Central Securities Clearing System PLC has appointed Shehu Yahaya Shantali as its Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026.
This marks a leadership transition at the company pending regulatory approval.
Shantali will succeed Haruna Jalo-Waziri, who is set to step down after eight years at the helm.
Jalo-Waziri’s tenure is widely regarded as a period of consolidation and transformation for CSCS, during which the company strengthened its governance framework, upgraded its operational infrastructure, and deepened its relevance within Nigeria’s capital market ecosystem.
Under his leadership, CSCS delivered sustained growth, modernised critical systems, and enhanced stakeholder confidence both locally and internationally.
Speaking on the transition, the Chairman of the Board, Temi Popoola, commended the outgoing CEO for building a resilient and future-ready institution. He noted that Jalo-Waziri leaves behind a strong legacy of operational excellence and strategic execution, while expressing confidence that the incoming CEO would build on these foundations to drive the next phase of growth.
Shantali brings over two decades of experience spanning accounting, finance, capital markets, and digital financial infrastructure across Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and an Executive MBA from Kingster Business School.
His professional background includes extensive work in investment and asset management, financial advisory, and International Financial Reporting Standards.
A significant part of his career was spent at the Securities and Exchange Commission Nigeria, where he played a key role in the migration of publicly listed and major public interest entities from Nigerian GAAP to IFRS.
He also led the Commission’s transition to the contributory pension scheme in 2012, contributing to institutional reforms within the market.
Most recently, as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Apricot Investments Limited, Shantali oversaw the development of the MicroWorld platform, designed to expand access to structured financial products such as micro health, micro pension, micro housing, micro insurance, and micro investment solutions.
His earlier career also included pioneering work on Nigeria’s first contactless payment solution, POS based agency banking, and early mobile money interoperability on the NIBSS NIP platform, supporting system wide efficiency in payments and settlement.
Reflecting on his exit, Jalo-Waziri described his tenure as a privilege, expressing confidence in the company’s future trajectory and pledging continued support for the organisation and its leadership.
In his acceptance remarks, Shantali said he was honoured by the Board’s confidence, noting that CSCS occupies a strategic position within Nigeria’s capital market infrastructure. He emphasised his commitment to working closely with regulators, market participants, and other stakeholders to strengthen CSCS’s leadership role, deliver sustainable value, and support the long term growth and stability of the capital market.
CSCS reaffirmed its commitment to strong corporate governance, operational excellence, and effective stakeholder engagement as it navigates the leadership transition and positions itself for the next stage of development.
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