The Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru Kwairanga, has urged Nigerian businesses to embrace technology, innovation and global best practices to remain competitive in an increasingly interconnected world.
Kwairanga said physical barriers and geographical borders alone could no longer give businesses a competitive advantage as technology continues to transform how companies operate and access global markets.
He made the call on Friday at the Lead the Future Conference 2026, held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, with the theme, “Building Globally Competitive and Future-Ready Organisations.”
According to him, the conference was timely, given the rapid pace of technological advancement and its growing influence on business operations across the world.
He noted that although nationalism was gaining momentum in several countries, technology would continue to strengthen global economic connections and create new opportunities for businesses to expand beyond their traditional markets.
“In a world where business is conducted online at the speed of thought, physical barriers and borders alone will not give future businesses an advantage,” he said.
The NGX Group chairman explained that modern technology had democratised access to opportunities, enabling businesses to reach wider markets and compete internationally, adding that African enterprises must take advantage of these developments to scale their operations.
Speaking on the NGX Group’s approach to competitiveness, Kwairanga said the organisation had consistently worked towards becoming a world-class exchange capable of competing with leading platforms globally.
He said achieving this ambition required the adoption of international best practices, continuous technological advancement and the maintenance of high operational standards.
Kwairanga added that the exchange also expected companies listed on its platform and holders of trading licences to meet high standards through its listing requirements, rules and regulations.
He said the NGX Group supported initiatives such as the Lead the Future Conference because of their potential to strengthen corporate governance and management practices among Nigerian businesses.
According to him, the conference provides an opportunity to examine how Nigerian organisations can position themselves to lead in Africa and compete effectively in the global marketplace.
He identified people management, artificial intelligence and business innovation as some of the critical areas participants would explore during the conference.
Kwairanga urged participants to actively engage with the discussions and identify practical ways to apply the knowledge gained to their organisations and businesses.
He said the insights from experienced professionals and business leaders could help participants improve their operations, discover new business opportunities and develop strategies for sustainable growth.
The NGX chairman also highlighted Africa’s potential to become a major driver of global economic growth in the 21st century, citing the continent’s youthful population and abundant natural resources.
However, he stressed that realising this potential would require deliberate efforts to promote innovation, maintain focus and effectively harness the continent’s competitive advantages.
“Africa, with its youthful population and abundant resources, is the potential economic driver of the twenty-first century, but to achieve that potential, we must be focused, innovative and be able to harness our advantages,” he said.
Kwairanga expressed appreciation to the conference organisers for the opportunity to participate in the event and wished attendees productive deliberations.
The two-day conference brought together professionals and business leaders to discuss strategies for building organisations capable of adapting to emerging technologies, evolving business models and the demands of an increasingly competitive global economy.
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