Economy
NSE Inducts 50 Dealing Clerks
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has inducted 50 qualified dealing clerks.
Business Post reports that the inductees were among the 57 candidates who had already passed the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) examination and have gone through the mandatory practical Automated Trading System (ATS) training at the NSE and passed the oral examination at the NSE.
Speaking at the induction ceremony last Friday at the Stock Exchange Building in Marina, Lagos, Chairman of the NSE, Mr Oscar Onyema, described the event as “remarkable”, emphasising that it “represents the symbolic unleashing of a force of qualified stockbrokers who are the future leaders of the Nigerian capital market.”
According to him, at the NSE, “we believe that people will always make the difference in any endeavour, especially the capital market, when every other supporting conditions are right. It is for this reason that we carefully put prospective employees, dealing members, and other players through a stringent screening process that ensures only the cream of the crop make it through our doors.”
He urged the qualified stockbrokers to “stand tall in integrity, to be impeccable in character, to be professional in service and to uphold the high ethics and values for which the Exchange and the capital market are renowned.”
According to Mr Onyema, “That is the big hurdle that you must cross effortlessly in your daily practice of this profession.”
He said the NSE will “continue to do our part in ensuring that we provide a competitive platform for you to participate in the financial market. Please note that we have clear and enforceable rules, with a zero tolerance policy on all infractions.
“To accentuate this, we signed an MOU with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) a couple years ago to increase cooperation and communication in the fight against financial crimes in the capital market.
“To ensure a stronger, more efficient broker-dealer community that is well suited for doing business in the 21st century, we launched Minimum Operating Standards (MOS). We are pleased to state that 94 percent of Dealing Member firms achieved the set requirements and standards. We will continue to monitor to ensure that these standards are maintained.
He said in addition to the MOS, “we have executed several initiatives to enhance the experience of issuers, dealing members, investors, and other stakeholders. Some of the initiatives targeted at the dealing brokers include: X-Whistle enables market participants to confidentially report fraud and infractions, and X-Compliance Report, a transparency initiative designed to help maintain market integrity by providing compliance related updates on all listed companies; Compliance Status Indicator symbols for near real time update of company compliance status on the Ticker Tape; and BrokerTraX for the compliance status of the brokers and dealing clerks on the Exchange.
“To automate and enhance the regulatory and oversight function of NSE over its Dealing Members in the area of rendition of regulatory filings, analysis of financial renditions, capital and liquidity monitoring as well as compliance monitoring and reporting in line with global best practice, we developed and launched X-Boss. We also launched SMARTs solution for efficient/effective market surveillance.
“As a sustainable Exchange, the NSE continues to highlight the importance of sustainable business practices in delivering value and supporting economic growth. While we are pleased to report that we have held ourselves accountable to the highest standards, we are also intensifying our advocacy efforts to support the integration of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) imperatives in the Nigerian capital market.”
Also, the NSE boss informed the audience that “the Exchange’s Sustainability Disclosure Guidelines will be launched this year,” pointing out that, “As we continue to work on our goal of becoming a more agile and demutualized exchange, the importance of your role cannot be over emphasized. It goes without saying that the investing community will know and judge the Nigerian capital market through your character and service innovation; the manner in which you engage and render your professional duties to your clients will go a long way in shaping the perception of our market. We will work with you to support you in developing your capacity and businesses.
Economy
Nigeria Makes Maiden AfCFTA Shipment to Kenya
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s maiden shipment under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has successfully arrived at the Mombasa Port in Kenya.
According to the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office in a statement, the development marks a historic moment for Africa’s trade landscape.
The Senior Trade Expert at the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mr Olusegun Olutayo, said in line with its mandate under the leadership of the National Coordinator, Mr Olusegun Awolowo, the office had coordinated the landmark event.
He said the achievement marked a significant milestone for Nigeria in realising the vision of increased intra-African trade and economic integration championed by the agreement in line with the decision of the AU Assembly at the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly.
“In times of escalating geopolitical tension and looming geo-economic fragmentation, AfCFTA presents a perfect opportunity for Africa to leverage trade as a strategic instrument for enhanced market access among state parties.
“This is a historic moment, a realisation of the vision of our continent’s founding fathers and mothers.”
He also said the first consignment which was a synthetic filaments product of Nigeria’s Lucky Fibres Limited (Lush), a subsidiary of the Tolaram Group, was exported under AfCFTA preferential terms.
Mr Olutayo lauded the bold economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu, emphasising their catalytic role in enabling the country’s active participation in AfCFTA, fostering continental economic integration and industrialisation goals.
