LAGOS (Sundiata Post) – The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), in conjunction with the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA), is hosting the 5th Building African Financial Markets (BAFM) seminar which begins from Thursday 28 to Friday 29 and ASEA Exco (Board) meeting on April 30.
The BAFM seminar with the theme: “Addressing Liquidity Concerns in African Capital Market”, is bringing together representatives from stock exchanges, regulatory bodies, stockbroking firms and other financial market stakeholders from several African countries. This is the first time the capacity building seminar will be hosted outside South Africa, and ASEA plans to bring this important capacity building seminar to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
According to Oscar N. Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, NSE and President African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA), the BAFM seminar is designed to promote growth in African financial markets, and presents an opportunity to enhance the capacity of African capital market participants and exchanges to compete effectively on the global stage. “The seminar aims to accelerate dialogue, capacity building and collaboration amongst participants to drive the growth of Africa’s capital markets and build collaboration on issues of shared interest in order to present the African continent as an attractive investment destination.
“As African economies reposition themselves following the significant impact of global headwinds that have challenged the continent’s growth prospects, African securities exchanges must step up their efforts at driving liquidity in their markets in order to help finance the continent’s infrastructure and capital requirements. Initiatives such as this form an integral part of the continued development of sustainable economies within the continent bearing in mind peculiar strengths that we could leverage individually and collectively as we press forward”, he said.
The seminar will feature thought leaders from dominant African financial institutions, multilateral organisations and regulators who will moderate discussions on the theme “driving liquidity in African capital markets”. Other topics that will be discussed at the seminar include: strengthening equity market structure in Africa to better address low liquidity, instituting an optimal pricing mechanism on African exchanges, cross border capital market integration – a catalyst for boosting liquidity on African Stock Exchanges, among others.
Some of the confirmed speakers for the event include Dr. Leila Fourie, Executive Director, Johannesburg Stock Exchange; Dr. Antonie Kotzé, Senior Derivatives Quant and Consultant, University of Johannesburg; Ms. Selloua Chakri, Head, Market Structure Strategy, Middle East and Africa, Bloomberg; Mr. Ade Bajomo, Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, NSE; Ms. Siobhan Cleary, Head of Research & Public Policy, World Federation of Exchanges; Mr. Adewole Obadare, Chief Operating Officer, Digital Encode Ltd.; Ali Khapley, Global head of Equities, Exotix; Mr. Birahim Diouf, Director of Studies, Strategy and Market Development, BRVM; Mr. Segun Sanni, Head Investor Services, Stanbic IBTC Bank, and Mr. Andre Visser, General Manager, Issuer Regulation, Johannesburg Stock Exchange
