Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group) has called for enhanced investment and commercial ties between Nigeria and the U.S. to boost capital flows and drive economic growth.
Umaru Kwairanga, NGX Group chairman, made the call at the U.S.–Nigeria Council Breakfast in New York on Wednesday.
Mr Kwairanga said the relationship between both countries presented significant opportunities for deeper trade, investment and private-sector collaboration.
He said Nigeria had considerable economic opportunities across financial services, technology, consumer markets, energy, infrastructure, agriculture and manufacturing. According to him, turning these opportunities into economic value requires capital, strong institutions, and partnerships that can support businesses as they grow.
Mr Kwairanga said the capital market had an important role in connecting capital with investment opportunities. He said a deeper capital market would enable businesses to finance expansion, support long-term investment and provide a transparent framework for domestic and international investors.
He described the U.S. as an important global source of capital, technology, expertise and business networks.
The NGX chairman said Nigeria’s engagement with the U.S. should go beyond attracting American capital into individual transactions. He advocated enduring relationships among Nigerian and American businesses, investors and institutions.
He said such relationships should identify areas of commercial alignment and create partnerships that would enable U.S. companies to participate in Nigeria’s market.
Mr Kwairanga noted that Nigerian businesses could also leverage such partnerships to access capital, technology, expertise and global networks. He said investors considered factors such as market infrastructure, corporate governance, transparency, regulation and the efficiency of capital flows when assessing investment destinations.
According to him, Nigeria’s financial ecosystem continues to evolve in these areas, with NGX Group focused on strengthening investment infrastructure and improving market accessibility.
He said the private sector had a critical role in advancing economic relations between Nigeria and the U.S.
“Governments can establish the framework for engagement, while businesses, investors and financial institutions create the transactions, partnerships and investments that give that relationship substance.
“At NGX Group, our role is fundamentally about connecting capital with opportunity. We provide the infrastructure through which businesses can raise capital and investors can participate in the growth of Nigerian enterprises,” he said.
Mr Kwairanga said forums such as the breakfast meeting could help move discussions from identifying Nigeria’s potential to executing viable investment opportunities. He said this would require identifying opportunities, establishing business cases, determining capital requirements and bringing together appropriate partners.
The NGX chairman said successful investment relationships were ultimately built on trust, supported by predictable institutions, credible governance, transparency, sound regulation and market integrity. He also called for broader Nigeria-U.S. economic engagement beyond traditional investment flows.
Mr Kwairanga identified technology, financial services, infrastructure, sports, entertainment, creative industries and professional services as areas with potential for stronger commercial ties. He said achieving the scale of investment Nigeria needs would depend on collaboration among government, regulators, investors, businesses, financial institutions and international partners.