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The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) has reaffirmed its commitment to continuous collaboration with Nairametrics to foster inclusive investment in Nigeria.

The goal, according to the Commission, is to build a transparent and data-driven investment ecosystem where both investors and citizens are well-informed and empowered.

This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of NIPC, Aisha Rimi, who was represented by a Director at the Commission, Oladipo Baruwa, at the Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards 2025 held on Friday at the Civic Centre in Lagos.

“Access to information is a vital enabler of inclusive investment. We are proud of our collaboration with Nairametrics to promote voluntary disclosures by publishing investment signals, timely updates, investors’ intentions, project announcements, and milestone activities,” Baruwa said on behalf of Rimi.

“This joint effort is helping to build a transparent and data-driven investment ecosystem where both investors and the citizens are informed and empowered,” she added.

NIPC commends SEC for market-driven reforms 

Baruwa also emphasized that inclusive investment requires strong actions from both regulators and other critical stakeholders. He commended the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), led by its Director-General, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, for championing reforms that promote market inclusivity.

“Promoting inclusive investment requires not only strategic vision but also bold and complementary actions from all our regulatory institutions. In this regard, I must commend the Securities and Exchange Commission for its leadership in driving market reforms that support broader inclusion,” he stated.

In his remarks, the SEC Director-General expressed appreciation for Nairametrics’ initiative in organizing the event and lauded its focus on honoring exceptional brands and individuals within Nigeria’s financial sector.

“On behalf of the Securities and Exchange Commission Nigeria, I extend our deepest appreciation to Nairametrics for organizing this important gathering, focused on the truly important theme: the capital market as a catalyst for addressing climate transformation. In an era of accelerated technological, economic, and geopolitical transformation, financial markets serve as mechanisms for capital allocation, agents of national development, regional integration, and global competitiveness,” Agama said.

What You Should Know

The 2025 edition marks the inaugural Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards, an event created to recognize and celebrate outstanding participants in Nigeria’s capital market. The awards spotlight those who have bolstered investor confidence, enhanced market efficiency, and contributed significantly to the deepening of the financial ecosystem.

• Companies were recognized for delivering strong returns to shareholders, demonstrating solid financial performance, profitability, and exceptional value creation. Awards were also presented for notable mergers and acquisitions, with criteria including financial impact, stakeholder value, and execution efficiency.
• In line with Nairametrics’ data-centric approach, all nominees were selected based on objective, data-driven metrics.

Awardees at the event include: Femi Otedola, who won the ‘Activist Investor and Market Maker of the Year’; renowned economist and Nigeria’s first Professor of Capital Market Studies, Uche Uwaleke, who won the Special Academic Excellence Award; among others.

Dangote Cement has bagged the Dividend Paying Company of the Year at the recently concluded Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards, held on May 23, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria.

This year’s ceremony, themed “Capital Market as a Catalyst for Nigerian Economic Transformation,” celebrated companies making significant contributions to the country’s economic progress.

Dangote Cement was awarded the Dividend Paying Company of the Year, ahead of other nominees including Nigerian Aviation Company and Airtel Africa—recognizing its record of solid shareholder returns.

The company has established a strong reputation for rewarding its shareholders with consistent and robust dividends.

• Since 2018, the company has paid above N10 per share, increasing the payout to N16 and sustaining it through 2022.
• In 2023, the dividend rose to N20 and was later raised to N30 for the 2023 financial year.
• That momentum has continued into FY 2024, with the company maintaining the N30 dividend, scheduled to be paid out in June 2025.

The dividend, subject to withholding tax, will be paid on Monday, June 23, 2025, to shareholders whose names appear in the company’s register as of Monday, June 9, 2025.

What to know: 

• Dangote Cement’s final dividend of N30 per share amounts to a total payout of N506.206 billion.
• Based on a share price of N440, this represents a dividend yield of 6.81%.
• The final dividend corresponds to a payout ratio of 100.59%.

