The firm says its next phase of growth will be driven by geographic expansion across Africa, deeper investment in financial technology, broader investment banking capabilities, and stronger inclusion of retail investors in capital market activities.
Group Managing Director and Chairman, Omoniyi Ajayi, outlined the strategy during a press briefing ahead of the company’s golden jubilee celebrations, describing the milestone as both a reflection of endurance and a launchpad for future transformation.
“Over the past five decades, FTC has weathered multiple economic cycles, including the oil boom and burst of the 1980s, the Structural Adjustment era of the 1990s, Nigeria’s democratic transition, the global financial crisis of 2008, the commodity downturn between 2014 and 2016, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the country’s ongoing macroeconomic reforms,” he said.
Building on a 1976 Foundation in a Nascent Market
Founded in 1976 by the late Otunba Olufemi Ajayi, FTC emerged at a time when Nigeria’s capital market was still in its early stages and largely influenced by foreign institutions.
Over the decades, the firm has positioned itself as one of the pioneering indigenous dealing member firms on the Nigerian Exchange, maintaining operations through periods of economic volatility while gradually expanding into investment banking through its FT_Nex Rubica platform.
Ajayi emphasized that the company’s longevity was not accidental but the result of “deliberate strategy, disciplined reinvestment, and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions.”
Expansion Strategy Anchored on Technology and Partnerships
Looking ahead, FTC plans to strengthen its footprint across African markets through strategic partnerships, digital transformation, and enhanced service delivery models tailored to both institutional and retail investors.
Ajayi noted that innovation would define the company’s next chapter, particularly as financial markets across the continent become increasingly digitised and interconnected.
He added that the firm’s evolution into a broader financial services platform reflects its ability to adapt beyond traditional stockbroking into more diversified investment banking and capital market services.
Addressing Nigeria’s Low Capital Market Participation
As part of its anniversary reflections, FTC also drew attention to a longstanding challenge in Nigeria’s financial ecosystem—low participation in the capital market.
According to Ajayi, despite the size and potential of the Nigerian economy, retail investor engagement remains limited due to financial literacy gaps, perceived complexity, and structural access barriers.
He expressed optimism that the company’s 50th anniversary activities would help shift public perception and encourage greater participation in wealth creation opportunities through the capital market.
“Resilience, Integrity, Innovation” as Guiding Principles
Ajayi said the company’s golden jubilee is anchored on three core pillars—resilience, integrity, and innovation—which have shaped its operations over five decades.
“Resilience has enabled FTC to evolve from a traditional stockbroking firm into a broader financial services platform, while integrity has remained its most valuable asset, strengthening trust and long-term client relationships,” he said.
He added that innovation will drive the next phase of growth as the firm invests in technology infrastructure and expands its service offerings to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.
Industry Dialogue at the Centre of Jubilee Celebrations
As part of the anniversary programme scheduled to hold in Lagos next week, FTC will host a Golden Jubilee Industry Symposium aimed at convening key stakeholders in Nigeria’s financial ecosystem.
Participants will include regulators, capital market operators, policymakers, institutional investors, listed companies, and professional bodies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Exchange (NGX), and the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS).
Newly elected CIS President, Fiona Ahimie, is expected to deliver the keynote address at the event.
Discussions will focus on capital market structure and efficiency, retail investor participation, technological transformation, regulatory evolution, and the broader role of financial markets in national development.
“A Working Session for the Future”
Ajayi stressed that the symposium is designed to go beyond ceremonial reflection, positioning it as a forward-looking platform for policy and industry dialogue.
“This anniversary is not a moment to rest on past achievements; it is a moment to define our future. To remain relevant over the next fifty years, we will lead in innovation,” he said.
For FTC, the milestone marks not just half a century of survival in a volatile economic environment, but also a deliberate push to redefine its identity—from a pioneering Nigerian stockbroking firm into a continent-facing financial institution aiming to shape the next phase of Africa’s capital market development.