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NGX Group receives Euromoney’s Africa’s Best Exchange award, recognising market infrastructure and digital innovation.
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NGX Invest facilitated more than ₦2.8trn in capital raising during the banking sector recapitalisation exercise.
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NGX All-Share Index gained 59.07 percent year-to-date as of October 16, 2026, while market capitalisation reached ₦160.73trn.
October 19, (THEWILL) – Nigerian Exchange Group Plc has been named Africa’s Best Exchange at the Euromoney Markets Awards 2026, as Nigeria’s equities market records strong growth and the Group expands its digital investment infrastructure.
The award was presented at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London on Thursday, October 15, in recognition of achievements in market development during 2025, according to the Group.
NGX Group said the recognition reflected its contributions to market infrastructure, digital innovation and capital formation, including initiatives designed to widen investor access and improve the efficiency of capital raising.
The award comes amid a strong rally in Nigerian equities. As of October 16, the NGX All-Share Index had gained 59.07 percent year-to-date, while equities turnover reached ₦7.82 trillion, representing a 73.78 percent increase from ₦4.50 trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
Market capitalisation stood at ₦160.73 trillion, according to figures provided by the Group.
Digital Platform Supports Capital Raising
A major component of NGX Group’s market-development strategy is NGX Invest, its electronic platform for public offers and rights issues.
The platform played a significant role in the banking sector recapitalisation exercise, facilitating more than ₦2.8 trillion in capital raising, according to the Group.
By September 2026, its distribution network had expanded to more than 180 channels comprising stockbrokers, banks and fintech companies. The introduction of a WhatsApp subscription channel has also provided investors with another means of accessing public offers.
The platform is intended to simplify the subscription process and broaden participation in primary-market transactions, potentially making it easier for investors to participate in capital-raising exercises.
NGX Group’s performance indicators also showed strong growth in 2025. The All-Share Index gained 51.19 percent during the year, while equities turnover increased by 109.48 percent to ₦5.96 trillion. Market capitalisation reached ₦99.38 trillion.
The continued expansion in turnover and market value in 2026 points to increased activity in the equities market, although the figures alone do not establish how much of the growth resulted directly from the Group’s digital initiatives.
Settlement Reforms And Regional Links
Beyond digital access, NGX Group has pursued changes to improve market efficiency and strengthen connections with other African exchanges.
Nigeria transitioned to a T+1 settlement cycle in June 2026, reducing the time between a securities transaction and settlement to one business day, compared with the previous two-business-day cycle.
The shorter settlement period is intended to improve capital efficiency, reduce counterparty exposure and allow investors to access funds from completed transactions more quickly.
The Group is also engaging with other African exchanges to strengthen cross-border investment and regional market connectivity, an effort that could help address fragmentation across the continent’s capital markets.
On sustainable finance, NGX Group continues to implement its NGX Net-Zero Programme, known as N-Zero, in partnership with DEG Impulse gGmbH and Africa Foresight Group, with support from DEG Impulse’s develoPPP programme.
The initiative helps Nigerian businesses improve climate readiness, establish science-based emissions-reduction targets and develop transition plans that could support access to climate-aligned financing.
More than 50 companies have engaged with the programme, with 19 onboarded as community members, according to the Group.
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Group Pledges Continued Market Development
Commenting on the award, Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group, said the recognition reflected the organisation’s commitment to strengthening the infrastructure and technology underpinning capital formation and investment.
He acknowledged the contributions of regulators, policymakers, issuers, investors, stockbrokers and other market participants to the development of Nigeria’s capital market.
Popoola said the Group would continue working to widen digital access to investment opportunities, improve market efficiency and deepen connections with other African markets.
The Euromoney Markets Awards recognise organisations involved in developing the infrastructure, platforms and systems that enable global financial markets to operate and connect.
For NGX Group, the latest recognition comes as the Nigerian equities market experiences substantial growth in turnover and capitalisation, while efforts to modernise subscription channels, shorten settlement periods and expand sustainable finance initiatives continue.
The extent to which these initiatives translate into sustained investor participation and broader access to capital will remain important measures of the Group’s contribution to the long-term development of Nigeria’s capital market.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
