reimagine their role as drivers of capital formation and investor engagement.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Olakunle Alake, Group Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, identified three key priorities for registrars—digitization with cybersecurity safeguards, continuous professional training, and global benchmarking. “Capital markets thrive on confidence, built on trust, efficiency, and innovation,” he said. Alake called on registrars to view themselves as architects of Nigeria’s financial future rather than just custodians of data.
Echoing similar sentiments, Dr. Oluwatoyin Sanni, Executive Vice Chair of Emerging Africa Group, emphasized that the future of the registrar profession lies in automation, blockchain adoption, and data-driven operations. She urged professionals to invest in talent, technology, and collaboration to enhance transparency and competitiveness. “The future registrar,” she said, “is a trusted, tech-enabled, and globally connected professional. Together, we can unlock the next frontier of value in Africa’s capital markets.”
source: Punch