By Chioma Obinagwam
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), the Securities Exchange Commission of Nigeria (SEC), among other dedicated market participants, have been decorated with FMDQ Group PLC GOLD awards.
The Group told Confiance News in a statement on Monday.It stated that it is 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 (“FMDQ Group” or the “Group”) award ceremony, which it hosted in Lagos.
Reacting to the award presented to FGN, FMDQ said: “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 FGNUS Dollar Bond Programme).”
The 7th edition of the annual GOLD Awards (the “FMDQ GOLD Awards”) also recognised other individuals and institutions whose expertise, leadership, and dedication have been integral to shaping the markets.
Other beneficiaries of the award were Chapel Hill Denham Advisory Limited and Stanbic IBTC Bank Limited that were honoured for their roles as Primary Market Champions and Secondary Market Champions respectively.
“A total of 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 statement explained.
The statement disclosed that 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, presented the FMDQ Markets Enabler award to the worthy recipient, the Director-General of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama.
The statement added that Mr. Agama 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.
Reacting to the awards in his welcome address, the Group Chairman of FMDQ Group PLC, Dr. Jibril Aku, said, “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.”
Corroborating, the DG of SEC, 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.”
Confiance News learnt that 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 broad categories: FMDQ Primary Market Awards, FMDQ Secondary Market Awards, FMDQ Members’ & Clients’ Choice Awards, FMDQ Leadership Award and FMDQ Recognition Award.
More so, 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.
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