Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Temi Popoola, has stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s capital market and accelerate capital formation as a vital pathway to national development.

Delivering his keynote address at the 2025 Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) National Workshop held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Popoola emphasised the need for coordinated efforts among stakeholders to mobilise long-term capital. He attributed the market’s recent revival to purposeful reforms, improved macroeconomic fundamentals, and significant technological progress.

However, he noted that sustaining this momentum demanded greater collaboration between regulators, policymakers, and market participants to develop robust institutions, reinforce market infrastructure, and build investor confidence.

According to Popoola, the capital market stands at a critical point in Nigeria’s economic journey, with the potential to serve as the engine of sustainable growth if properly harnessed.

He cited the NGX Invest platform, developed to democratise access for investors and issuers, as an example of how innovation and inclusivity can drive market participation.

The platform has already enabled more than N2 trillion in primary market transactions, a reflection of growing investor trust and a demonstration of what collective action can accomplish. Popoola further praised the role of stockbrokers in advancing product development, investor education, and wider market access, describing them as central to the ongoing evolution of the capital market.

Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group, Dr Umaru Kwairanga, stressed the need to align capital market growth with Nigeria’s broader economic agenda. He highlighted the importance of the market in funding infrastructure, catalysing entrepreneurship, and drawing both domestic and foreign investment, critical elements for sustained national growth.