1️⃣ Identify the Company Whose Shares You Bought
• Not the stockbroker but the actual company whose shares you purchased. Write down the company’s name(s).
• If the company has since changed its name, merged, or been acquired, get the new company name of the new owner. Your shares are there.
2️⃣ Find the Company’s Registrar
Every company listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) has a registrar that keeps shareholder records. For example:
• Dangote Cement Plc Registrar is Coronation Registrars Limited
• GTCO Registrar is Datamax Registrars
• PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc Registrar is First Registrars & Investors
You can search online for “Registrar of [Company Name] shares” or check the NGX or SEC website.
3️⃣ Contact the Registrar
Send them an email that includes:
• Your full name (as used when you bought the shares)
• Any share certificate, dividend warrant, or CSCS number you may still have
• Your current phone number, email, and valid ID
✅ The registrar will trace your records and confirm if you’re still a shareholder, and inform you.
• Feel free to ask them any questions or raise any concerns. They are obliged to assist you.
• If their office is nearby, you may also visit in person.
• Always follow them up.
4️⃣ You Can Then Complete an E-Dividend Mandate
If your dividends have been piling up unclaimed, you can reclaim them by filling out the e-dividend mandate form through your registrar’s website or on the SEC Nigeria website.
• Once activated, your dividends will be paid directly into your bank account.
5️⃣ Dematerialise Your Shares (Move to CSCS)
Many old shares were issued in paper certificate form, but today everything is electronic.
• The registrar will help you dematerialise your shares (transfer them from paper to your CSCS account). So, you will need to provide them your CSCS
• You have to get a CSCS (Central Securities Clearing System number) through a stockbroker if you presently don’t have one.
▶️ This is what I will tell you: Even if it’s been 10–20 years, your stock investment in Nigeria is still somehow traceable. If the company still exists, your shares are intact.