The Bond Market, The OTC Exchange and FMDQ Honours Outgoing DG, DMO

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L-R: Bola Onadele. Koko, Managing Director/CEO, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange (FMDQ); Dr. Mrs. Obioma Nwankwo, Wife of Outgoing Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO); Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, Outgoing Director-General of DMO & Guest of Honour; Ms. Patience Oniha, Incoming Director-General of DMO; Jibril Aku, Vice-Chairman, FMDQ; and Frank Aigbogun, Publisher/CEO, BusinessDay Media Limited; during a presentation to Dr. Nwankwo at the Market Development Appreciation Ceremony held in honour of Dr. Nwankwo by FMDQ

The establishment of the Debt Management Office (DMO or the Agency) in 2000 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.

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. This 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. Among those present atthe Ceremony were the newlyappointed 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), ably 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.

The rains did not douse the guard of honour-reception the FMDQ staff had planned for Dr. Nwankwo. The
staff, along with some beautifully erected balloons stands, formed a path on both sides of a blue carpet,
for him, his wife and daughter to walk through the entrance, 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! It
was indeed a wonderful sight to experience.

From the very eloquently delivered citation to the series of well-articulated and goodwill messages, and
even the level of attendance at the Ceremony, it was clear that the positive impact Dr. Nwankwo had
made in the bond market, and by extension, the economy, over the last decade, was indeed felt and very
much appreciated by all. In reliving the decade-long and successful tenure, 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.

 

L-R: Bola Onadele. Koko, Managing Director/CEO, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange (FMDQ); Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, Outgoing Director-General of the Debt Management Office & Guest of Honour and Jibril Aku, Vice-Chairman, FMDQ; during a presentation to Dr. Nwankwo at the Market Development Appreciation Ceremony held in honour of Dr. Nwankwo by FMDQ

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 markets.


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