CSCS's new portal to enhance operational efficiency, digital access for custodians

Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS) has launched its Custodian Portal, a user-centric digital solution designed to optimise custodian operations through intuitive, secure, and efficient features.

The Custodian Portal offers a streamlined experience for market participants, with powerful tools that facilitate comprehensive portfolio and trade management, document tracking, share transfer operations, client symbol search, and real-time access to vital data.

The Custodian Portal reinforces CSCS’s commitment to leveraging technology to streamline back-office functions and support a more agile, data-driven capital market ecosystem.

All custodians in the Nigerian capital market have now been successfully onboarded on the Custodian Portal, marking a significant milestone in CSCS’s ongoing drive to enhance collaboration, standardise operational processes, and promote digital adoption across the market.

Operating through a flexible subscription-based model, the portal empowers users to manage their records effortlessly and securely through convenient payment channels such as GTPay and Paystack.

Haruna Jalo-Waziri, MD/CEO of CSCS Plc, stated, “Digital transformation remains at the core of our strategy to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and accessibility of Nigeria’s capital market services. The Custodian Portal is a significant leap in that direction, offering custodians a centralised platform to manage critical processes in real-time.”

Jalo-Waziri added, “We are excited about the value this innovation brings to our stakeholders, and we will continue to evolve the platform in line with users’ needs and industry trends.”

Designed with user experience in mind, the portal also features tools like portfolio viewing and downloads in PDF or Excel format, tracking of stock movements across date ranges, inbox messaging and request tracking, and robust user management capabilities including role assignment and status tracking.

Tobe Nnadozie, Divisional Head, Business Technology and Digital Innovation, CSCS Plc, added, “The Custodian Portal aligns with CSCS’s drive to automate the market. In addition to the normal features, the platform is a part of an omnichannel platform for custodians, which includes API services. It also connects to the market-wide workflow, which CSCS has built to ensure secure communication and approvals across all major stakeholders in the market. The platform is well secured with best-of-breed cybersecurity solutions and our SOC.”

Iheanyi Nwachukwu

Iheanyi Nwachukwu, is a creative content writer with almost two decades journalism experience writing on banking, finance, capital markets, and tax. The multiple awards winning journalist is Assistant Editor, BusinessDay. Iheanyi holds BSc Degree in Economics from Imo State University; Master of Science (MSc) Degree in Management from University of Lagos. Iheanyi has attended several work-related trainings including (i) Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (Pan African University, Lagos); (ii) News Agency Journalism (Indian Institute of Mass Communication {IIMC}, New Delhi, India); and (iii) Capital Markets Development and Regulations (International Law Institute {ILI} of Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA). Other trainings Iheanyi attended include: Economic/Political Risk Analysis (By Thomson Reuters Foundation); International Financial Journalism (IFJ) (By PMA Media Training, UK); Effective Business Writing Skills (By Phillips Consulting); Reporting on Corporate Governance (By International Finance Corporation (IFC) & Thomson Reuters Foundation UK); etc. In addition, he has participated in high-level economy & markets events in Dubai, South Africa, Morocco, and other African countries like Zambia, Ghana and Gambia.