NGX Wins Africa’s Best Exchange Award as Nigerian Capital Market Expands

Nigerian Exchange Group wins Africa’s Best Exchange at the Euromoney Markets Awards 2026

Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) has been named Africa’s Best Exchange at the Euromoney Markets Awards 2026, receiving continental recognition for its contribution to market infrastructure, digital innovation and capital formation.

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The award was presented at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London on 15 October 2026, recognising achievements in market development during 2025.

The recognition comes as Nigeria’s equities market records strong growth and the Exchange expands digital channels for investors to participate in public offers and rights issues.

A key part of this effort is NGX Invest, the Group’s electronic platform for public offers and rights issues. The platform facilitated more than ₦2.8 trillion in capital raising during Nigeria’s banking sector recapitalisation exercise, while its distribution network expanded to more than 180 channels by September 2026.

H2: NGX Invest Expands Access to Capital Raising

NGX Invest has become an important channel for companies seeking to raise capital and investors looking to participate in public offers and rights issues.

The platform simplifies subscription processes and connects investors to investment opportunities through stockbrokers, banks and fintech companies. A WhatsApp subscription channel has also expanded the available routes for investors to participate.

Its role in the banking recapitalisation exercise demonstrates how digital infrastructure can support large capital-raising programmes by widening distribution and simplifying investor access.

For businesses, efficient capital-market infrastructure can provide an alternative to relying exclusively on bank loans. Companies may raise funds through equity or other market instruments, depending on their structure, eligibility and financing needs.

For the real estate sector, this creates a potential avenue for property developers and real estate companies seeking to fund projects or expand operations. However, the platform’s reported fundraising achievement relates to the broader capital market and should not be interpreted as direct financing for housing development.

H2: Nigerian Equities Market Records Strong Growth

Nigeria’s equities market recorded substantial gains in 2025, with the NGX All-Share Index rising 51.19 per cent. Equities turnover increased by 109.48 per cent to ₦5.96 trillion, while market capitalisation reached ₦99.38 trillion.

The upward momentum continued into 2026. As of 16 October, the All-Share Index had gained 59.07 per cent year to date. Equities turnover stood at ₦7.82 trillion, compared with ₦4.50 trillion during the corresponding period of 2025, while market capitalisation reached ₦160.73 trillion.

These figures indicate increased market activity and a substantial rise in the value of listed equities. However, market capitalisation and index gains do not, by themselves, establish that companies have raised equivalent amounts of new capital or that the gains will continue.

For companies considering a listing or fundraising exercise, the market's ability to attract investors and process transactions efficiently remains an important consideration.

H2: NGX Pushes Digital Innovation and Market Efficiency

NGX Group has continued to invest in market infrastructure and digital systems designed to improve access, efficiency and investor participation.

Beyond NGX Invest, the Group has pursued improvements to post-trade processes and regional market connections. Nigeria's transition to a T+1 settlement cycle in June 2026 shortened the period between a securities transaction and its settlement.

A shorter settlement cycle can help investors access the proceeds of completed transactions sooner, while improved systems can support operational efficiency and market confidence.

The Group has also pursued engagement with other African exchanges to strengthen cross-border investment links and improve regional connectivity.

These initiatives form part of a broader effort to make Nigeria's capital market more accessible and competitive for domestic and international investors.

H2: Sustainable Finance Expands NGX's Market Development Agenda

NGX Group is also advancing sustainable finance through its NGX Net-Zero Programme, known as N-Zero.

The initiative, implemented with DEG Impulse gGmbH and Africa Foresight Group and supported through the develoPPP programme, helps Nigerian businesses improve climate readiness, develop emissions-reduction targets and prepare transition plans that could support access to climate-aligned finance.

The programme has engaged more than 50 companies, with 19 onboarded as community members.

Sustainable finance is relevant to businesses that need to adapt operations, improve environmental performance or attract investors with climate-related requirements.

For real estate and construction companies, access to climate-aligned finance could become increasingly important as investors assess building efficiency, energy use, construction practices and environmental risks. However, participation in such programmes does not automatically guarantee funding.

H2: What the Award Means for Real Estate and Housing Finance

The award recognises the Exchange's wider contribution to capital formation, but its significance for Nigeria's housing sector depends on whether the capital market can channel more funding towards property development and housing finance.

Real estate developers often face high construction costs, expensive borrowing and limited access to long-term funding. A deeper capital market could offer additional financing options to eligible companies through equity issuance, bonds and other capital-market instruments.

Listed property companies and real estate investment trusts may also use the market to attract investors, depending on their structure and regulatory requirements.

However, a stronger exchange does not automatically translate into more affordable housing. The availability of capital for housing will depend on investor appetite, project viability, financing costs, regulatory conditions and developers' ability to deliver returns while meeting market demand.

For NHM's audience, the relevant question is whether improved market infrastructure and wider investor participation can help property businesses access more suitable long-term funding.

H2: Outlook for Nigeria's Capital Market

NGX Group's recognition as Africa's Best Exchange highlights its progress in digital investment access, capital raising and market infrastructure.

The next challenge is to sustain market confidence, improve access for a broader range of investors and ensure that capital-market development supports productive investment across the economy.

For the property sector, the opportunity lies in using a more accessible and efficient market to diversify funding beyond conventional bank lending. Turning that opportunity into greater housing delivery will require viable projects, suitable financing structures and stronger connections between investors and housing developers.

The award marks an important industry achievement, while the broader test will be how effectively Nigeria's capital-market infrastructure mobilises investment for businesses and productive sectors, including real estate.

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