At the AGM, the shareholders of the company approved the board’s proposed dividend of N1.78 per share, amounting to N8.9 billion. Popoola said the company’s operating income grew by 12 per cent to N24.86 billion from N22.16 billion. He said in spite of the cost pressures and foreign exchange-related impacts during the year, the company delivered resilient financial performance.

“In line with the company’s performance and commitment to shareholder value, the board and the shareholders have approved a dividend of N1.78 per share. “This reflects our balanced approach to delivering consistent returns while reinvesting to support long-term growth. “Going forward, the issue of increase in dividend is non-negotiable,” he said.

Popoola also noted that, however, the company’s profits before tax experienced a one per cent decline to N13.57 billion from N13.84 billion while profit after tax also dropped to N9.90 billion from N11.94 billion. He said the assets declined from N64.15 billion to N62.79 billion. Speaking on the 2026 outlook, Popoola stated that CSCS would be pursuing a forward-looking strategy anchored on three key priorities.

He explained that the company would strengthen market infrastructure resilience through sustained investment in technology and improved operational efficiency. According to him, CSCS also planned to expand its service offerings across various asset classes and market segments to support broader market development. Popoola added that the organisation would unlock value from data and post-trade services to enhance revenue diversification and deepen market insights.

The Managing Director of CSCS, Shehu Shantali, said that the company’s revenue increased significantly by 66 per cent to N23.21 billion. According to him, this reflected sustained market activity and growth across the company’s core service lines. He said the company’s operating profit rose significantly to N8.71 billion, expanding its operating margin to 37.5 per cent compared to 10.7 per cent in the prior year.

“This performance reflects disciplined cost management and improved operational efficiency across the organisation. “Our balance sheet also strengthened during the year, with total equity increasing to N43.49 billion, from N42.40 billion, reinforcing the long-term sustainability of the institution. “These results reflect a business that continues to grow responsibly while maintaining a disciplined focus on operational efficiency, risk management, and long-term shareholder value,” he said.

In separate remarks, shareholders applauded CSCS for the records urging the company to consider expanding its operations beyond Nigeria. The National Coordinator of the Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr Boniface Okezie, emphasised the need for CSCS to adopt a more global outlook, noting that the workforce and human capacity required to achieve this were readily available. Okezie also lauded the company for its smooth transition to the T+2 settlement cycle and advised that banks not listed on the Exchange should not engage with CSCS. On his part, the President of the New Dimension Shareholders Association, Patrick Ajudua, advised CSCS to ensure that the N390 million in unclaimed dividends is returned to rightful owners by enhancing its information dissemination strategies to reach affected shareholders.