Nigeria Finance Agenda

08:30 – 09:30 Keynote Speeches by VIPs

10:00 – 11:00: The Nigerian Economy [Panel Discussion]

• Nigeria’s public finances: revenue generation, fiscal federalism, and budgetary constraints.
• Nigeria’s reform measures: market exchange rate, forex restrictions, structural and monetary.
• Managing the double whammy of Covid-19 and declining oil prices.
• Outlook of the Nigerian Economy.
• Nigeria’s financial services: Prospering in the current climate.

Speakers:

– Charlie Robertson, Global Chief Economist, Head of Macro-Strategy, Renaissance Capital
– Kaan Nazli, Senior Economist & Portfolio Manager, Neuberger Berman
– Emma Wade-Smith, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa

Moderator: Jawad Allawi, Chief Operating Officer, Frontier Exchange

11:30 – 12:30: The Banking Sector: Financing Challenges & Key Solutions [Panel Session]

• New CBN strategies and policies for Nigeria’s financial sector.
• CBN supervision of the banking sector: legislative changes to the regulatory framework and recent steps forward.
• The role Nigerian banks can play in the growth and development of the private sector.
• Capabilities of Nigerian private banks to finance SME’s: what needs to be done to boost lending?
• Achieving the operational independence of Nigeria’s private banks.

Speakers:

– Sola Olubi, Head of Specialised Markets & Capital Markets, Union Bank of Nigeria
– Adesoji Solanke, Director – Frontier/SSA Banks & FinTech Equity Research, Renaissance Capital
– Speakers TBC

13:00-13:30: Fireside Chat: CBN’s 2021 Monetary Policy on Exchange and Foreign Trade

– Dr Hassan Mahmud, Director of Monetary Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria
– Anthony Osae-Brown, Bureau Chief, Bloomberg

13:30-14:00: Keynote Address – The Road to Recovery for Africa

– Dr Albert Zeufack, Chief Economist Africa, World Bank Group

14:00 – 15:00 Islamic Finance [Panel Session]

• Enriching the banking landscape through alternative forms of finance.
• Understanding the role of Islamic finance in financial services, microfinance and SME financing.
• What are the global and local trends in Islamic finance? Which structures are preferred?
• Shariah Compliant Funding and Capital-Raising – green bonds, impact bonds and sukuk, where are we and where are we going?
• The effects of low to negative interest rates on Islamic Finance.

Speakers:

– Dr Basheer Oshodi, CEO, TrustBanc Arthur
– Dr Tijani Oladipupo, Head, Norrenberger Advisory Ltd
– Speakers TBC
Moderator: Professor Iqbal Asaria

15:30 – 16:30 Nigerian Payments and PSPs

• Government payment policies to be implemented in 2020 and beyond
• Improving Nigeria’s retail payment system through technical partnerships with international companies.
• Nigeria’s electronic payment infrastructure. Is Nigeria ready for a cashless economy?
• Status of bank security in Nigeria – physical and electronic security.

– Panel to be provided by MasterCard.

16:30-17:00: Spotlight Presentation: Economic Outlook for Nigeria

– Jesmin Rahman, Chief of Mission, Nigeria, IMF

09:00 – 10:00 Showcasing Subnational Investment Opportunities: NIPC Hosted Session

• Opening Address by the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Ms. Yewande Sadiku.
  – Jide Ikeako, Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency
  – Kelvin Uwaibi, Edo State Investment Promotion Office
  – Umma Yusuf Aboki, Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency
  – Hamza Sarki Bello, Niger State Investment Promotion Agency
  – Solape Hammond, Office of the SDGs and Investments, Lagos State

  Moderator: Mr Emeka Offor, Director, Strategic Communications, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission.

10:30-11:30: Capital Markets and the Nigerian Stock Exchange [Panel Session]

• Developing Nigeria’s capital markets- milestones reached and future challenges.
• Increasing the NSE’s overall market capitalization.
• Legislative and regulatory changes: what is needed to further develop capital markets and ensure safe and transparent protection for investors?
• Increasing the issuance of medium/long-term notes and bonds by the GON.
• Implementing government incentives to encourage private companies to list on the NSE.

