By Vera Osokpo
The Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), Alhaji (Dr) Umaru Kwairanga, has emerged as the Capital Market Personality of the Year at the 2026 Annual Conference and Awards of the Finance and Business Online Publishers (FiBOP) Association.
The prestigious award was presented to him on Saturday, October 17, 2026, during the annual conference held at Orchids Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, which attracted top policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, investors and members of the business press.
The 2026 edition of the FiBOP conference was themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Economic Potential: Taxation, Industry, Insurance, Fintech, Trade and Investment as Catalysts for Nigeria’s $1 Trillion Vision”, a theme aimed at examining how critical sectors can drive the Federal Government’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
The award recognises Kwairanga’s outstanding leadership and contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria’s capital market, as well as his role in repositioning the NGX Group as a key driver of economic development.
While receiving the award, Kwairanga expressed delight at being part of the FiBOP 2026 conference and commended the association for choosing a theme he described as apt, current and relevant to Nigeria’s economic future.
He particularly lauded FiBOP for selecting Dr. Muda Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), as Chairman of the conference, and Mr. Taiwo Oyedele as Guest Speaker, describing them as vastly knowledgeable professionals who are deeply committed to advancing Nigeria’s economic fortunes.
According to him, while the speakers had comprehensively addressed the theme of the conference, it was important to emphasize the critical role of the capital market in achieving the $1 trillion economy target.
Kwairanga disclosed that the NGX Group has keyed into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s $1 trillion economy vision since the early days of the administration and has been working deliberately to attract the investments and capital required to make it a reality.
He explained that this has involved strengthening the Exchange’s platforms and processes, broadening its offerings in terms of products and listed companies, and enlightening Nigerians and the international investment community on the positive impact of the various macroeconomic reforms undertaken by the Tinubu administration.
He further revealed that in recent months, the NGX Group has been leveraging the forthcoming Dangote Refinery Initial Public Offering (IPO) to showcase Nigeria’s investment potential across the African continent and globally, as part of a strategic drive to attract cross-border capital into the Nigerian market.
Kwairanga stressed that achieving the $1 trillion economy will only be possible if Nigeria is able to mobilise the vast amounts of capital needed to fix its infrastructure deficit, establish productive and thriving enterprises, and create sustainable jobs that will allow every citizen to feel the impact of economic growth.
“Those are the things that the Nigerian capital market is focused on and so we believe we remain central to the achievement of that vision and we will not slow down until it is achieved,” he stated.
The NGX Chairman expressed profound gratitude to FiBOP for recognising the efforts of the capital market community with the award.
He noted that the honour was not his alone, but a collective recognition of the entire capital market ecosystem.
Kwairanga dedicated the award to the management team of the NGX Group led by the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Temi Popoola, for their competence and dedication.
He also dedicated the award to his mentors and industry doyens including Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, CON; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON; Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR; the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama; members of the NGX Group Board; and all capital market operators across the country.
The FiBOP Annual Conference and Awards is a flagship event that brings together stakeholders from the finance, business and economic sectors to discuss policy direction and celebrate excellence and leadership in the Nigerian economy.