· FMDQ Group has crowned 25 winners at its 9th GOLD Awards, according to a press statement obtained by Confiance News.
· CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso received the Visionary Market Regulator Award, while NBET Finance Company took the Leadership Award for its power sector debt programme.
· Chapel Hill Denham and Stanbic IBTC led the primary and secondary market categories.
Nigeria’s financial markets have a fresh set of champions. FMDQ Group PLC has rewarded 25 institutions and individuals at the 9th edition of its GOLD Awards, a statement seen by Confiance News shows.
Awards in context
The Awards covered performance between October 2025 and September 2026. According to the statement, they follow FMDQ’s GOLD Agenda, which stands for Global Competitiveness, Operational Excellence, Liquidity and Diversity. Notably, the Group published a dedicated publication on the 2026 recipients for the second year running, and it ran across its website, social media pages and selected media outlets.
Leaders speak out
Group Chief Executive Officer Mr. Zeal Akaraiwe congratulated winners and nominees on behalf of the Board and Management. Confiance News learned that he credited them with building a robust financial market ecosystem in Nigeria. In his words, markets do not evolve by chance, and growth demands deliberate commitment, innovation and a willingness to challenge conventions.
Group Chief Operating Officer Ms. Tumi Sekoni echoed the point. She said the Awards make excellence visible, set standards for others to chase and help shape the future of the markets.
Independent verification process
To protect credibility, FMDQ says it relied on a structured process managed independently. Ernst & Young (EY) served as verifier for the 2026 edition, which, according to the statement, reflects the Group’s stance on transparency and good governance.
Award categories explained
The Awards span five categories: Primary Market, Secondary Market, Members’ and Clients’ Choice, Leadership, and Recognition. Meanwhile, the primary and secondary market awards are data-driven, while the Members’ and Clients’ Choice category rests on nominations and votes from members and clients of FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited.
Top market winners
Chapel Hill Denham Advisory Limited won the Primary Market Champion Award for capital markets securities origination. Stanbic IBTC Bank Limited, on the other hand, claimed the Secondary Market Champion Award as FMDQ Dealing Member of the Year. Other recipients listed in the statement include UAC of Nigeria PLC, Champion Breweries PLC, Anchor Funding SPV Limited, Coronation Merchant Bank Limited, Vetiva Advisory Services Limited, Sunbeth Global Concepts Limited, Chapel Hill Denham Management Limited, United Capital PLC, Olaniwun Ajayi LP and First Bank of Nigeria Limited.
Clients’ choice winners
Zedcrest Capital Limited, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Prudent Energy & Services Limited and Standard Chartered Bank London took the honours in the Members’ and Clients’ Choice category.
Leadership and recognition
NBET Finance Company PLC won the Leadership Award, titled FMDQ Capital Market Catalyst. The statement credits the company for its role in the Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme, a capital markets initiative meant to settle legacy power sector debts dating back to 2015.
Furthermore, Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Mr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso received the FMDQ Visionary Market Regulator Award under the Recognition category. FMDQ says the award honours a regulator who shows exceptional vision in driving reforms that boost market development, transparency, efficiency and investor confidence.
FMDQ ecosystem
Confiance News understands that FMDQ Group describes itself as Africa’s first vertically integrated financial market infrastructure group. Its subsidiaries are FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited, FMDQ Clear Limited, FMDQ Depository Limited and FMDQ Private Markets Limited. Additionally, it runs FMDQ Green Exchange, which it calls Africa’s premier green exchange.
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