NGX RegCO, ICAN sign MoU to facilitate capital market regulation

By Cynthia Ezekwe.

NGX Regulation Limited (NGX RegCo) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), to further enhance the effectiveness of regulation and investor protection in the Nigerian capital market.

This development signifies closer collaboration between NGX RegCo and ICAN and reinforces their commitment to the development of the capital market and the financial services industry in Nigeria.

The partnership is expected to harness capacity building and information sharing to foster a culture of competence and professionalism for market development. In addition, it entails the development of initiatives to further improve the quality of corporate reporting in the capital market.

Tinuade Awe, chief executive officer, NGX RegCo, in his remarks during the signing ceremony held at the Nigerian Exchange Group house in Lagos, emphasised that regulation had to be effective to create fairness in the market and collaboration between organisations like ICAN is critical to enhancing professionalism, ethics, integrity and transparency.

Awe highlighted  the importance of technology in easing reporting and regulation, adding that NGX RegCo was collaborating with the Institute to enable it further deliver on its mandate of investor protection, creating fair and transparent markets and promoting compliance with global best practices.

“We have a long history of over 60 years in the context of the Nigerian Stock Exchange but for NGX RegCo post-demutualisation, this is truly a historic moment. We believe that this cause that we are deliberately undertaking will enable both parties to deliver efficiently on our shared objectives. We look forward to collaborating with ICAN and are sure that the Institute will see this collaboration as mutually beneficial,” he added.

Also speaking, Innocent Okwuosa, ICAN president,noted  that the collaboration between both parties will foster a robust and transparent capital market ecosystem that will attract investment, encourage growth, sustainability reporting and safeguard the interest of all stakeholders.

“Accountants are at the forefront of financial reporting and so the information investors will work with are mainly driven by them. This underscores why both NGX RegCo and ICAN should cooperate and we are happy that today marks a new beginning,’’ Okwuosa said.

He added that the strategic alliance between NGX RegCo and ICAN is expected to have a profound and positive impact on the Nigerian capital market, promote investor confidence, strengthen regulatory oversight, and elevate professional standards within the industry.”

The ICAN President reiterated the Institute’s commitment to advising the government on supporting increased capital flows to the market, adding that it is ready to cooperate with NGX RegCo on awareness amongst accountants and other areas that would boost market development.