By Chukwuma Umeorah
The Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have stepped up efforts to promote capital market diplomacy as a strategic tool for deepening Nigeria’s investment ties with China and attracting new cross-border financial flows.
This commitment was demonstrated at the China-Africa CEO Dialogue held on the sidelines of the 4th China–Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha. Organised by Choice International Group in collaboration with NGX, the dialogue brought together Chinese corporates, regulators, and African financial institutions to explore collaborative opportunities in trade and capital markets.
Speaking at the dialogue, Group Managing Director/ CEO, NGX Group, Temi Popoola, 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, 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. By opening these corridors, we are positioning Nigeria as a hub for cross-border investments and supporting the country’s economic diversification agenda,” Popoola said.
On the regulatory front, Director-General of SEC, 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.
Also speaking, Group Chairman of NGX Group, Umaru Kwairanga, praised the strategic engagements in China as a reflection of NGX’s long-term vision. “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,” he stated.
He emphasized that the dialogue reinforced the role of capital markets in driving trade, industrial development, and technology transfer between China and Africa. This is even as both stakeholders pledged to sustain their capital market outreach initiatives as part of a broader economic development strategy.