Oluseyi Owoturo

Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its economic evolution. Across the continent, capital markets are awakening to unprecedented opportunities, yet they remain constrained by infrastructure challenges that have persisted for decades. The question isn’t whether Africa’s capital markets will modernise—it’s how quickly we can build the digital backbone that will power this transformation.

At Coronation Registrars, we’ve witnessed firsthand both the immense potential and the systemic barriers that characterise Africa’s investment landscape. For too long, shareholders have been disenfranchised by manual processes, issuers have lacked real-time market intelligence, and the entire ecosystem has operated with inefficiencies that would be unthinkable in today’s digital economy.

Bridging the Digital Divide

Nigeria’s recent Securities and Exchange Commission directive on unclaimed dividends illuminated a problem that extends far beyond regulatory compliance. When dividends worth billions of naira remain unclaimed for years, we’re witnessing the consequences of disconnected, analogue systems operating in a digital world. Shareholders lose access to their wealth, companies face regulatory burdens, and the entire market suffers from reduced liquidity and confidence.

This challenge extends across Africa’s capital markets. Traditional registrar services, built for a different era, struggle to serve today’s sophisticated investors who expect real-time access, transparent processes, and seamless digital experiences. The gap between expectation and reality has created an urgency for transformation that cannot be ignored.

Technology as Great Equaliser

Technology isn’t merely improving existing processes—it’s fundamentally reimagining what’s possible in African capital markets. At Coronation Registrars, our journey began with a simple premise: every shareholder, regardless of location or portfolio size, deserves institutional-quality service and access to their investments.

This philosophy drove us to develop ShareholderLive, our comprehensive digital platform that transforms retail investors into empowered market participants. When shareholders can view their dividend portfolios in real-time. We’re not just digitising services—we’re democratising wealth creation.

The impact extends beyond individual convenience. Our data shows that digitally engaged shareholders are more likely to participate in corporate actions, attend AGMs, and maintain long-term investment positions. This engagement strengthens the entire market ecosystem whilst driving sustainable economic growth.

Redefining Market Standards

Our recent achievement as Nigeria’s first registrar to fully automate bond processing represents more than technological advancement—it demonstrates how innovation can solve systemic challenges whilst creating new market opportunities. The traditional bond processing cycle, plagued by manual delays and calculation errors, often discouraged institutional investment and limited market growth.

By developing end-to-end automation covering onboarding, computation, and e-payment notifications, we’ve eliminated these friction points whilst establishing new benchmarks for operational excellence. The result is faster turnaround times for issuers, more reliable service for investors, and enhanced transparency across the entire bond lifecycle.

Similarly, our Coronation Virtual platform has transformed how companies engage with shareholders during AGMs. The traditional model, which often excluded remote shareholders and limited participation, has given way to hybrid solutions that expand access whilst maintaining the integrity of corporate governance processes. During major AGMs, including those for Africa’s leading banks, oil and gas companies, telecom companies, manufacturing and other key sectors, we’ve demonstrated that technology can enhance rather than replace human engagement.

The Institutional Advantage

Public companies across Africa face increasingly sophisticated investor expectations whilst navigating complex regulatory environments. Our IssuerLive platform addresses this challenge by providing real-time market intelligence that was previously impossible to access. When issuers can monitor their market position through live balance sheet data, track insider trading activities, and generate compliance reports on demand, they gain strategic advantages that drive better decision-making and enhanced investor relations.

The platform’s Trade Report and Insider Report features, combined with flexible reporting periods, give companies unprecedented visibility into their market performance. This intelligence enables proactive management of investor relations, more strategic corporate actions, and better alignment between company performance and market valuation.

Setting New Standards

Our ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Certification reflects more than operational excellence—it represents our commitment to building sustainable competitive advantages through systematic quality management. In markets where trust is paramount, certified quality systems create confidence that attracts both local and international investment.

This certification underpins every platform we operate and every service we deliver. When international investors evaluate African markets, they seek partners who operate to global standards whilst understanding local market dynamics. Our quality certification, combined with our technology platforms, positions us to serve as a bridge between global capital and African opportunities.

Technology Driving Market Growth

The true power of our technology platforms lies not in individual features but in their collective impact on market development. When we reduce the friction in shareholder services, more retail investors participate in equity markets. When we streamline corporate actions, companies find it easier to raise capital. When we provide real-time market intelligence, institutional investors can make more informed decisions about African opportunities.

Our role in major market transactions, including one of Nigeria’s largest telecom IPOs, demonstrates how technology-enabled registrar services can facilitate large-scale capital raising whilst ensuring seamless investor experiences. The record-breaking nationwide engagement we achieved didn’t happen by accident—it resulted from systematic application of data-driven processes designed to maximise participation whilst maintaining operational integrity.

Vision for Africa’s Capital Market Future

Africa’s capital markets are not merely catching up to global standards—they’re leapfrogging traditional limitations through innovative technology adoption. The continent’s young, digitally native population presents unique opportunities for market development that don’t exist in more mature markets.

Our vision extends beyond efficient registrar services to encompass a transformed financial ecosystem where capital flows efficiently, transparently, and inclusively. Every platform we build, every process we digitise, and every innovation we introduce contributes to this larger transformation.

As prosperity partners, we understand that efficient capital markets are essential for Africa’s sustainable development. When entrepreneurs can access capital markets easily, when retail investors can participate meaningfully in economic growth, and when institutional capital can flow efficiently to productive opportunities, we create the foundation for broad-based prosperity.

Building Tomorrow, Today

The future of Africa’s capital markets is being written today through the technology platforms, quality systems, and innovative solutions we implement now. At Coronation Registrars, we’re not waiting for transformation to happen—we’re actively creating it through strategic investments in technology, people, and processes that serve Africa’s evolving financial needs.

The journey requires vision, commitment, and the courage to build systems that may not generate immediate returns but will create lasting value for all market participants. As we look toward Africa’s next phase of economic growth, we remain committed to building the infrastructure that will power this transformation whilst ensuring that prosperity reaches every corner of the continent.

The question for other market participants is simple: Will you help build Africa’s financial future, or will you be disrupted by it? At Coronation Registrars, we’ve made our choice. We’re building tomorrow’s capital markets today.

. Oluseyi Owoturo, is the Chief Executive Officer, Coronation Registrars Limited

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