Tinubu rings the Nasdaq closing bell for the first time ever as an African leader

President Tinubu became the first African president to ever receive the honour on Wednesday in the world’s financial capital when the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System (NASDAQ), the second-largest stock exchange in the world, invited him to ring the closing bell.

According to a statement released on Thursday by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, the invitation is also extended in recognition of President Bola Tinubu’s steadfast efforts to aggressively entice foreign direct investment into Nigeria.

He claimed that the President, who was surrounded by prominent Nigerian businessmen and representatives of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, did not miss the chance presented by the historic moment to audaciously advance his push for foreign investment as he stood in front of the financial markets at the renowned stock exchange.

“Being here is a big honour for me. The fact that we are here today with a booming Nigerian stock market that will develop in the West African sub-region makes me delighted to bring Nigeria to your doorsteps, and I feel honoured. Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa, and there are numerous opportunities there for investment without risk, according to the President.

The President noted that his administration is still working to resolve long-standing issues and obstacles, such as his efforts to stabilise and harmonise the foreign exchange rate market so that new investors can easily bring their capital into the nation without having to worry about whether they will be able to withdraw it at any time in the future.

You are free to put your money in and take it out. In front of the lights, the President yelled, “I count on you to invest in Nigeria.

President Tinubu reassured potential investors at the Nigeria-U.S. Executive Business Roundtable held shortly after the closing bell that, in addition to all that he has already done to increase the confidence of the international investment community in Nigeria’s currently reformed government, he intentionally brought successful Nigerian industrialists and public officials to share their experiences and operational plans, respectively.

“The potential in Nigeria is one that cannot be duplicated or found in any other region of the world. Brilliant young people who create and consume widely are among us. Aside from demography, a significant factor that distinguishes our market from others is our entrepreneurial spirit. Nigerians start enterprises, and those businesses collaborate with others to expand their business.

“There is sufficient value to go around. Watch what you read or hear about Nigeria. You might be talked out of a significant opportunity that others will seize. We are available to you. The President reassured the roundtable, pointing out cabinet members, “We will give you all the support you need to succeed and succeed abundantly.”

U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo informed American business executives on behalf of the U.S. Government that he had just arrived in New York from Lagos, Nigeria, where he had been on an official visit that eventually turned into a fact-finding expedition.

“When you were Lagos’ governor, you oversaw a number of significant reforms, and I personally witnessed their transformative impact on Nigeria’s financial hub. People have confirmed that the measures you have implemented as President are rapidly boosting confidence. That is something that American business is taking note of, and based on what we have personally witnessed, Nigeria is proving to be a new frontier for investment. As those reforms continue to develop, we will support our companies from our end, said Mr. Adeyemo.

The American Business Council’s president, Mr. Sops Ideriah, noted that the large attendance at the roundtable by American business chief executives demonstrated the extent to which confidence is growing in response to President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s actions and words regarding investment promotion, ease of doing business, and his willingness to personally intervene where necessary to allay the long-standing worries of American business people about do business in Nigeria.

“Having all the key players present, including His Excellency the President of Nigeria, federal and state government officials, ministries, tax authorities, and Nigerian industrialists from the private sector. We are quite optimistic about Nigeria’s future, and we are simply reiterating to our colleagues the message on the economic opportunities that are present there, according to Mr. Ideriah.

Mr. Zacch Adedeji, the acting chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), gave the American Captains of Industry the assurance that, under the direction of President Bola Tinubu, the nation’s top tax authority would concentrate its efforts on fairly taxing the fruit of fully developed industry rather than the seed, thanks to effective policy coordination with subnational authorities in Nigeria.

“The President facilitates business, not hinders it. Everything we do will be focused on maximising the digital efficiency and transparency of your tax assessment and payment processes. The new tax chief in Nigeria reaffirmed, “We are not chasing the seed, but the fruit, and we will keep to this vow.