June 1 (THEWILL) — FMDQ Group Plc has appointed seasoned financial markets expert, Zeal Akaraiwe, as its new Group Chief Executive Officer, ushering in a new era of leadership at Nigeria’s leading over-the-counter financial market infrastructure group.
The appointment follows the retirement of Bola Onadele Koko, the pioneer Group Managing Director and CEO, whose 12-year tenure transformed FMDQ from a fledgling market platform into a key pillar of Nigeria’s financial markets ecosystem. Sources familiar with the development confirmed to Nairametrics that the appointment has received regulatory approval.
Akaraiwe brings more than 25 years of experience across financial markets in West Africa, Southern Africa, and the United Kingdom. His expertise spans derivatives, treasury solutions, risk management, market development, and financial market regulation.
Before taking up the role, he served as Founder and CEO of Graeme Blaque Advisory, a boutique firm providing risk and derivatives advisory services to corporates, financial institutions, and development partners across Africa. He also spent six years at Standard Chartered Bank, where he served as Head of Global Markets Sales for Nigeria between 2008 and 2014. In that capacity, he led treasury sales operations for corporate, institutional, and central bank clients, helping drive significant growth in the bank’s financial institutions and corporate business segments.
Widely regarded as one of Africa’s pioneers in derivatives markets, Akaraiwe has advised regulators, central banks, and market participants on frameworks for developing modern risk-transfer markets. He is also known for his contributions to public policy discussions through his weekly Critical Thinking programme on LagosTalks 91.3 FM and his book, It Is Time.
His appointment signals FMDQ’s continued focus on market innovation, risk management products, and capital market development. As Nigeria seeks to deepen its financial markets and attract greater investment, Akaraiwe is expected to build on the foundation laid by Onadele, whose tenure saw landmark initiatives such as the USD/NGN Non-Deliverable Forwards market and the launch of exchange-traded derivatives.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
