The Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS) has announced the appointment of Mr. Shehu Yahaya Shantali as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026, subject to the receipt of regulatory no-objection.
City Business News reports that Mr. Shantali will succeed Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, who is set to step down after a successful eight-year tenure marked by strong leadership, strategic growth, and significant contributions to the development of Nigeria’s capital market infrastructure.
During his time at the helm, Mr. Jalo-Waziri provided visionary and results-driven leadership that delivered sustained growth and far-reaching transformation across the organization.
He oversaw the successful execution of critical strategic initiatives, strengthened governance and operational effectiveness, and modernised CSCS’ systems and processes, positioning the company for long-term resilience and competitiveness. His leadership also enhanced stakeholder confidence, deepened the organisation’s market relevance both locally and internationally, and laid a solid, future-ready foundation for continued success.
Commenting on the appointment, Chairman of the Board, Mr. Temi Popoola, expressed appreciation for the outgoing CEO’s contributions and confidence in the incoming leadership.
“On behalf of the Board, I would like to express our profound appreciation to Haruna Jalo-Waziri for his outstanding service to CSCS. Under his leadership, the Company recorded notable milestones and built an impressive legacy of operational excellence, innovation, and stakeholder confidence. We thank him sincerely for his dedication and impact,” Popoola said.
He added: “We are equally delighted to welcome Shehu Shantali as the new Chief Executive Officer of CSCS. He brings a wealth of experience, deep industry knowledge, and a strong strategic vision. The Board is confident that he will build on the solid foundation laid by his predecessor and lead the Company into its next phase of growth.”
Mr. Shantali holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and an Executive MBA from Kingster Business School.
He has over two decades of experience in accounting, finance, and financial services across Nigeria and the United Kingdom, with expertise spanning investment and asset management, financial advisory, and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
His career cuts across capital markets, investment banking, real estate, and financial services, underpinned by a decade-long tenure at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria. While at the SEC, he championed the migration of publicly listed and significant public interest entities from Nigerian GAAP to IFRS and led the Commission’s transition to the contributory pension scheme in 2012.
Mr. Shantali has also built deep experience in financial inclusion, digital financial infrastructure, and the development of scalable, market-wide platforms that expand access to regulated financial services. As Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Apricot Investments Limited, he led the development of the MicroWorld platform, which enabled the distribution of structured financial products such as micro-health, micro-pension, micro-housing, micro-insurance, and micro-investment solutions.
Earlier in his career, he was part of teams that developed Nigeria’s first contactless payment solution and played a pioneering role in POS-based agency banking and early mobile-money interoperability on the NIBSS NIP platform, supporting efficient payments, settlement, and system-wide connectivity.
Reflecting on his tenure, the outgoing CEO, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, described his service as a privilege.
“It has been an honour to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of CSCS. I am proud of what we have achieved together as a team and grateful for the support of the Board, management, regulators, and all our stakeholders. I am confident that CSCS is well positioned for the future, and I wish my successor every success as he takes the Company forward,” he said.
In his remarks, the incoming CEO, Mr. Shantali, expressed appreciation to the Board for the appointment and reaffirmed his commitment to the organisation’s mandate.
“I am deeply honoured by the confidence the Board has placed in me with this appointment. CSCS plays a critical role in Nigeria’s capital market ecosystem, and I look forward to working with the Board, management, staff, regulators, and market participants to further strengthen the Company’s leadership position, deliver value to stakeholders, and support the continued growth and stability of the capital market.”
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