March 18, (THEWILL) — Global investors and financial experts have commended Nigeria’s sweeping financial sector reforms, describing them as credible and capable of restoring long-term investor confidence at the Africa Capital Forum held in London.
The high-level forum, themed “From Stabilisation to Capital Mobilisation”, was jointly hosted by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office at The Peninsula London, on the sidelines of the state visit of President Bola Tinubu to the United Kingdom.
The gathering brought together global investors, development finance institutions, fintech innovators and policymakers to deliberate on strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s financial resilience and deepening capital inflows into the economy.
Speaking at the forum, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jonny Baxter, reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment as a key partner to Nigeria, particularly in banking and capital markets.
Baxter noted that while recent reforms have reignited investor interest, the next phase must focus on converting that interest into sustainable, long-term investments capable of driving economic transformation.
Also addressing participants, the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Odile Renaud-Basso, highlighted Nigeria’s strong economic potential, citing its large population, rapid technology adoption, and growing appetite for innovation as key drivers of future growth.
She expressed optimism that ongoing stabilisation efforts would further unlock opportunities for investment, particularly in sectors driven by technology and youth engagement.
In his remarks, the Head of West and Central Africa at UK Export Finance, Steve Gray, stressed that fiscal transparency remains critical to sustaining investor confidence, adding that Nigeria’s reforms are already improving visibility and trust in the economy.
Similarly, the Managing Director (Policy Strategy and Delivery) at the EBRD, Melis Ekmen Tabojer, said the policy shifts in Nigeria are significantly influencing investor perception and strengthening the credibility of economic management.
Representing the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, the Special Adviser to the President on Finance and the Economy, Sanyade Okoli, emphasised that the government is focused on achieving quality growth but cannot do so alone without private sector participation.
She underscored the need for “sticky” equity capital from global partners to support sustainable development, noting that collaboration with international investors remains a priority for the administration.
Key sessions at the forum, featuring Deputy Governors of the CBN, including Muhammad Sani Abdullahi and Philip Ikeazor, examined critical issues such as risk repricing, reopening of capital markets, the global positioning of Nigerian banks, and the future of fintech-driven remittances.
Abdullahi highlighted improvements in macroeconomic stability, noting that Nigeria’s foreign reserves have surpassed $50 billion, the foreign exchange market has stabilised, and inflation is on a downward trend, although authorities remain cautious.
On his part, Ikeazor said the reforms have been designed to be durable and inclusive, cutting across stakeholders to ensure continuity beyond the current administration.
Top banking executives, including Segun Alebiosu, Oliver Alawuba, Miriam Olusanya, Yemisi Edun, Roosevelt Ogbonna and Akin Oguranti, also lauded the reforms, noting that improved policy clarity has strengthened confidence and enhanced banks’ capacity to finance large-scale projects.
Over the past two years, Nigeria has implemented far-reaching monetary and structural reforms under the leadership of CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, resulting in a sharp decline in inflation from 34 percent to 15 percent, reduced exchange-rate volatility, and a rise in foreign reserves to over $50 billion.
Participants at the forum concluded that these gains present a strong foundation for mobilising long-term capital, including diaspora investments, while strengthening economic ties between Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the broader global financial community.
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