The Nigerian Exchange Group has been named Africa's Best Exchange at the Euromoney Markets Awards 2026, in recognition of its work on market infrastructure, digital innovation and capital formation. The award was presented in London on 15 October 2026 and reflects achievements in market development during 2025, a year when Nigeria's equities market experienced significant growth.
A significant contributor to widening participation in the primary market has been NGX Invest, an electronic platform for public offerings that streamlines how investors subscribe to public offers and rights issues. The platform proved instrumental during Nigeria's banking sector recapitalisation, facilitating more than N2.8 trillion in capital raising. By September 2026, the distribution network had expanded to over 180 channels, including stockbrokers, banks and fintech companies, alongside a WhatsApp channel for subscriptions to public offers.
Nigeria's equities market demonstrated substantial expansion in 2025. The NGX All-Share Index climbed 51.19 per cent during the year, equities turnover surged 109.48 per cent to N5.96 trillion and market capitalisation reached N99.38 trillion, according to NGX data. This upward trajectory has persisted into 2026, with the All-Share Index gaining 59.07 per cent year-to-date as of 16 October. Equities turnover reached N7.82 trillion, representing a 73.78 per cent increase from N4.50 trillion in the same period of 2025, while market capitalisation climbed to N160.73 trillion.
Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group, stated that the award reflected the organisation's commitment to strengthening infrastructure and technology supporting capital formation and investment. He acknowledged the contribution of regulators, policymakers, issuers, investors and stockbroking firms to market development, and highlighted efforts to expand digital access to investment opportunities and improve market efficiency.
Beyond digital expansion, NGX Group is advancing sustainable finance through the NGX Net-Zero Programme, implemented with DEG Impulse gGmbH and Africa Foresight Group with support from the develoPPP programme. The initiative assists Nigerian businesses in strengthening climate readiness, establishing science-based emissions-reduction targets and developing transition plans to access climate-aligned finance.
For savers and investors in Nigeria, the expansion of digital platforms and growth in market capitalisation means broader access to investment opportunities and a more developed capital market for deploying savings.