Speech Delivered by Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru Kwairanga, Group Chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) Plc at the NGX Group International Women’s Day
On behalf of the Board and Management of Nigerian Exchange Group, I am honored to welcome you to this year’s International Women’s Day celebration.
Each year, International Women’s Day is both a celebration and a call to action. It is a recognition of progress made and a challenge to accelerate the pace of change. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that fairness, inclusion, and empowerment are not just ideals but lived realities for all women.
The global conversation on gender equality is shifting. It is no longer just a moral issue; it is an economic necessity. Studies have shown that closing gender gaps leads to stronger economic growth, innovation, and market resilience. Despite clear evidence, women remain underrepresented in leadership, lack access to capital, and face deep-seated biases that hinder their progress.
At Nigerian Exchange Group, we believe that capital markets must be a force for inclusive prosperity. This is why we continue to champion gender diversity through initiatives such as Nigeria2Equal (N2E) in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which advances women in corporate leadership, employment, and entrepreneurship. Similarly, our EquipHer initiative is designed to increase female participation in the Nigerian capital market through targeted investor education programs, the mainstreaming of gender financial inclusion, and the creation of mechanisms to track gender impact through disaggregated data collection and analysis.
Furthermore, our commitment to global gender equity standards is reinforced through our EDGE Certification, while our annual Ring the Bell for Gender Equality serves as a powerful reminder that diverse leadership is critical to economic success. Through X-Academy, we continue to strengthen financial literacy and investment education for women, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to secure their financial futures.
At NGX Group, we lead by example. Across our boards and subsidiaries, women hold key leadership roles, shaping the strategic direction of our organization and the broader capital market. But while progress has been made, this is not the time to slow down.
Achieving gender equality demands bold, deliberate action. We must ask ourselves: How do we ensure diversity in leadership is not just symbolic but systemic? How do we dismantle the barriers that limit women’s access to finance and career growth? These challenges require a coordinated response from the private sector, government, regulators, and society at large.
When we accelerate progress for women, we accelerate progress for all. An inclusive economy is a thriving economy. A diverse boardroom is a stronger boardroom and an empowered woman is a catalyst for national prosperity.
As we engage in today’s discussions, I encourage all of us to move beyond commitments and take measurable action. Our legacy will not be defined by what we say, but by what we do. Let us seize this moment to build a future where talent, not gender, determines success.
On behalf of Nigerian Exchange Group, I extend my sincere appreciation to the Honourable Minister, our esteemed regulator, corporate and academic leaders, speakers, and all distinguished guests for honoring our invitation and for your unwavering support in advancing gender equality. Your presence here today underscores the collective commitment required to drive meaningful change.
Happy International Women’s Day!
Thank you.
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