By David Akinmola
The Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry and the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) have pledged closer collaboration to accelerate Nigeria’s economic transformation.
  Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, speaking at the NGX headquarters in Lagos, yesterday, described capital markets as one of the clearest signs of a country’s economic maturity.
  She stressed that vibrant capital markets are crucial for unlocking long-term growth, boosting transparency, and building investor confidence.
   “With hundreds of global investors, fund managers and venture capitalists converging on Lagos, the momentum around Nigeria’s investment landscape is unmistakable,” Oduwole said. She added: “The opportunity is clear and so is the task ahead: to deepen the systems that convert confidence into capital and tangible economic impact.”
 Oduwole reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s capital markets as a catalyst for attracting productive investment, creating jobs, and sustaining long-term growth.
 She noted that recent reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies, exchange rate unification, the enactment of the Investment and Securities Act 2025 and Nigeria’s AfCFTA tariff implementation are restoring investor confidence and supporting the country’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
 She also outlined strategic areas of focus, including expanding SME access to capital through NGX’s Growth Board, promoting green and ESG-linked financing, mobilising diaspora investments and leveraging AfCFTA opportunities to nurture a new generation of high-growth Nigerian businesses.
 Welcoming the minister, Group Chairman of NGX Group, Dr Umaru Kwairanga, applauded the government’s reforms aimed at boosting industrialisation and economic diversification.
  “As Nigeria charts its path to a $1 trillion economy, capital markets will play a critical role in financing MSMEs, infrastructure and sustainable initiatives,” Kwairanga said.
  “NGX Group is fully aligned with this vision and remains committed to enhancing transparency, linking businesses to capital and fostering inclusive growth.”
 Group Managing Director/CEO of NGX Group, Temi Popoola, added that NGX is deploying a technology-driven strategy to democratize investment access, deepen market liquidity and position Nigeria as a leading destination for domestic and global capital.
 Meanwhile, the stock market yesterday opened trading for the week on a positive note, as investors gain N229 billion.
  The all-share index (ASI) rose by 363.57 points, representing a gain of 0.34 per cent, to close at 106,116.18 points.
 Similarly, the overall market capitalisation value gained N229 billion to close at N66.694 trillion.
 The market positive performance was driven by price appreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks which are Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), Eterna, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), Vitafoam Nigeria and Cadbury Nigeria.
 Looking forward, Afrinvest Limited said: “we expect the positive performance to be sustained on the bourse, driven by improved sentiment.”
 Market breadth was strong, with 47 gainers outpacing 16 decliners. International Breweries followed with a gain of 10 per cent to close at N8.47 kobo. Legend Internet grew by 9.97 per cent to close at N7.50 kobo while Cadbury Nigeria rose by 9.96 per cent to close at N29.25 kobo.
 Fidson Healthcare appreciated by 9.95 per cent to close at N20.45, while Eterna also rose by 9.90 per cent to close at N43.85 kobo.
 On the other hand, Livestock Feeds led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent to close at N8.55 kobo. Aradel Holdings followed with a decline of 9.86 per cent to close at N448 while Tripple Gee & Company shed 9.60 per cent to close at N1.79 kobo.
 John Holt shed 7.94 per cent to close at N5.80, while Linkage Assurance lost 6.15 per cent to close at N1.22 kobo.
 Also, the total volume of trade increased by 16.94 per cent to 500.595 million units, valued at N12.111 billion, and exchanged in 17,637 deals.
  Transactions in the shares of Access Holdings topped the activity chart with 60.867 million shares valued at N1.449 billion. Fidelity Bank followed with 56.106 million shares worth N1.127 billion, while United Bank for Africa (UBA) traded 34.52 million shares valued at N1.175 billion.
 GTCO traded 33.45 million shares valued at N2.181 billion, while Nigerian Breweries (NB) transacted 28.337 million shares worth N1.149 billion.
