Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, Group Chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), has urged investment professionals to translate capital mobilisation into tangible economic prosperity.
Kwairanga made the call at the 30th Annual Stockbrokers’ Conference of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) in Lagos on Wednesday.
The conference had the theme ‘From Capital Mobilised to Prosperity Realised: Financing Nigeria’s Next Era of Growth and Global Competitiveness.’
He said stockbrokers must proactively identify viable investment opportunities and guide entrepreneurs and administrators towards accessing funds to develop them.
Kwairanga said the success of Nigeria’s capital market should extend beyond the volume of funds raised and transactions executed.
“The distinction between capital mobilised and prosperity realised is an important one.
“The success of our market cannot be measured solely by the volume of funds raised or the value of transactions executed.
“We must also consider how effectively capital is deployed, the businesses it supports, the employment opportunities it creates and its contribution to the broader economy,” he said.
He urged investment professionals to facilitate the connection between capital formation and economic development through effective investment guidance.
“As investment professionals, we should help to facilitate the link between capital formation and prosperity by being proactive in identifying viable and value-creating opportunities.
“We should also guide entrepreneurs and administrators on how to access the capital to exploit such opportunities,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s development aspirations require substantial long-term investments in infrastructure, industrial capacity, technology and agriculture.
He said achieving these objectives required a financial system capable of mobilising savings, attracting investments and funding productive enterprises.
Kwairanga also urged stockbrokers to embrace technological innovations while upholding professional integrity, sound judgement and investor protection.
He encouraged practitioners yet to join the African Exchanges Linkage Programme (AELP) to leverage its opportunities for expanding investments across Africa.
He said the programme and the recently concluded Dangote Refinery Initial Public Offering (IPO) demonstrated Nigeria’s potential to expand its capital market reach internationally.
According to him, both initiatives represent important steps towards developing a broader and deeper pan-African capital market.
Kwairanga called for stronger collaboration among securities exchanges, regulators, market operators, policymakers and professional institutions.
He said such partnerships would improve cross-border investments and strengthen Africa’s financial markets.
Also speaking, Ms Omolola Oloworaran, Director-General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), urged newly inducted CIS fellows and associates to uphold integrity.
She encouraged them to create wealth responsibly and contribute to expanding Nigeria’s capital market.
Oloworaran said the ultimate measure of a successful capital market was not the volume of funds mobilised but the prosperity delivered to citizens.