The company has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 12.22x, significantly lower than the industry average of 41.81x, suggesting the stock may be undervalued

Q1 performance:  

Dangote Cement Plc released its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, reporting a strong pre-tax profit of N311.974 billion—an impressive 87.48% increase compared to the N166.404 billion posted in Q1 2024.

• This solid profitability reported in its income statement was driven by robust revenue gains, supported by the company’s strong hold on its market share.

Revenue from the Nigerian market jumped to N696.042 billion, boosting its share of total group revenue from 55.41% in Q1 2024 to nearly 70% in Q1 2025.

On the expense side, fuel and power costs remained a major factor, totaling N177.193 billion.

Importantly, cost of sales grew more slowly than revenue, helping to lift both gross profit and gross margin, which climbed to 59%—a 15 percentage point rise compared to last year.

• On the balance sheet, the company’s retained earnings also grew significantly, rising to N1.2 trillion from N1.027 trillion a year earlier.

The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Emomotimi Agama, has said financial markets must continuously integrate innovation and efficiency in order to fulfill their potential.

Agama noted that technological innovation in the capital market is a key driver of economic growth and national development.

Delivering the keynote address at the maiden Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards (NCMA) in Lagos on Friday, Agama emphasized that market infrastructure, including clearinghouses, depositories, trading platforms, and surveillance systems, forms the backbone of transformation in the capital market ecosystem.

“Financial markets must evolve continuously, integrating greater efficiency, security, and innovation to fulfill their potential.” 

“Without increased efficiency, security, and innovation, the market cannot fulfill its promise in delivering an excellent performance. In Nigeria, we are committed to building the capital market as a resilient, inclusive, transparent, and future-ready institution,” he stated.

Role of financial markets 

Agama underlined the critical role of financial markets as mechanisms of capital allocation, agents of national development, and drivers of regional integration and global competitiveness in an era of accelerated technological innovation.

The SEC DG expressed appreciation for Nairametrics’ initiative in organizing the event, praising its focus on recognizing outstanding brands and individuals in the financial sector.

“On behalf of the Securities and Exchange Commission Nigeria, I extend our deepest appreciation to Nairametrics for organizing this important gathering, focused on the truly important theme, the capital market as a catalyst for addressing climate transformation. Believing in an era of accelerated technology, economic and geopolitical transformation, financial markets serve as the mechanisms of capital allocation, the agents of national development, regional integration, and global competitiveness.” 

Investment and Securities Act 2025: A Landmark Regulatory Overhaul 

Agama hailed the recent passage of the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2025, which repealed the 2007 Act and ushered in a new era of regulatory modernization.

“The ISA 2025 is a landmark achievement that elevates the powers of the SEC, enhances investment protection, introduces frameworks for new asset classes such as digital assets and derivatives, and aligns Nigeria’s financial sector with global best practices.” 

He emphasized that, for the first time, Nigeria has a legal and institutional framework that not only reacts to current market realities but is also proactively shaping the future of financial innovation.

“Amongst many forward-looking features, the ISA 2025 strengthens both sides of market infrastructure, reinforces the fight against illegal investment schemes, and enables the SEC to collaborate with other regulators across borders.” 

Warehouse Receipts and Commodities Trade Regulation 

Agama further highlighted new regulatory measures introduced under the ISA 2025, particularly in warehouse receipts and commodities trading.

“The Act introduces detailed recommendations regarding probable market changes, requiring the registration of warehouses storing commodities traded in the industry, regulating emissions, trading of warehouse receipts, and outlining market dynamics,” he explained.

This formalization is expected to boost commercial finance, facilitate trade in commodities, and reduce risks for producers and buyers.

Digital Transformation: The Future of Nigeria’s Financial Markets 

The SEC DG cautioned that legislation alone is not enough to modernize Nigeria’s financial sector.

“We must ensure that the infrastructure underpinning our market is digitally advanced, robust, and future-friendly. That is why the SEC is embarking on a bold digital transformation journey, one that includes the development of new telemarketing tools, expanded investigative systems, innovation-enabling frameworks, and the emergence of credible new asset classes.” 

