Nigeria’s Leadership Newspapers have named the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, as the Person of the Year.

The honour was bestowed upon him at the 17^th edition of the Leadership Annual Conference and Awards on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

On the occasion, Alh Dangote expressed the view that a collaboration between the public and the private sector would help resolve Nigeria’s economic conundrum.

According to him, the duo of public and private sectors must work together to tackle Nigeria’s socio-economic and political challenges.

Alh Dangote, who’s Africa’s wealthiest person, was represented by his Special Adviser, Engr Mansur Ahmed who collected the award on his behalf.

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He said, “On behalf of the award recipients and stakeholders gathered here, I would like to assure all Nigerians of our commitment to continue doing everything we can to collectively make Nigeria a better place for the benefit of the present and future generations.”

On the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors, he opined that: “Given the apocalyptic developments currently unfolding in the global economic arena, it is imperative that leading stakeholders from all sectors of every economy must close ranks and collaborate to advance the interest of their nation.”

He thanked the Leadership Newspapers for considering him for such a lofty award, adding that the recognition has inspired him to do more for his country.

The theme for this year’s Awards is: Challenges and Opportunities in Nigeria’s Fiscal Federalism, and the keynote address was delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was represented by Dr. Aliyu Umar Modibbo.

The Leadership Person of the Year Award is coming in the wake of numerous other recognitions.

Recall that on November 14, 2011, the Nigerian Government conferred on Aliko Dangote the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), becoming the first person outside government functionaries to bag the honour.

In 2013, he was conferred with the highest national honour in the Republic of Benin, the Grand Commander of the National Order of the Republic of Benin.

Similarly, in 2027, he was awarded the Officer of the Congolese Order of Merit.

In August 2022, Dangote was conferred with the Commander of the Order of Merit of Niger award by the then President of the Republic of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum in Niamey, in appreciation for his services rendered to the Republic of Niger and as well as a tribute to his business acumen and philanthropy.

In 2024, he was conferred with the prestigious award of Commander of the National Order of the Lion, by President Macky Sall of the Republic of Senegal, for his commitment to economic growth and sustainable development across the continent.

In April 2014, TIME Magazine listed him among its 100 ‘Most Influential People in the World.

For six consecutive years, 2013 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Forbes listed him as the ‘Most Powerful Man in Africa’ alongside the Egyptian President Abdel Fatteh el Sisi.

He was Vanguard Personality of the Year in 2022 and The Guardian Man of the Year 2015.

In 2012 and 2024, the Daily Sun, Nigeria’s leading tabloid named him the Sun Man of the Year.

As business confidence in Nigeria rose to the highest level in 14 months signalling a rising demand for their goods and services, Woodhall Capital International Foundation (WCIF), a subsidiary of Woodhall Capital, a leading financial advisory firm, in partnership with Mentor Intro Africa, has commenced the training of a new generation of Captains of Industry through a-six-week intensive mentorship programme.

Speaking about the programme which commenced with forty shortlisted mentees on Friday March 5 at EbonyLive Studios, Victoria Island, Lagos, the President of Woodhall Capital, Mrs. Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu, noted, “We are very excited to bring together 40 Captains of Industry and share ideas and visions on how to build sustainable businesses in Nigeria. It’s been a wholesome experience from 9am to 3pm. It’s so heartwarming to have found Captains of Industry who are indigenous to Africa and others who are going global. We shared ideas on how exactly we can accomplish these, the peculiarities of doing business in Nigeria, and the possibilities of Africans building offices around the world. That’s what we have started on Friday.”

Reinforcing what the partnership means to her, the Founder of Mentor Intro Africa, Mrs. Fola Niyi-Duale, remarked, “What we set out to do is to bridge the gap between career professionals and those who have already walked the path. It means we created a structured virtual platform where experienced industry leaders can guide, support, and inspire professionals and entrepreneurs on their journey to greatness. This is big because it epitomizes impact and we’re leaving a legacy for people to see and enjoy a future that we may not even be a part of, but we have laid the foundation.”

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Both partners reiterated that the mentorship is not for the optics and its impact upon completion would far-reaching.

One of the mentees, Co-founder/Chief Technical Officer, Blue Sands STEM LabsOveral, Kingsley Okechukwu, excitedly said, “I’m glad I got the opportunity to be part of this mentorship. Our first session reinforced the significance of visionary leadership, employee retention, continuous innovation, and strategic positioning in ensuring long-term business success.”

This collaboration between Mentor Intro Africa and Woodhall Capital Foundation brings together visionary leaders, seasoned professionals, and the next generation of changemakers in an empowering initiative designed to bridge mentorship with high-impact leadership.

