NGX Group Shines at Euromoney Markets Awards 2026

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Africa’s Best Exchange, according to Euromoney Markets Awards 2026, is the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Group Plc.

The Nigerian firm clinched this accolade on Thursday, October 15, 2026, for its contribution to market infrastructure, digital innovation and capital formation.

The honour was also bestowed on the organisation for its achievements in market development during 2025 and comes amid robust growth in Nigeria’s equities market.

“This award reflects our continued commitment to strengthening the infrastructure and technology that support capital formation and investment.

“We appreciate the trust and collaboration of our regulators, policymakers, issuers, investors, the stockbroking community and other market participants, whose support contributes to the development of our capital market.

“By widening digital access to investment opportunities, improving market efficiency and deepening connections with other African markets, we are working to make our capital market more accessible, resilient and competitive.

“We see this not simply as an achievement, but as encouragement to keep building a market that can mobilise capital for businesses and offer broader investment opportunities,” the chief executive of NGX Group, Mr Temi Popoola, commented.

A key driver of wider primary-market participation has been NGX Invest, the group’s electronic public-offering platform, which simplifies subscriptions to public offers and rights issues. The platform played a significant role in Nigeria’s banking sector recapitalisation exercise, facilitating more than N2.8 trillion in capital raising.

By September 2026, its distribution network had grown to more than 180 channels spanning stockbrokers, banks and fintechs, with a WhatsApp subscription channel providing investors with an additional channel for subscribing to public offers.

Nigeria’s equities market recorded strong growth in 2025, with the NGX All-Share Index gaining 51.19 per cent, equities turnover rising 109.48 per cent to N5.96 trillion and market capitalisation reaching N99.38 trillion. This momentum has continued in 2026. As of October 16, the All-Share Index had gained 59.07 per cent year-to-date. Equities turnover stood at N7.82 trillion, up 73.78 per cent from N4.50 trillion in the corresponding period of 2025, while market capitalisation reached N160.73 trillion.

Beyond digital innovation, NGX Group continues to advance sustainable finance through the NGX Net-Zero Programme (N-Zero), implemented in partnership with DEG Impulse gGmbH and Africa Foresight Group, with support through DEG Impulse’s develoPPP programme.

The initiative helps Nigerian businesses strengthen climate readiness, establish science-based emissions-reduction targets and develop transition plans that can support access to climate-aligned finance. The programme has engaged more than 50 companies, with 19 onboarded as community members.

The group’s broader market-development priorities also include improving post-trade efficiency and strengthening regional connectivity. Nigeria’s transition to T+1 settlement in June 2026 shortened the settlement cycle, while strategic engagements with other African exchanges are supporting efforts to deepen cross-border investment and strengthen regional market linkages.