FMDQ  Hosts  7th Annual GOLD Awards for  Nigerian Financial Markets

BY NGOZI ONYEAKUSI

In line with its commitment to transform the Nigerian financial markets through its “GOLD” (Global Competitiveness, Operational Excellence, Liquidity, and Diversity) Agenda, FMDQ Group PLC  once again hosted its 7^thannual GOLD Awards in Lagos, on November 8, 2024, to recognise individuals and institutions whose expertise, leadership, and dedication have been integral to shaping the markets.

The prestigious event, designed to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of market participants, whose participation in the FMDQ markets and across the financial market infrastructure value chain of FMDQ’s business – Exchange, Central Counterparty, Depository – as well as Private Markets, have played a key role in fostering the growth of the Nigerian financial markets and positively impacted the development of the economy was graced by the Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, as the Special Guest of Honour, along with various stakeholders, industry leaders, and esteemed guests.

Delivering the Welcome Address, Dr. Jibril Aku, the Group Chairman of FMDQ Group PLC, stated, “In a year marked by global and domestic economic uncertainties, our financial markets have had to adapt in the face of significant challenges. However, it is through these very challenges that our market participants have demonstrated remarkable resilience and innovation. Your unwavering commitment has been instrumental in driving stability and sustaining growth in Nigeria’s financial ecosystem, and it is our privilege to celebrate these achievements with you.” In his Keynote Address, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, the Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria, stated, “Over the years, FMDQ has played a transformative role in revolutionising the capital market in Nigeria, particularly in providing innovative solutions for investors, especially in the fixed income and bond markets. FMDQ has provided leadership and transparency to a key sector of the capital market that, hitherto, nobody knew about and wasn’t even counted as part of the capital market. Due to the nature of the investment in fixed income space, it is vital for regulators and investors to have a clear view of the size and depth of the markets. This has definitely contributed to improved liquidity and strengthening of the financial market infrastructure landscape in Nigeria”.

The prestigious 2024 GOLD Awards were presented following a rigorous verification process by Ernst & Young, Nigeria (EY), underscoring the integrity and credibility of the accolades. The GOLD Awards spanned five (5) broad categories: FMDQ Primary Market Awards, FMDQ Secondary Market Awards, FMDQ Members’ & Clients’ Choice Awards, FMDQ Leadership Award and FMDQ Recognition Award. A total of twenty-six (26) awards were presented, with Chapel Hill Denham Advisory Limited and Stanbic IBTC Bank Limited emerging as the winners of the Primary Market Champion Award (FMDQ Capital Markets Securities Origination) and Secondary Market Champion Award (FMDQ Dealing Member of the Year), respectively. Whilst the Primary and Secondary Markets Awards were data-driven, the FMDQ Members’ & Clients’ Choice Awards provided a unique opportunity for the FMDQ Exchange’s Members and clients to nominate and vote for active participants across the fixed income and currencies markets.

The Leadership Award (FMDQ Capital Market Catalyst), in recognition of an entity’s potential to significantly impact the Nigerian capital markets, facilitate access to capital, value transfer and deliver effective and efficient risk management, was presented to the Federal Government of Nigeria (represented by the Federal Ministry of Finance) for the establishment of the maiden Domestic FGN

US Dollar Bond Programme). Furthermore, a highlight of the night was the presentation of the Recognition Award (FMDQ Markets Enabler) by the Group Chairman of FMDQ Group, Dr. Jibril Aku and the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bola Onadele. Koko, to the worthy recipient, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, the Director-General of the SEC, who was recognised as a capital markets connoisseur with a track record of dedicated contribution and impact in the developmental history of the Nigerian capital markets over a sustained period through knowledge transfer, policy formulation and collaboration; with an undeniable and insatiable hunger for market development, and is uniquely positioned to achieve groundbreaking change and rapid development in the Nigerian capital markets for nationwide prosperity.

As part of the evening’s entertainment, the young graduates of the FMDQ Next Generation Financial Markets Empowerment Programme (“FMDQ-Next“) 2024 Summer Camp (Primary School Stream), via a captivating playlet, demonstrated their learnings from the Programme. Through their performance, they explored several key topics, including the diverse range of financial products traded in FMDQ’s markets and the comprehensive services offered by FMDQ Group and its subsidiaries. FMDQ-Next stands as FMDQ’s flagship corporate responsibility initiative, dedicated to promoting financial market awareness and literacy among students at all academic levels, equipping them with the essential knowledge needed to navigate the financial landscape.

FMDQ Group is Africa’s first vertically integrated financial market infrastructure (FMI) group, strategically positioned to provide registration, listing, quotation and noting services; integrated trading platform, clearing & central counterparty, and settlement services for financial markets transactions; depository of securities, as well as data and information services, across the debt capital, foreign exchange, derivatives and equity markets, through its wholly owned subsidiaries – FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited, FMDQ Clear Limited, FMDQ Depository Limited and FMDQ Private Markets Limited. As a sustainability-focused FMI group, FMDQ Group, through FMDQ Exchange, operates Africa’s premier Green Exchange – FMDQ Green Exchange – positioned to lead the transition towards a sustainable future.