By Stanley Onyeka, Lagos
To position Nigeria’s capital market as a catalyst for cross-border investments, the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), have reaffirmed their commitment to fostering cross-border capital market partnerships.
Their current engagements in China reflect a broader drive to strengthen Nigeria’s connectivity to global financial markets and attract new investment flows, according to a joint statement.
This commitment was demonstrated at the China-Africa CEO Dialogue, organised by Choice International Group in strategic collaboration with NGX Group.
The event took place on the sidelines of the 4th China–Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, where NGX Group, SEC, and other leading African institutions engaged Chinese corporates, regulators, and financial institutions to explore mutually beneficial partnerships.
Speaking at the dialogue, Group Managing Director / CEO, NGX Group, Temi Popoola, was said to have noted that deepening capital market partnerships is key to unlocking new investment corridors between Nigeria and China.
He highlighted NGX Group’s engagement with institutions such as the Shanghai Stock Exchange and Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
This, he was quoted as saying, is aimed at creating pathways for Chinese corporates to raise capital locally, whether through bonds, commercial papers, or equity, to help mitigate currency and operational risks while driving growth in key sectors like manufacturing, ICT, and automotive.
“Financial flows are often the missing link in many China-Africa engagements,” Popoola said. “By opening these corridors, we are positioning Nigeria as a hub for cross-border investments and supporting the country’s economic diversification agenda.”
From a regulatory perspective, the Director-General of SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to providing a safe, transparent, and enabling investment environment.
“Our job is not just to provide the framework, but to assure investors that if they come to Nigeria, they’ll find justice when they need it. Transparency and credibility are key to building investor confidence.
“While risk is inherent in every business, our role as regulators is to mitigate those risks and ensure a level playing field,” he stated.
Financial flows are often the missing link in many China-Africa engagements. By opening these corridors, we are positioning Nigeria as a hub for cross-border investments and supporting the country’s economic diversification agenda.
Group Chairman, NGX Group, Umaru Kwairanga, praised the strategic engagements in China as a testament to NGX Group’s ambition to position Nigeria as Africa’s investment gateway.
“At NGX Group, we believe the capital market is pivotal to unlocking Africa’s potential. Our engagement in China reflects our commitment to building bridges between Nigeria and key global markets to deliver long-term prosperity for our stakeholders,” Mr. Kwairanga remarked.
The dialogue underscored the importance of capital markets in facilitating trade, technology transfer, and industrial development between China and Nigeria.
Both NGX Group and SEC pledged to continue championing capital market diplomacy as a tool for sustainable economic growth.
