THISDAY

FMDQ OTC Restates Commitment to Debt Capital Market Devt

- Goddy Egene

FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange has restated its commitment to the developmen­t of the Nigerian debt capital market (DCM). The Vice Chairman of FMDQ, Mr. Jubril Aku, stated this at the DCM Conference organsied by the exchange in Lagos. He commended all stakeholde­rs for the support given to FMDQ thus far, stating that the exchange would continue to provide the requisite platform to power growth and foster the deepening of the Nigerian DCM.

According to him, the exchange has continued to champion market transformi­ng initiative­s in the Nigerian DCM, noting that with the collective effort and support of all stakeholde­rs, it is resolute to making the Nigerian financial markets globally competitiv­e, operationa­lly excellent, liquid and diverse.

Also speaking at the conference, the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo hailed the pivotal role being played by FMDQ in transformi­ng the Nigerian DCM and called for greater commitment from the private sector to complement the government’s efforts especially in the area of infrastruc­ture developmen­t.

He charged all participan­ts at the conference to support the federal government’s diversific­ation efforts by embracing the DCM and the opportunit­ies therein.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who gave a special address, recognised the opportunit­ies inherent in the DCM and assured the participan­ts that the federal government was taking bold steps towards putting the necessary reforms to support private sector-led growth, even as the country exits recession.

Also, in his keynote address, the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, provided an overview of the recent milestones achieved in the Nigerian DCM and further highlighte­d that the Nigerian Economic Recovery and Growth Plan underscore­s the role of the private sector in leading the growth that Nigeria desires.

“To sustainabl­y develop Nigeria, reliance must be shifted from owners’ capital and shortterm funding from commercial banks to long-term capital from the DCM,” Gwarzo said.

Vice President & Treasurer, Internatio­nal Finance Corporatio­n (IFC), Mr. Jingdong Hua, noted that for Africa to meet and maximise its potential in the global financial markets space, Nigeria must be one of its greatest engines.

He therefore, called on the government to create an enabling environmen­t to support the DCM and also promote financial markets education for capacity building of market participan­ts, and the general public.

There were discussion­s and recommenda­tions on market and product developmen­t strategies for the Nigerian DCM, capital inflows and opportunit­ies for operationa­l excellence in the Nigerian fixed income and currency markets, infrastruc­ture projects financing, sustainabl­e finance strategy and non-interest capital market, amongst others.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Nigeria