By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited is making efforts to talk to policymakers in the country, including the federal government, about policies that will encourage companies to list their shares on the local exchange.
According to the chief executive of the bourse, Mr Temi Popoola, having more organisations on the exchange will deepen the market and consequently boost the economy.
While speaking at the NGX CEO Roundtable held on Thursday, Mr Popoola said corporates will agree to join the market if the environment is favourable to their business operations.
“As part of efforts to improve the listing experience of current issuers and attract new listings, NGX has intensified efforts with policymakers to shape reforms and policies that are supportive of listings and the capital market at large.
“We are strengthening the value proposition for corporates to consider the capital markets as a platform for raising capital and working to ensure we are competitive when compared to options that are available to issuers.
“We are, therefore, actively involved in contributing to policy formulation and advocacy to ensure an enabling environment for listings, including, working with several stakeholders to ensure that the time to market and the costs for listing are optimised,” he stated.
The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mr Adeniyi Adebayo, who was at the event, said the federal government was also working to collaborate with capital market stakeholders because it is a good avenue for companies, especially new ones, to source funds to expand their operations.
He informed participants that the government was working diligently to improve the economy through diversifying the economy and strengthening institutions and structures, noting that “as more of our start-up companies grow and mature, we must ensure that there is access to a range of financial options to support their expansion plans.”
On her part, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Mr Aliyu Ahmed, disclosed that as a nation faced with the burden of economic recovery as a result of the global pandemic, the capital market is an efficient, reliable solution for businesses to raise capital and for investors to grow wealth.
The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr Lamido Yuguda, said the agency will continue to “engage with experts on changes that will lead to a more desired expansion of the market.”
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of NGX Limited, Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, explained that the workshop themed Creating the Enabling Ecosystem for Accessing Capital from the Nigerian Capital Markets, was conveyed to enhance the listing experience for listed companies and provide useful insights to prospective companies.
“NGX, as Nigeria’s premier securities exchange, remains strategically positioned to support the aspirations of its stakeholders and the Nigerian economy as a whole and we believe the deliberations from the panel sessions will help us improve our operations and offerings in listings experience, market development, advocacy, and investment opportunities,” he said.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Modupe Gbadeyanka