The Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS) has announced the appointment of Shehu Yahaya Shantali as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 January 2026, subject to regulatory no-objection.
Shantali succeeds Haruna Jalo-Waziri, who will step down after an impactful eight-year tenure defined by strong leadership, strategic execution, and significant contributions to the evolution of Nigeria’s capital market infrastructure.
During his time as CEO, Jalo-Waziri led far-reaching reforms that strengthened governance, enhanced operational efficiency, and modernized CSCS’ systems and processes. His tenure delivered sustained growth, improved stakeholder confidence, and positioned the Company as a resilient, future-ready institution with strong domestic and international relevance.
Commenting on the transition, Chairman of the Board, Mr. Temi Popoola, praised the outgoing CEO for building a solid legacy of excellence and innovation. He noted that the Board is confident the incoming CEO will build on this strong foundation and guide CSCS into its next phase of growth.
Shantali brings over two decades of experience across accounting, finance, capital markets, and financial services in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. He holds a B.Sc. in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and an Executive MBA from Kingster Business School.
His professional background includes a decade at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria, where he played a leading role in the migration from Nigerian GAAP to IFRS and supported major institutional reforms. He has also demonstrated strong leadership in financial inclusion, digital financial infrastructure, and scalable market platforms, most recently as Managing Director/CEO of Apricot Investments Limited.
Shantali has been instrumental in pioneering innovations such as Nigeria’s first contactless payment solution, POS-based agency banking, and early mobile money interoperability on the NIBSS NIP platform, all of which enhanced payment efficiency and market connectivity.
Reflecting on his tenure, Haruna Jalo-Waziri described his time at CSCS as an honour, expressing pride in the achievements recorded and confidence in the Company’s future under new leadership.
In his acceptance remarks, Shantali said he is honoured by the Board’s confidence and looks forward to working with regulators, stakeholders, and market participants to strengthen CSCS’ leadership position and support the continued growth and stability of Nigeria’s capital market.
CSCS reaffirmed its commitment to corporate governance, operational excellence, and stakeholder engagement, as it continues to play a critical role in the Nigerian capital market ecosystem.