He also commended the seamless cooperation and commitment from Kenyan authorities, which exemplifies the true spirit of AfCFTA.
He acknowledged the pivotal leadership role of the AfCFTA Secretariat in fostering the success and emphasised the collaborative efforts of the Kenya AfCFTA Implementation Committee and the Kenya Revenue Authority (Customs).
According to him, the shipment, exported under AfCFTA preferential trade terms, underscores partnership, shared vision, the agreement’s potential to transform Africa’s economic landscape and pave the way for a new era of trade-driven prosperity.
The AfCFTA seeks to create a single market across Africa by reducing barriers to trade, investment, and labour.
The agreement’s goal is to increase socioeconomic development, reduce poverty, and make Africa more competitive globally.
On March 21, 2018, the AfCFTA agreement was adopted and opened for signature in Kigali, Rwanda. The agreement entered into force on May 30, 2019 and officially commenced on January 2021
Former President Muhammadu Buhari established the National Action Committee on AfCFTA (NAC) in December 2019.
Economy
Capital Market Operators Get January 31 Deadline for Licence Renewal
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has fixed January 31 as deadline for all Capital Market Operators (CMOs) to renew their operating licence.
In a circular to the operators on Sunday, the apex regulatory agency in the country’s capital market said the annual registration renewal would last between January 1 and 31, 2025.
SEC said the annual registration renewal enforcement for CMOs was aimed at ensuring that only “fit and proper” persons operate in the capital market, warning that CMOs without valid registration will be penalised and may be excluded from capital market activities.
”This is to inform all CMOs and the general public that the annual renewal of registration of CMOs for the year 2025 will commence from January 01.
“All CMOs applying for renewal are required to include their 2025 annual subscription receipt from their respective trade groups as part of their application.
“In line with the commission’s Rules & Regulations, all CMOs are to complete the process of renewal of registration for 2025 on or before January 31 via registration renewal portal at www.eportal.sec.gov.ng,” it said.
The commission added that CMOs desiring to make enquiries or get support to complete the process should contact [email protected].
The regulator said it had in 2021 re-introduced periodic registration renewal by CMOs to create a reliable active operators’ data bank in the country’s capital market.
It said the renewal arrangement aimed at updating operators information on capital market for official use by local and foreign investors, other regulatory agencies and the public.
The agency added that the renewals would drastically reduce incidences of unethical practices by CMOs which may affect investors’ confidence and impact the capital market negatively, noting that the exercise will strengthen supervision and monitoring of CMOs by the commission.
Economy
Seven Equities Boost NASD OTC Securities Exchange by 1.24%
By Adedapo Adesanya
The third trading week of 2025 ended on a positive note at the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange, with seven equities on the platform inspiring a 1.24 per cent growth.
Consequently, the market capitalisation of the bourse increased by N21.56 billion during the five-day trading week to N1.075 trillion from the N1.053 trillion quoted in the preceding week (Week 2) as the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) expanded by 37.98 points to 3,111.91 points from the 3,073.93 points it ended in the preceding week.
In the period under review, the volume of transactions went down by 42.1 per cent to 9.45 million units from the 16.30 million units in the previous week, as the value of trades declined by 53.1 per cent to N48.4 million from the N104.11 million, with these transactions completed in 122 deals involving 15 different stocks.
Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc gained 50 per cent in the week to close at 36 Kobo per share versus 34 Kobo per share, Mixta Real Estate Plc increased by 20 per cent to end at N2.58 per unit compared with the previous week’s N2.15 per unit, and Okitipupa Plc rose by 10 per cent to N39.59 per share from N35.99 per share.
Further, UBN Property Plc grew by 10 per cent to N2.20 per unit from N2.02 per unit, Newrest Asl Plc jumped by 9.9 per cent to N31.38 per share from N28.53 per share, FrieslandCampina Wamco Plc surged by 3.7 per cent to N39.65 per unit from N38.22 per unit, and 11 Plc advanced by 0.3 per cent to N256.00 per share from N255.31 per share.
FrieslandCampina Wamco Plc topped the activity chart last week by value with with N0.030 billion, 11 Plc recorded N0.009 billion, Central Security Clearing System (CSCS) Plc raked in N0.004 billion, IGI Plc followed with N0.002 billion, and Geo-Fluids Plc recorded N0.002 billion.
However, IGI Plc was the most traded instrument by volume with 7.5 million units, FrieslandCampina Wamco Plc transacted 0.77 million units, UBN Property Plc recorded 0.38 million, Geo-Fluids Plc traded 0.37 million units, and CSCS Plc posted 0.16 million units.
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