The Group Managing Director and Chairman of 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, 6 May 2026, Ajayi noted that the anniversary represents more than mere longevity.
He said, “It reflects the confidence reposed in FTC by clients, stakeholders, and the broader financial ecosystem over several generations.”
As one of the pioneering indigenous dealing member firms in Nigeria celebrates this milestone, the company is using the occasion to highlight the urgent need for increased participation in the nation’s capital market. Ajayi observed that despite the size of the Nigerian economy, market engagement remains low due to limited financial literacy and access barriers.
He expressed optimism that the anniversary will encourage more Nigerians to view the capital market as a viable avenue for wealth creation and economic empowerment.
Ajayi disclosed that the FTC’s next evolution involves becoming a leading pan-African financial services group. While rooted in Nigeria, the firm plans to grow its presence across the continent through technology, investment banking, and strategic partnerships.
“The company’s next phase will be defined by growth, innovation, and measurable impact,” he asserted.
Founded in 1976 by the late Otunba Olufemi Ajayi, FTC emerged at a time when Nigeria’s capital market was largely dominated by foreign institutions. Today, the firm stands as a pioneer that has navigated decades of economic shifts.
“Over the past five decades, FTC has weathered multiple economic cycles, including the oil boom and bust of the 1980s… the global financial crisis of 2008, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the country’s ongoing macroeconomic reforms,” the FTC management added.
Ajayi emphasised that FTC’s continuity is the result of a disciplined strategy and the ability to adapt, adding, “The Golden Jubilee is anchored on three core pillars: Resilience, Integrity, and Innovation.”
According to the Chairman, resilience allowed FTC to evolve from a traditional stockbroking firm into a broad financial services platform, while integrity remains its most valuable asset. Innovation, however, is what will drive the future.
“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 added.
As part of the celebrations, FTC will host a flagship Golden Jubilee Industry Symposium. The event will bring together regulators from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria, alongside the Nigerian Exchange Limited.
The newly elected President of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Fiona Ahimie, is expected to deliver the keynote address. The session is intended to be a “working session” to shape the next phase of market growth, focusing on technological transformation and regulatory evolution.
FTC is a leading indigenous stockbroking and financial services firm. For 50 years, it has played a significant role in deepening market participation and supporting economic development in Nigeria.
