The Nigerian Exchange Group has urged Small and Medium Enterprises in Kano to tap into Nigeria’s capital market as a strategic tool for wealth creation and business expansion. NGX Chairman, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, made the call on Wednesday in Kano on the sidelines of a stakeholders’ meeting themed “Unlocking Growth: Harnessing the Capital Market for SME Growth.”
Kwairanga emphasised that access to capital market instruments could provide SMEs with the funding needed to scale operations and generate sustainable wealth. He noted that SMEs form the backbone of the Nigerian economy and have the potential to significantly contribute to national economic growth if properly supported. The NGX has designed initiatives to make capital market participation more accessible to businesses across the country.
“Our aim is to engage prospective and listed companies in the NGX, helping them meet the necessary requirements to fully benefit from market opportunities. We want these SMEs to achieve great success, just like Dangote or BUA,” Kwairanga said. He highlighted the investment potential in the capital market, noting that in 2025, companies in the engineering sector delivered returns exceeding 50 per cent. He added that the market has already returned over 30 per cent in 2026, with confidence of tripling last year’s performance.
Kwairanga cited Jaiz Bank, a non-interest bank listed on the stock exchange, as a local success story. Its shares, initially priced at one unit, have risen to over ten units, illustrating the wealth creation potential of strategic investments. Stressing the need to engage young people and women, he noted that 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population is under 30, warning that failure to provide these opportunities risks producing untapped potential that could become a “time bomb” for the future.
