What Is a Share Registrar in Nigeria?
A share registrar maintains a Nigerian listed company's official shareholder register, the authoritative record of who owns its shares. The registrar is the entity you deal with for dividend payments, address updates, AGM notices, and any corporate action relating to your shares. Understanding who your registrar is — and how to contact them — is essential for any registered Nigerian shareholder.
Share Registrar. A share registrar is a regulated company appointed by a listed corporation to maintain its official shareholder register — the authoritative record of who owns how many shares, what each shareholder's contact details and bank details are, and when share transactions occur.
A Find My Shares search checks across the registrars and brokers for holdings in your name and tells you where each one is held. ₦10,000.
Find My SharesWhat a share registrar does
The registrar's core responsibilities include: maintaining the official shareholder register; processing share transfers and ownership changes; processing dividend payments (including e-dividend mandate registration); sending AGM notices and proxy forms to shareholders; administering corporate actions such as rights issues and bonus issues; and issuing share certificates or CSCS crediting notifications.
Major Nigerian share registrars
Registrars that keep the registers of NGX-listed companies include: Africa Prudential Plc (itself listed on the NGX); CardinalStone Registrars (formerly City Securities Registrars); Coronation Registrars (formerly United Securities Limited); DataMax Registrars (formerly GTB Registrars); First Registrars and Investor Services; Greenwich Registrars and Data Solutions; Meristem Registrars and Probate Services; and Veritas Registrars. Each registrar is appointed by the companies it serves, so you deal with the registrar appointed by each company you own shares in. Our guide to each of these registrars is linked below.
A Find My Shares search checks across the registrars and brokers for holdings in your name and tells you where each one is held. ₦10,000.
Find My SharesRegistrars and dividend processing
When a Nigerian company declares a dividend, the registrar processes the payment to eligible shareholders. For the e-dividend system, the registrar needs your bank account details linked to your CSCS number. If your bank details are not registered, dividend payments may accumulate as unclaimed dividends in your registrar account. Contact the relevant registrar to register or update your bank mandate.
Updating your details with the registrar
If your registered address, phone number, email address, or bank account changes, you should notify the relevant registrar promptly. Each registrar has its own mandate update form. Some registrars accept updates digitally through their portals; others require physical forms. Keeping your details up to date ensures you receive dividend payments, AGM notices, and corporate action notifications.
How to find which registrar holds your shares
Each NGX-listed company's annual report names its registrar in the corporate information section, and the company's investor relations pages usually do too. If you need to update your details, claim unclaimed dividends, trace an old shareholding or resolve a discrepancy, contact the registrar appointed by that company. If you no longer know which companies you hold, you need to find the holdings first.
Registrars and CSCS
The registrar and the CSCS serve complementary but distinct roles. The CSCS is the central depository — it holds electronic records of share ownership for trading and settlement purposes. The registrar maintains the company's own shareholder register (which derives from CSCS records) and manages shareholder communications and corporate actions on behalf of the company. For most practical purposes, your CSCS account is the central record of your shareholdings.
Questions
About share registrar
This page is for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, or legal advice. The names of registrars mentioned are factual entities — their inclusion does not constitute a recommendation. Seek independent regulated financial advice before making any investment decision. Shares Saver does not provide financial advice.
Not sure which registrars hold your shares?
A Find My Shares search checks across the registrars and brokers for holdings in your name and tells you where each one is held. ₦10,000.
Find My Shares