14:00 – 15:00: Infrastructure & Project Finance [Panel Session]

• Financing Nigeria’s infrastructure projects: the role of government, domestic institutions, and international lenders.
• Assessing urgent needs for infrastructure finance in Nigeria and available funding tools.
• Securing alternative sources of capital in the absence of Nigerian sources – which foreign investors have the appetite for Nigeria infrastructure development?
• Multinationals and the Nigeria projects market: perspectives from international financing experts.
• How should Nigeria move forward with a national infrastructure financing programme?

Speakers:

– Benson Adenuga, Coverage Director & Head of Nigeria, CDC Group
– Lamin Barrow, Senior Director, Nigeria, African Development Bank
– Fola Fagbule, Head, Financial Advisory, Africa Finance Corporation
– Uche Orji, CEO & Managing Director, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority

15:30 – 16:30: Nigeria’s Path to Sustainable Development [Panel Session]

• The Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan: Projects to stimulate & diversify the economy. Latest updates & development.
• The green recovery for Nigeria and post Covid economic growth.
• The role of the Sustainable Development Goal to drive positive impact in Nigeria.
• The importance of ESG implementation for listed companies and future entrepreneurs.

Speakers:

– Niclole Martens, Head, Africa & Middle East, Principles for Responsible Investment
– Dr Jubril Adeojo, Co-Founder/Managing Director, SMEDFUNDS Capital
– Speaker TBC from Unilever
Moderator: Dr Kenneth Amaeshi, Professor of Business & Sustainable Development, University of Edinburgh

10:00 – 11:00 FinTech and Innovation

• FinTech’s potential to transform the Nigerian Financial Services Industry.
• Blockchain and its transformative capabilities for Nigeria and Africa.
• What does pro-active regulation and policy look like that can support financial innovation?
• How to shake-up new markets or market segments? Mobile banking solutions.
• Who takes the lead in Innovation? The banking community or will start-ups be at the forefront?

Speakers:

– Souleymane Ba, Partner, Investment Team, Helios Investment Partners
– Aunnie Patton Power, Founder, Intelligent Impact
– Bola Asiru, Divisional Lead MasterCard Advisors, Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA), MasterCard
– Dr Babatunde Obrimah, Chief Operating Officer, FinTech Association of Nigeria
Moderator: Mayowa Hambolu, Senior Research Director, Asoko Insight

11:30 – 12:30: The Nigerian Pension Industry [Panel Discussion]

• Pension development in Nigeria. Overcoming post reform challenges.
• Digitalization of the pension industry. Innovative mobile & fintech solutions.
• Investment opportunities within limited asset classes.
• Moving from defined benefit to defined contribution schemes.

Speakers:

– Folaseto Akin-Olugbade, Investment Professional, Actis
– Karima Ola, Partner, LeapFrog Investments
– Oguche Agudah, CEO, Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria
– Ibitunde Balogun, Executive, Tangerine Life Insurance

14:00 – 15:00: Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises [Panel Discussion]

• Addressing the challenges facing MSME’s during an economic downturn.
• What is being done to create an enabling environment for growth?
• The landscape of growth financing in Nigeria: access to growth and development capital.
• The benefits of a vibrant and functional MSME sector.
• The internalization of MSME’s? Pre-export financing for exporters.

Speakers:

– Xavier Minchon, Deputy Executive Secretary, United National Capital Development Fund
– Tony Edeh, Group Managing Director/CEO, Norrenberger Financial Group
– Ahmed Rostom, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, World Bank Group
Moderator: Aubrey Hruby, Co-Founder, Insider & Africa Expert Network

15:30 – 16:30: Diversity & Inclusion [Panel Discussion]

• Facilitating female entrepreneurship.
• How female entrepreneurship can contribute to Nigeria’s 2030 Vision.
• Identifying key financing challenges for female founders.
• Developing a strong female economy.