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FiBOP 2026: Kwairanga Honoured For Contributions To Capital Market Growth
By Prince Benson Davies
The Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, NGX Group, Alhaji Dr. Umaru Kwairanga, has been honoured with the Capital Market Personality of the Year Award at the 2026 Annual Conference and Awards of the Finance and Business Online Publishers Association, FiBOP, held in Lagos.
The prestigious award was in recognition of his outstanding leadership, strategic vision and sustained contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria’s capital market.
The award ceremony formed part of the FiBOP 2026 conference which brought together a diverse audience of policymakers, regulators, business leaders, investors, financial sector operators and media professionals to deliberate on practical strategies for unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential.
This year’s conference was themed Unlocking Nigeria’s Economic Potential: Taxation, Industry, Insurance, Fintech, Trade and Investment as Catalysts for Nigeria’s One Trillion Dollar Vision.
Alhaji Kwairanga’s recognition comes at a time when the Nigerian capital market is playing an increasingly pivotal role in mobilising long-term capital, supporting business expansion and financing national economic development.
In his remarks at the conference where he was Special Guest, the NGX Group Chairman underscored the centrality of the capital market to the attainment of the Federal Government’s one trillion dollar economy target.
He noted that realising the ambition will require massive investments in critical infrastructure, the establishment of productive and competitive enterprises and the creation of sustainable jobs across the country.
He disclosed that the Nigerian capital market has witnessed remarkable growth since the assumption of office by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with market capitalisation rising significantly from less than N50 trillion to over N163 trillion.
According to him, the growth reflects renewed investor confidence, the positive impact of macroeconomic reforms and the resilience of the Nigerian economy.
Alhaji Kwairanga described the capital market as a critical partner in Nigeria’s economic transformation journey, adding that the Exchange will continue to provide a platform for businesses to raise capital and for Nigerians to create wealth.
He also spoke on the need to deepen retail participation in the capital market, revealing that the NGX Group is working towards expanding its investor base from fewer than five million investors to 10 million.
He explained that broader participation is essential to mobilising domestic savings, democratising wealth creation and ensuring that more Nigerians benefit from the opportunities in the capital market.
The NGX Group Chairman further identified the forthcoming Dangote Refinery equity offer as a major opportunity to attract both local and international investors, deepen market liquidity and further showcase Nigeria’s investment potential to the world.
He called for enhanced collaboration among government, regulators, businesses, financial institutions and the media to improve financial literacy, strengthen investor confidence and expand access to investment opportunities.
Alhaji Kwairanga expressed appreciation to FiBOP for the honour, noting that the progress recorded by the NGX Group is a product of teamwork, strong institutional support and the collective efforts of colleagues on the Board, management led by the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Temi Popoola, and the investing public.
The FiBOP Conference and Awards has become a notable platform for recognising individuals and organisations whose activities are contributing significantly to Nigeria’s financial and business landscape, while also facilitating robust dialogue on policies and investments capable of accelerating economic growth.
