By Kiso Simon
The Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre came alive on Wednesday as top policymakers, investors, and economic stakeholders gathered for the 2025 Moneyline Investment Forum organized by Moneyline with Nancy on AIT, anchored by renowned financial journalist Mrs. Nancy Illoh Nnaji.
With the theme “Nigeria’s New Financial Landscape: Reforms, Risks, and the Road to Wealth Creation,” the forum provided a robust platform for examining the sweeping financial and economic reforms reshaping the nation’s investment environment.
Legislative and Subnational Perspectives on Economic Reform
Delivering separate keynote addresses, Distinguished Senator Osita Izunaso, Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market & Institutions, and His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom State (represented by Mr. Annietien Omo, Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communication), outlined both the legislative and subnational dimensions of Nigeria’s ongoing economic transformation.
Senator Osita Izunaso: ISA 2025 Heralds a New Era for Nigeria’s Capital Market
Senator Izunaso commended Mrs. Nancy Nnaji for her sustained commitment to financial education through Moneyline with Nancy, describing it as “a national service that has empowered countless Nigerians to understand and participate in the country’s financial ecosystem.”
Speaking on the recently enacted Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2025, he described it as “a forward looking framework that strengthens regulatory oversight, enhances investor protection, and elevates market transparency.
“The ISA 2025 signals a new era for Nigeria’s capital market,” Izunaso stated. “It ensures our markets are not only safe and credible but also globally competitive and attractive to both domestic and foreign investors.”
He highlighted four key pillars of the Act:
1. Regulatory Oversight: The SEC is now empowered to proactively monitor market activities, detect risks early, and enforce compliance more effectively.
2. Investor Protection: The Act strengthens corporate governance, mandates greater disclosure, and introduces effective redress mechanisms to boost investor confidence.
3. Market Transparency: Nigeria’s disclosure standards are now aligned with global best practices, positioning the market for international competitiveness.
4. Economic Growth: ISA 2025 supports the Federal Government’s ambition to achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2030, transforming the capital market into an engine of inclusive growth.
However, Izunaso expressed concern over the proposed Capital Gains Tax increase on share sales above ₦150 million from 10% to 30%, effective January 2026 warning that the policy has already triggered panic disposals, wiping over ₦2 trillion from market capitalization.
“While taxation is essential, fiscal measures must not erode investor confidence,” he cautioned. “I urge the Honourable Minister of Finance to strike a balance between revenue generation and market stability.”
He called for sustained collaboration among government, regulators, and market participants to ensure full implementation of the Act, describing ISA 2025 as “a roadmap for building a resilient, transparent, and inclusive capital market.”
Governor Umo Eno: Subnational Governments Must Drive Wealth Creation
In his keynote address, Governor Umo Eno lauded the forum for advancing public understanding of Nigeria’s economic reforms and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive, subnational led development.
He noted that Nigeria’s financial reforms including the Investment and Securities Act 2025, Insurance Industry Reform Act 2025, and Power Sector Liberalization have collectively redefined the nation’s economic direction.
“We must connect fiscal reform with financial education, and policy with people,” he said. “Subnational governments must no longer wait for the centre; they must drive innovation, productivity, and local enterprise.”
Governor Eno outlined his state’s development framework, the ARISE Agenda, anchored on:
•Agricultural Revolution
•Rural Development
•Infrastructure Advancement
•Security Management
•Educational and Industrial Development
He highlighted major state led investments, including:
•Ibom Air, Nigeria’s first and most successful state owned airline.
•The ongoing Ibom Deep Seaport and Industrial City projects, advancing the blue economy.
•Over 960 km of new road networks and clean energy transport systems.
•Six Economic Zones offering infrastructure, incentives, and regulatory support for investors.
•A thriving tourism and hospitality sector, cementing Akwa Ibom’s reputation as Nigeria’s cleanest and safest state.
The Governor also cited the Ibom-LED initiative, which has trained and empowered over 10,000 entrepreneurs, as evidence of his government’s focus on SME growth.
“Growth and development are possible when vision meets discipline and when governance serves the people,” he declared. “Akwa Ibom today is proof that with transparency, accountability, and peace, sustainable investment will always find its way.”
Governor Eno urged investors to explore Akwa Ibom as “a destination whose time has come,” aligning the state’s economic vision with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
Forum Highlights: A Platform for Financial Literacy and Reform
Other notable speakers included:
Dr. Kennedy Iwudu, Principal Partner, Kennedy Iwudu & Associates, and past Chairman, FCT Tax Practitioners Association, who discussed the government’s upcoming 2026 tax reforms.
Dr. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, who urged Nigerians to seek verified information from official reform websites and media platforms to avoid misinformation.
Dr. Ade Briamo, Managing Director, Alpha Bank, who commended Moneyline with Nancy for its decade long role in promoting financial literacy.
Mr. Johnson Chukwu, GMD/CEO, Cowry Asset Management Ltd., who presented a paper titled “Smart Investing: How to Build Wealth in Nigeria’s Evolving Financial Landscape.”
Dr. Emomotimi Agama, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), who spoke on “Taming the Ponzi Menace: Investor Confidence and Market Integrity in Nigeria,” educating the public on the dangers of fraudulent investment schemes.
Moneyline with Nancy: A Decade of Economic Empowerment
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Nancy Illoh Nnaji thanked participants and reaffirmed her commitment to public enlightenment and economic education. She urged attendees to “translate today’s discussions into action by helping the public understand and adapt to Nigeria’s ongoing financial reforms.”
The 2025 Moneyline Investment Forum thus stood out as a convergence of insight, innovation, and inspiration bridging the gap between reform and reality, and reaffirming Nigeria’s collective resolve to chart a sustainable path to wealth creation and economic growth.
