The Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, and the Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) were among a group of key stakeholders who praised Oscar Onyema, for his contribution to the Nigerian capital market over the past 13 years.

Onyema served as the first CEO of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for 10 years before becoming the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc for an additional 3 years.

His tenure ended in 2023, and he was celebrated on the floor of NGX by NGX Group, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS), NG Clearing, among others.
During a ceremony, the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Lamido Yuguda, praised Mr. Onyema’s visionary leadership, which has not only steered NGX Group through significant milestones but also led to a successful demutualization, marking a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s financial landscape. The DG noted that under Onyema’s guidance, NGX Group consistently showcased innovation and resilience.

The Group Chairman of NGX Group, Alhaji (Dr) Umaru Kwairanga, congratulated Mr. Onyema on the completion of his remarkable leadership term at the helm of NGX Group. Kwairanga highlighted some of his most significant achievements, which include the launching of the Exchange trading platform, X-GEN, that propelled the Exchange into the modern era; designing a robust Business Continuity Plan, which saw the Exchange seamlessly maintain remote trading for over two years in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, and implementing a world-class regulatory regime focused on fairness, stability, collaborative rulemaking, risk-based supervision, and robust corporate governance standards.
Kwairanga expressed gratitude to Mr. Onyema for his pioneering vision, transformative accomplishments and the indelible mark he has left on the Nigerian capital market landscape.

In acknowledging Mr. Onyema’s leadership, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group, Mr. Temi Poopola, commended his ability to navigate diverse perspectives with respect, having prioritized the broader interests of the capital market.

The Group CEO expressed gratitude for the numerous sacrifices, both personally and for the organization.
Former President of NSE, Dr. Oba Otudeko, said Mr. Onyema’s professionalism is outstanding, his confidence is very convincing, and his presence is always humble and noble. According to him, Oscar’s uniqueness was fairly evident during the Council’s search for a CEO, which ultimately landed him the job.
The Chairman of ASHON, Mr. Sam Onukwue, stated that during the 13-year tenure of Oscar Onyema, technology on the Exchange was upscaled, new minimum operating standards for market operators were introduced, and other transformational initiatives aimed at achieving best international practices were also pursued under his leadership. “Of particular note was the impact of the demutualization of the Exchange during his tenure. This was no mean feat given the history of previous attempts,” he said.