Gbenga Ilemobayo
The Group Managing Director/Chairman, Financial Trust Company, Omoniyi Ajayi, has announced the company’s 50th anniversary, describing the milestone as a testament to endurance, institutional vision, and sustained trust within Nigeria’s evolving capital market.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, Ajayi said the anniversary, scheduled for Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Lagos, represents more than longevity, noting that it reflects the confidence reposed in the FTC by clients, stakeholders, and the broader financial ecosystem over several generations.
As one the pioneering indigenous dealing member firms in Nigeria celebrates its milestone, the company is using the occasion to highlight the need for increased participation in the capital market.
Ajayi observed that despite the size and potential of the Nigerian economy, market participation remains relatively low, often due to limited financial literacy, perceived complexity, and access barriers.
He expressed optimism that the anniversary would drive greater awareness and encourage more Nigerians to engage with the capital market as a viable avenue for wealth creation and economic empowerment.
Ajayi also disclosed that FTC aims to evolve into a leading pan-African financial services group, rooted in Nigeria but with a growing presence across the continent.
He said this vision would be driven by sustained investment in technology, expansion of investment banking capabilities, increased inclusion of retail investors, and strategic partnerships across African markets, noting that the company’s next phase would be defined by growth, innovation, and measurable impact.
He explained the FTC was founded in 1976 by the late Otunba Olufemi Ajayi at a time when Nigeria’s capital market was still in its infancy and largely dominated by foreign institutions.
According to him, , FTC has distinguished itself as one of the pioneering indigenous dealing member firms, driven by a strong belief is the ability of Nigerians to build and sustain world-class financial institutions. He added that the firm has navigated decades of economic shifts while remaining operational, solvent, and relevant.
Ajayi stated, “Over the past five decades, FTC has weathered multiple economic cycles, including the oil boom and bust 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.
“Throughout these periods, the company has maintained its presence on the Nigerian Exchange, serving both institutional and individual clients, while expanding into investment banking through FT_Nex Rubica.”
Ajayi emphasized that this continuity was not incidental but the result of deliberate strategy, disciplined reinvestment, and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions.
He added that the Golden Jubilee was anchored on three core pillars — resilience, integrity, and innovation — which he described as the defining principles of the company’s past achievements and future direction.
According to him, resilience has enabled FTC to evolve from a traditional stockbrokerage firm into a broader financial services platform, while integrity has remained its most valuable asset, strengthening trust and long-term client relationships.
He said innovation would shape the company’s next phase of growth, as it invests in technology, expands its service offerings, and positions itself at the forefront of developments in financial markets.
As part of its anniversary activities, FTC will host a flagship golden jubilee industry symposium, bringing together regulators, capital market associations, policymakers, market operators, listed companies, and institutional investors for discussions on the future of Nigeria’s capital market.
The symposium will feature participation from key institutions, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Nigerian Exchange Limited (GX) and Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) of which its newly-elected President and Chairman of Council, Fiona Ahimie, will present the keynote address, among others.
Discussions will focus on market structure and efficiency, retail investor participation, the role of capital markets in national development, technological transformation, and regulatory evolution.
Ajayi described the event as more than a celebration, noting that it is intended to serve as a working session to help shape the next phase of growth in the capital market.
“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. We are investing in technology infrastructure, expanding our service offerings, and positioning ourselves at the forefront of market evolution,” he said.
