Reforms, inclusion, technology, reshaping capital market- Popoola

The Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Group., Mr Temi Popoola, says the capital market is consolidating its position as a structured gateway to the African market.

Popoola, who was quoted in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos, said this at t a recent Pan-African Investment Lounge hosted by Radiant Collective Capital (RCC).

He said the development was underpinned by macroeconomic reforms, digital platforms, and expanding investor participation.

The theme of the event is “Global Economic Outlook 2026 & Overview of the Nigerian Stock Exchange: Opportunities and Market Structure”.

The virtual session was attended by women professionals, founders, and business leaders from across Africa and the diaspora.

Popoola highlighted how the ongoing reforms were translating into tangible investment opportunities, particularly for women and diaspora investors.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s 2025 adjustment phase, Popoola noted that difficult but necessary reforms, alongside improved price discovery, had laid the foundation for more sustainable growth in 2026.

He pointed to the NGX All-Share Index’s 51.19 per cent gain in 2025, attributing the performance to improvement in corporate earnings, dividend consistency, and economic reforms, rather than speculative activity.

“Capital is becoming increasingly selective globally. What we are seeing in Nigeria is a market that has embraced reforms, strengthened transparency, and invested in resilient infrastructure.

“The focus is on building an investable platform that supports long-term economic growth,” he said.

The NGX GCEO underscored the role of inclusive participation in deepening market resilience, noting a growing proportion of women investors among new retail accounts.

Popoola said broader participation contributed to healthier markets through longer investment horizons, disciplined accumulation, and more risk-aware decision-making.

He said this while referencing a recent telecommunications public offer in which women accounted for 76 per cent of more than 110,000 new investor accounts.

“Women don’t just participate in markets; they help stabilise them,” he said.

Looking ahead to 2026, Popoola identified five interconnected pillars shaping Nigeria’s investment landscape.

He listed those pillars as: global geopolitical shifts creating alternative supply-chain opportunities; strengthening macroeconomic stability with projected GDP growth of 4.4 per cent.

Others include; renewed foreign portfolio investment driven by improved transparency and attractive yields; closer coordination between fiscal and monetary policy; and greater asset utilisation through new listings and infrastructure-linked instruments.

Popoola emphasised that future market growth would increasingly be driven by technology, sustainability, and strategic partnerships.

According to him, digital platforms such as NGX Invest are expanding access and transparency across the primary market, while ESG-linked initiatives, including the NGX Net-Zero project, support long-term market resilience and risk management.

Partnerships with regulators and key market stakeholders, he noted, remained central to sustaining investor confidence.

The session set the stage for deeper collaboration between NGX Group and women-led investment networks across the continent.

Popoola said NGX Group planned to build on this engagement with targeted investor education initiatives in 2026, focusing on digital market access, sector-specific opportunities, and structured pathways for diaspora investment.