By Chioma Obinagwam
Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), in partnership with Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS) and Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), brought together senior leaders from Nigeria’s public and private sectors to mark International Women’s Day 2026 through the globally recognised Ring the Bell for Gender Equality initiative.
NGX told Confiance News in a statement on Tuesday.
Anchored by the UN Women theme “Rights, Justice, Action – For All Women and Girls,” the event was held during the Nigerian Exchange Closing Gong Ceremony and served as a platform for renewed commitment to closing gender gaps in leadership, finance, and economic opportunity across Nigeria and beyond.
Capital Markets as a Catalyst for Gender Inclusion
In his welcome address, Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group, underscored the transformative potential of inclusive capital markets. “Capital markets are powerful engines for economic transformation. When women participate fully as leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors, markets become stronger, deeper, and more resilient. At NGX Group, we remain committed to advancing policies, partnerships, and platforms that expand opportunities for women and accelerate inclusive prosperity,” he said.
Jude Chiemeka, Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange, reinforced this position, stressing that broader female participation directly strengthens market fundamentals. “When more women participate in the market as investors and professionals, we deepen the market and strengthen the foundation for sustainable growth,” he said.
Government Voices Back Gender Equality in Finance
Honourable Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, commended NGX Group and its partners for embedding gender inclusion into Nigeria’s financial ecosystem. “I congratulate NGX Group and its partners for sustaining this important global movement. Together, let us continue to open the doors of opportunity so the next generation of women can lead with confidence and help transform our world,” she said.
Chioma Uzodimma, First Lady of Imo State, called for concrete, collective action. “As we sound the NGX Gong today, let it symbolize our shared pledge to protect every girl child, expand opportunities for every woman, and build an inclusive economy where every woman and girl can flourish,” she said.
Development Finance and the Business Case for Gender Equality
Claude Owona, Regional Industry Manager for Financial Institutions at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa, highlighted the macroeconomic imperative of gender parity. “When women and men participate equally in the economy, our societies function better and our economies become more prosperous,” she said.
Women Leaders Inspire Action and Ambition
Media entrepreneur and EbonyLife Media founder Mo Abudu delivered a defining message of empowerment, centred on four pillars she credited to her success. “For me, it comes down to four things — purpose, passion, progress, and power. Find your purpose, let passion fuel your journey, stay consistent even when challenges arise, and most importantly, stand firmly in your power. Do not shrink,” she said.
Award-winning actor and filmmaker Funke Akindele called on women to pair ambition with discipline and courage. “To every woman out there, you can do it. But beyond the words, we must put in the hard work, build structure into our businesses, and do things the right way. It takes courage to take the first step even when you’re not ready, courage to stay consistent when no one is clapping, and courage to hold firmly to your vision,” she said.
A Broad Coalition for Inclusive Markets
The 2026 Ring the Bell ceremony was organised in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), UN Women, the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), the United Nations Global Compact, and the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (SSEI).
The event also featured the participation of female board members across NGX Group companies — Ojinika Olaghere, Fatima Wali-Abdulrahman, Lilian Olubi, Ummahani Ahmad Amin, Amina Mohammed, and Fiona Ahime — alongside key ecosystem leaders: Onome Komolafe, Divisional Head, Business Services and Client Experience, CSCS Plc; Jumoke Olaniyan, Group Chief Strategy Officer, NGX Group; Uto Ukpanah, Chairperson, UN Global Compact Network Nigeria; and Omowumi Akingbohungbe, Executive Director, WIMBIZ.
Advancing Gender Equality Beyond the CeremonyAs the closing gong sounded, one message resonated across the room: advancing gender equality demands more than dialogue. It requires sustained collaboration, deliberate policy action, and a collective commitment from governments, institutions, and markets to dismantle barriers and expand opportunities for women and girls at every level.Through the Ring the Bell for Gender Equality initiative and broader gender-focused programming, NGX Group and its partners continue to champion inclusive capital markets — recognising that empowering women is not only a matter of justice, but a strategic imperative for building a more resilient Nigerian economy.
Leave a comment