…Led by Governor Olayemi Cardoso, the CBN detailed its reform agenda for the past 18 months, from monetary tightening and FX market transparency to stronger financial governance
SAT APRIL 19 2025-theGBJournal| Ahead of the 2025 IMF & WB Spring Meetings, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with J.P. Morgan and the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), hosted a high-level global forum at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York City.
Titled ”The Nigeria Investment Agenda: Pathways for Growth & Global Partnerships,” the forum convened global investors, diaspora leaders & senior financial stakeholders to discuss Nigeria’s macroeconomic outlook and reform progress.
Led by Governor Olayemi Cardoso, the CBN detailed its reform agenda for the past 18 months, from monetary tightening and FX market transparency to stronger financial governance.
”These reforms are laying the groundwork for long-term macroeconomic stability and signalling a new era of transparency and confidence,” Cardoso said.
According to the CBN Governor, the forum was about facts and the future: engaging critical voices, reviewing progress, and identifying what’s needed to build enduring partnerships and attract long-term capital. At the heart of this effort is a clear goal: reasserting the CBN’s role as a credible, trusted institution, respected globally and committed to excellence at home.
Deputy Governor Muhammad Sani Abdullahi provided a macro update: FX turnover had risen sharply, early disinflation signals were emerging, and Nigeria’s external reserves were strengthening. With a market-determined exchange rate and a transparent, rules-based policy framework, confidence is gradually being restored in Nigeria’s economy.
The panel “Repricing Nigeria: Assessing the Scope for Sustained Change” featured: Joyce Chang, Chair of Global Research, JPMorgan Chase; Jason Rekate, Global Co-Head of Corporate Banking, Citi; Razia Khan, Chief Economist, Africa & Middle East, Standard Chartered; Ahmad Zuaiter, Co-Founder & CIO, Jadara Capital Partners; and was moderated by Gavin Serkin, Founder, Frontier Intelligence.
Each panellist offered expert insights on Nigeria’s investment outlook, pointing to renewed international interest, driven by improved fundamentals, stronger governance, and clearer policy direction.
In a fireside chat, Governor Cardoso spoke with Nobel Prize-winning economist Dr. James Robinson, Reverend Richard L. Pearson Professor at the University of Chicago and Director of the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts.
Cardoso reaffirmed the CBN’s commitment to restoring credibility through orthodox monetary policy, transparency, and consistency: “We inherited a crisis of confidence, but we chose a different path. We’re not turning back.”
The event was opened by Tal Cohen, President, Nasdaq, and anchored by Dr. Nkiru Balonwu, Adviser on Stakeholder Engagement, CBN.
Temi Popoola, Group CEO, NGX, moderated the Q&A, and Dr. Olubukola Akinniyi Akinwunmi, Director, Banking Supervision Department, CBN, provided the closing remarks.
The CBN Board and MPC were represented by Mr. Robert Agbede, Prof. Melvin Ayogu, and Dr. Aloysius Ordu, all US-based diaspora members, underscoring the Bank’s global engagement and commitment to leveraging Nigerian talent worldwide.
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