….Celebrates 50th anniversary

Peter Egwuatu & Precious
Enaike

The Group Managing Director/Chairman of Financial Trust Company (FTC), Mr Omoniyi Ajayi, has announced the company’s plans for pan African growth preparatory to its 50th anniversary celebration, while 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 in Lagos, represents more than longevity, noting that it reflects the confidence reposed in FTC by clients, stakeholders, and the broader financial ecosystem over several generations.
He encouraged Nigerians to invest more in the capital market to build the economy.
According to him, 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 Nigeria’s 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. He noted that the company’s next phase will be defined by growth, innovation, and measurable impact.
He explained that 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 in 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.
“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” he added.