WELCOME REMARKS BY ALHAJI (DR.) UMARU KWAIRANGA GROUP CHAIRMAN, NGX GROUP AT THE ROUNDTABLE WITH THE BRAZILIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION ON THURSDAY, 7 AUGUST 2026.
It is my great pleasure to welcome Mr. Roberto Giannetti da Fonseca, Managing Director of APEX Brasil, Mr. Floriano Pesaro, and the distinguished members of the Brazilian delegation to Nigerian Exchange Group.
We are honoured to receive you today and deeply appreciate your interest in exploring opportunities within Nigeria’s capital market and broader investment landscape.
Mr. Roberto, it is particularly wonderful to welcome you back. Almost exactly one year ago, you graciously facilitated the NGX Group Board’s study visit to Brazil, where we had the opportunity to engage with leading institutions, gain valuable insights into Brazil’s financial ecosystem and strengthen relationships that we hoped would endure beyond that visit.
It is therefore fitting, and perhaps symbolic, that one year later, in the same month of August, we are gathered here in Lagos, continuing that conversation from the Nigerian side. It demonstrates that meaningful partnerships are built not on one-off meetings, but on sustained engagement, mutual respect and a shared commitment to creating value.
Nigeria and Brazil have long enjoyed strong diplomatic and cultural ties. As two of the world’s largest emerging economies, we share many common strengths, young and entrepreneurial population, abundant natural resources, dynamic private sectors and significant opportunities for long-term economic growth.
The next chapter of that relationship, however, should be defined by greater investment, deeper capital flows and stronger private-sector collaboration.
Nigeria’s capital market has undergone significant transformation in recent years. We have witnessed stronger market performance, deeper investor participation, increased use of technology and reforms that continue to improve market efficiency, transparency and accessibility.
At NGX Group, our ambition extends beyond operating an exchange. We see ourselves as a platform for capital formation, wealth creation and economic development, connecting businesses with long-term capital and connecting investors with opportunities that drive sustainable growth.
Whether through equity listings, debt capital markets, infrastructure financing or innovative investment structures, we believe the Nigerian market offers multiple pathways for productive partnerships between our two countries.
More importantly, we believe these partnerships should be built around long-term value creation. By combining Brazil’s industrial expertise and investment experience with Nigeria’s market opportunities and entrepreneurial energy, there is tremendous potential to unlock mutually beneficial ventures across agriculture, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, technology and other strategic sectors.
Today’s meeting provides another opportunity for open dialogue. I encourage you to ask questions, share your perspectives and challenge us where necessary. Equally, we hope to learn from your experiences in Brazil and identify practical areas where our institutions and private sectors can collaborate more closely.
Relationships such as these are rarely built in a single meeting. They are developed over time through trust, consistency and a willingness to explore opportunities together. We hope today’s engagement serves as another important milestone in what we believe can become an even stronger economic partnership between Nigeria and Brazil.
Once again, I warmly welcome you to NGX Group.
Thank you.
