On May 11, 1976, Financial Trust Company Limited began operations as Nigeria’s first indigenous stockbroking firm at a time when the Nation’s Capital Market—then known as the Lagos Stock Exchange—was still in its infancy and largely dominated by expatriate and foreign-owned institutions, with very limited indigenous participation.
Fifty years later, Financial Trust Company is celebrating its Golden Jubilee, unveiling plans for a series of anniversary activities that will culminate in a grand ceremony scheduled for May 14, 2026.
Speaking at a landmark press conference in Lagos, the Group Managing Director of Financial Trust Company, Niyi Ajayi, unveiled the company’s 50th anniversary programme, highlighting the organisation’s resilience, integrity, and innovation over five decades in Nigeria’s capital market.
According to him, when Financial Trust Company was founded in 1976, the idea of an indigenous Nigerian firm competing in stockbroking and dealing was considered ambitious because the sector was dominated by foreign institutions.
“Our founder believed that Nigerians had the capacity to build and sustain world-class financial institutions. That belief was a deliberate act of faith in our people and our potential. Fifty years later, that faith has been validated.”
Ajayi described the company’s ability to survive and grow through several economic cycles—including the oil boom and bust era of the 1980s, the Structural Adjustment Programme of the 1990s, the democratic transition period, the 2008 global financial crisis, the commodity downturn of 2014 to 2016, the COVID-19 pandemic, and current macroeconomic adjustments—as evidence of the resilience and sustainability of indigenous financial institutions in Nigeria.
He noted that Financial Trust Company has evolved from a traditional stockbroking outfit into a diversified financial services institution, with investment banking operations now operating under FT_Nex Rubica. According to him, the anniversary theme, “Resilience, Integrity, and Innovation,” reflects both the company’s enduring values and its future aspirations.
Speaking further on the theme, Ajayi emphasized that resilience for the company has meant continuous adaptation, disciplined reinvestment, and the ability to evolve with changing market realities. He added that integrity has remained central to the company’s operations over the years, especially in an industry where trust is critical.
“In financial services, integrity is not optional, it is foundational. Our clients entrust us with their capital and their financial futures. Over five decades, integrity has been our competitive moat and one of the key reasons we have remained relevant.”
As part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations, the company will host an industry symposium expected to bring together regulators, policymakers, investors, listed companies, and market operators to discuss the future of Nigeria’s capital market, retail investor participation, technology-driven growth, and regulatory reforms.
Ajayi said the symposium would focus on strengthening market efficiency, expanding participation, and exploring the role of technology and innovation in the future of Africa’s financial markets.
He also disclosed that Financial Trust Company’s long-term ambition is to evolve into a leading pan-African financial services group through investments in technology, strategic partnerships, expanded investment banking operations, and broader financial inclusion across the continent.