Together, the partners aim to spotlight industry pioneers, foster meaningful dialogues, and create lasting impact across Africa’s business and professional landscape.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced that His Excellency, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, has assented to the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2024, which repeals the Investments and Securities Act No. 29 of 2007.

It was gathered that the landmark legislation strengthens the legal framework of the Nigerian capital market, enhances investor protection, and introduces critical reforms to promote market integrity, transparency, and sustainable growth.

The enactment of the ISA 2024 reaffirms the authority of the SEC as the apex regulatory authority of the Nigerian Capital Market. The new Act also introduces transformative provisions to further align Nigeria’s market operations with international best practice.

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Key highlights of the ISA 2024:

The Act enhances the regulatory powers of the SEC in a manner comparable with benchmark global securities regulators. These enhanced powers and functions ensure full conformity with the requirements of IOSCO’s Enhanced Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (EMMoU), enabling the SEC retain its “Signatory A” status and enhancing the overall attractiveness of the Nigerian capital market.

Other notable provisions of the ISA 2024 include:

Classification of Exchanges and inclusion of provisions on Financial Market Infrastructures- The Act classifies Securities Exchanges into Composite and Non-composite Exchanges. A Composite Exchange is one in which all categories of securities and products can be listed and traded, while a Non-composite Exchange focuses on a singular type of security or product. There are also new provisions on Financial Market Infrastructures such as Central Counter Parties, Clearing Houses and Trade Depositories.

Expansion of the definition and Understanding of Securities – The Act explicitly recognises virtual/digital assets and investment contracts as securities and brings Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), Digital Asset Operators (DAOPs) and Digital Asset Exchanges under the SEC’s regulatory purview.

Comprehensive Insolvency Provisions for Financial Market Infrastructures – The Act introduces provisions that exempt transactions facilitated through or otherwise involving Financial Market Infrastructures from the application of general insolvency laws.

Management of Systemic Risk – The Act introduces provisions for the monitoring, management and mitigation of systemic risk in the Nigerian capital market.

Expansion of the Category of Issuers to the Public – The Act expands the categories of issuers, as a key step towards the introduction of a wide range of innovative products and offerings as well as the facilitation of “commercial and investment business activities”, subject to the approval of the Commission and other controls stipulated in the Act.

Legal Framework for Commodities Exchanges – The Act contains a new Part which provides for the regulation of Commodities Exchanges and Warehouse Receipts. These provisions are essential to allow for the development of the entire gamut of the Commodities ecosystem.

Issuance of Securities by Sub-Nationals and their Agencies – Salient provisions of the Act address existing restrictions in respect of raising of funds from the capital market by Sub-Nationals to allow for greater flexibility in this regard.

Transparency in Securities Transactions – The Act introduces the mandatory use of Legal Entity Identifiers (LEIs) by participants in capital market transactions. This stipulation is designed to improve transparency in the conduct of securities transactions.

Enforcement Against Illegal Investment Schemes – The Act expressly prohibits Ponzi Schemes and other unlawful investment schemes, while prescribing stringent jail terms and other sanctions for the promoters of such schemes.

Strengthening the Investments and Securities Tribunal – The Act amends some key provisions in the repealed ISA 2007 pertaining to the Composition of the Tribunal, constitution of the Tribunal, qualification and appointment of the Chief Registrar as well as the jurisdiction of the Tribunal to enhance the ability of the Tribunal to optimally discharge its mandate.

Commenting on this milestone, the Director-General of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, lauded the President’s assent as a transformative step for the capital market and stated: “The ISA 2024 reflects our commitment to building a dynamic, inclusive, and resilient capital market. By addressing regulatory gaps and introducing forward-looking provisions, the new Act empowers the SEC to foster innovation, protect investors more efficiently and reposition Nigeria as a competitive destination for local and foreign investments. We commend all stakeholders within and outside the capital market community for their unwavering solidarity towards the achievement of this historic milestone and solicit their continued collaboration in respect of the effective implementation of the ISA 2024 for the benefit of our economy.”

The SEC extends its profound appreciation to the National Assembly for its patriotism and dedication in enacting this new legal framework for the Nigerian capital market. The meticulous deliberations, extensive stakeholder engagements, and bi-partisan support demonstrated throughout the legislative process highlight the National Assembly’s resolve to foster economic growth and enhance investor confidence.

We also commend the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy of Nigeria as well as the Minister of State for Finance for their invaluable contributions to the realisation of this groundbreaking project. Their strategic guidance, policy expertise, and steadfast support have ensured that the ISA 2024 aligns with Nigeria’s broader economic objectives.

The SEC would continue to engage with market operators, investors, and all stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition from the repealed ISA 2007 to the new legal regime established under the ISA 2024.