Chalya Shagaya Champions NGX Growth Board as Launchpad for Nigerian SMEs at CANEX 2025

At the just-concluded Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX 2025), Chalya Shagaya, Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Entrepreneurship Development in Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, spotlighted the NGX Growth Board as a transformative platform for Nigerian entrepreneurs and SMEs.

Speaking during her session, Shagaya emphasized that the Growth Board was designed to lower barriers to entry, connect businesses with investors, and improve governance structures for growth-driven companies.

She explained that the board not only helps entrepreneurs raise capital and build credibility but also provides a launchpad for scaling sustainably before transitioning to the Main Board of the Nigerian Exchange.

> “For ambitious founders, it is both a financing tool and a pathway to long-term visibility and expansion,” she noted.

The Growth Board, introduced by the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), continues to play a vital role in strengthening Nigeria’s startup ecosystem by fostering innovation, access to finance, and global competitiveness.