FMDQ honours outgoing DG, DMO

Following a decade of dedicated service, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, whose highly successful tenure as the Director-General (DG) of the DMO, spanning the period July ,2007, to June, 2017, was honoured by FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange (FMDQ or the OTC Exchange) and key financial market stakeholders at a memorable ceremony held at the FMDQ offices in Lagos.

The ceremony, which was in acknowledgement of his efforts towards the growth of the Nigerian bond market, and invariably, the economy, brought together key financial market stakeholders, friends and well-wishers, all wishing to celebrate Dr. Nwankwo on his retirement from the DMO.

The establishment of the Debt Management Office (DMO in 2000, was hinged on the need for a well-focused and credible office to proactively manage the public debts and invariably, deepen the country’s financial markets towards ensuring global competitiveness.

This welcomed move, applauded by market participants as timely, given the level of external exposures and the need to support government expenditure needs, as well as provide access to long-term financing for the private sector, defined the strategic focus of the DMO and drove the commitment of the Agency.

Among those present at the Ceremony were the newly appointed DG of DMO, Ms. Patience Oniha; the DG, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), represented by Mr. Stephen A. Falomo, Head, Lagos Zonal Office, SEC; the Chairman of FMDQ, Dr. Okwu Joseph Nnanna (Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Central Bank of Nigeria), represented by Mr. Jibril Aku, Vice Chairman of FMDQ; Mr. Bolaji Balogun, Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Chapel
Hill Advisory Partnersrepresented by Mr. Ayo Fashina, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi, former Commissioner for Finance,Lagos State, Mr. Frank Aigbogun, Publisher/CEO of BusinessDay, Mr. Olufemi Awoyemi, the Founder/Managing Director, Proshare Nigeria, representatives of the Primary Dealer Market Makers (PDMMs) who are also Dealing Member (Banks) of FMDQ, the debt capital-focused OTC Exchange, amongst others.
Members of staff were on hand to honour the man, who was in company with his wife and daughter, as they to walk through the entrance, spiced with beautiful decorations, to the humble OTC Exchange building, with FMDQ-branded umbrellas held high by the staff in a spectacle akin to the military pulling out parade!
From the citation to the series of well-articulated goodwill messages, and the remarkable attendance at the ceremony, it was clear that the positive impact Dr. Nwankwo had made on the bond’s market and the economy in general over the last decade, was very much appreciated.

A one-on-one discourse, anchored by FMDQ’s MD/CEO, Mr. Bola Onadele. Koko was held with the outgoing DG, DMO, following which a special symbol depicting Dr. Nwankwo’s key achievements, including, the developments which the Nigerian bond market had experienced over the last decade, was presented to and unveiled by the guest of honour, among other mementos.

Described as a “Pacesetter” in the goodwill messages which flocked in, Dr. Nwankwo set out to redefine the public debt management landscape in Nigeria, bringing on commendable verve and innovativeness to the hitherto conservative area of public finance management.

From the development of a comprehensive and accurate national debt database to deepening the domestic bond market via the introduction of regular monthly bond issuances supported with the PDMMs System and the consistent launch of innovative bond products including the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Savings Bond, Sukuk, and the soon to be finalised FGN Dollar and Green Bonds, the DMO, under Dr. Nwankwo’s leadership, progressively pursued the alignment of the Nigerian debt capital markets (DCM) to international standards.

In recording landmark achievements, including the first-ever domestic listing of the Federal Government of Nigeria Eurobond, the Agency is seen to have set an audacious pace towards effectively developing the domestic bond market. Dr. Nwankwo’s quest for excellence, his consistency, integrity, professionalism and humility, were a few of the words and phrases used to describe the outgoing DG and were attributed to his exceptional performance during his 10-year tenure, under four (4) different administrations.

In consolidation of the strategic and value-adding initiatives undertaken by the DMO in developing the Nigerian DCM, FMDQ, with a deep sense of appreciation as Dr. Nwankwo retires, continues to show great commitment to actualising the objectives of the Agency vis-a’vis those of the OTC Exchange for the transformation of the markets within its purview. FMDQ looks forward, in excited anticipation, to maintaining this formidable collaboration with the DMO under the new leadership of Ms. Oniha, towards the further development of the Nigerian DCM, and by extension, the economy.

By serving as a point of integration between the domestic and international markets, FMDQ has, in its short period of existence, become the ambassador of foreign portfolio capital for Nigeria and lent itself as an efficient and operationally excellent platform for fixed income and currency.

This is well in line with its mission to empower the financial markets to be innovative and credible, in support of the Nigerian economy. In promoting and supporting economic development therefore, the active collaboration of all stakeholders is required to erect the necessary market infrastructures, transform and position the Nigerian financial markets towards maximising its potential, and its partnership with the DMO remains a steady and right path towards actualising the shared objectives and desires of the market