Agama’s Leadership in Transforming Nigeria’s Capital Market 

Since assuming office in 2024, Agama has demonstrated a clear mission—to supercharge Nigeria’s capital market and make it a transformative force in the country’s economic development.

Speaking at key industry events, such as the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers’ Annual Conference, Agama has consistently emphasized the market’s untapped potential, stating:

“If we unlock the potential of our capital market, we unlock the future of Nigeria.”

Under his leadership, the SEC has pushed boundaries, embracing fintech, expanding financial access, and reshaping the narrative surrounding Nigeria’s capital market potential.

What you should know 

Several tangible initiatives have already been launched to accelerate financial market innovation, including:

• The Regulatory Incubation Programme which provides a controlled testing environment for fintech startups.
• New digital asset regulations, facilitating the growth of cryptocurrency platforms and blockchain-driven financial products.
• Innovative financing tools such as Sukuk bonds which are actively funding major infrastructure projects across Nigeria.

With these bold initiatives, Agama and the SEC are rewriting the future of Nigeria’s financial sector, ensuring it remains a competitive force in the global economy.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has revealed that strategic capital market investments are driving revenue growth and infrastructure development across the state.

The state governor, represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi, disclosed this at the Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards on Friday, May 23, at the Civic Centre in Lagos.

The governor highlighted how bold initiatives and public-private partnerships are transforming Lagos into a leading economic hub.

“Our journey has been defined by bold choices and strategic initiatives, including our active role in the capital market through our various gold initiatives,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He explained that Lagos has harnessed the capital market’s power to fund major infrastructure projects and make smart investments, benefiting the state and beyond.

“By tapping into the market’s ability to modernise, we have been able to drive transformative infrastructure projects in Lagos, and we have also enhanced revenue generation and made smart investments that benefit all nations,” he added.

Public-private partnerships key to Lagos’ progress 

Sanwo-Olu emphasized that public-private partnerships are key to Lagos’ economic strategy, combining government and private sector strengths to build an inclusive community and position Lagos as a future financial hub.

“Public-private partnership is a central part of our approach, allowing us to combine the strengths of both sectors to cultivate a thriving, inclusive community.  

Through this partnership, we are transforming Lagos into the financial hub of our future, a shining example of opportunity,” he said.

The governor also emphasized his commitment to creating a transparent, accessible capital market and increasing financial literacy to empower all citizens to participate effectively.

“Looking forward, we are dedicated to nurturing a capital market environment that is built on transparency, accessibility and opportunity.  

“We are ramping up our efforts to enhance financial literacy, making sure that every citizen has the knowledge and tools they need to engage effectively in our markets,” he added.

Sanwo-Olu thanked investors and partners for their support and called for continued collaboration to drive economic growth and build a capital market that supports businesses and promotes shared prosperity for Lagos and Nigeria.

Award for transforming Lagos into financial hub 

Governor Sanwo-Olu received an honorary award for his visionary leadership in transforming Lagos into Nigeria’s and West Africa’s undisputed financial and commercial capital.

His administration’s strategic investments in infrastructure, innovation, and urban development have fostered an enabling environment for capital markets, financial services, and fintech innovation to thrive.

Over the last five years, Lagos has attracted major investments in technology, transport, housing, and finance, making the state the preferred destination for capital inflows and new business ventures.

What you should know 

Lagos State Government disclosed that it is advancing its financial sector by establishing the Lagos International Financial Centre (LIFC) to create an enabling environment that supports seamless trading and attracts foreign investment.

Sanwo-Olu noted that by tackling existing market challenges and strengthening collaboration between government and the private sector, the LIFC is expected to boost capital market growth, increase Lagos’ competitiveness in the global financial landscape, and drive innovation within the financial sector.

The Lagos International Financial Centre was created in partnership with EnterpriseNGR and other key stakeholders.