In a renewed effort to integrate Nigerias capital market into global investment ecosystems, Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have stepped up collaborative engagements with Chinese institutions, signalling a strategic push to strengthen financial ties between Nigeria and China.
This latest effort came to the fore during the China-Africa CEO Dialogue, hosted by Choice International Group in partnership with NGX Group.
Held on the sidelines of the 4th ChinaAfrica Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, the high-level forum brought together Nigerian financial authorities, African business leaders, Chinese corporates, and regulatory bodies to explore investment opportunities and deepen cross-border market linkages.
Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group, Temi Popoola, emphasised that forging robust capital market partnerships is central to unlocking new streams of investment between Nigeria and China.
He noted that the Group has already initiated engagements with key institutions such as the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
These collaborations, he explained, are designed to facilitate capital-raising opportunities for Chinese corporates in the Nigerian market, whether through bonds, equities, or commercial paperstools that can help hedge against currency fluctuations and operational risks while channelling funds into sectors like manufacturing, ICT, and the automotive industry.
Financial flows are often the missing link in many China-Africa engagements. By building structured channels for capital movement, we are positioning Nigeria as a critical hub for cross-border investments while also supporting the governments economic diversification goals.
Director-General of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, reiterated Nigerias readiness to provide a secure and transparent framework that fosters investor confidence.
Speaking at the event, he underscored the regulators dual role: not only to lay down the rules but to ensure justice and fairness within the capital market ecosystem.
Investors must be assured that Nigeria offers not only opportunities but also protection. Risk is part of business, but our responsibility as regulators is to reduce uncertainty, enforce compliance, and ensure a level playing field. Trust and transparency are the cornerstones of any thriving investment environment.
Chairman of the NGX Group, Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru Kwairanga, applauded the ongoing engagement in China as a pivotal step in positioning Nigeria as a financial gateway to Africa.
He stressed that the capital market holds the key to unlocking Africas economic potential and that strategic partnerships with global players like China are essential to delivering sustainable growth.
At NGX Group, we see ourselves as bridge-builders between Nigeria and the global investment community. This dialogue in China reinforces our commitment to building long-term financial alliances that can drive industrial development and wealth creation across the continent.
Throughout the forum, participants explored the crucial role capital markets can play in facilitating not just investment, but also trade, technology transfer, and sectoral development between Africa and China.
Discussions centred around the need for innovative financing models and institutional collaborations that support sustainable growth and infrastructure expansion.
Both NGX Group and the SEC reaffirmed their joint commitment to championing capital market diplomacy as a strategic lever for national development.
By cultivating partnerships with international capital market stakeholders, they aim to position Nigeria as a compelling destination for global investors and a gateway to broader African opportunities.
As Nigeria continues to seek diversified sources of capital and increased foreign participation, the engagements in China signal a proactive shift towards long-term financial integration and institutional collaboration that could redefine the contours of Africa-China economic relations.
