Governor Mutfwang Calls for National Inclusion at Capital Market Workshop

...says “To Build a Trillion-Dollar Economy, Start from the Bottom”

In a statement by the Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has called on the Federal Government and financial institutions to prioritize grassroots data and sub-national policy interventions as critical pillars in the push to transform Nigeria into a one trillion-dollar economy by 2030.

Governor Mutfwang made the appeal at a National Workshop organized by the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

The workshop, with the theme “Capital Formation in Nigeria: Strengthening Industry, Institutions and Markets to Bolster a One Trillion Dollar Economy,” attracted a broad spectrum of high-level policymakers, financial experts, and key stakeholders from across Nigeria’s capital market ecosystem.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Dr. Tope Fasua, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to economic recovery through bold, market-driven reforms, including the contentious removal of fuel subsidy.

“The trillion-dollar economy may seem far-fetched, but it is absolutely within reach if we galvanize partnerships and deepen capital market participation,” Shettima remarked, commending CIS for creating a platform aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope economic agenda.

In his remarks, Governor Mutfwang underscored the need for greater synergy between national and sub-national actors, insisting that economic transformation must be inclusive and bottom-driven.

He decried the tendency to sideline data from grassroots economies, urging the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to strengthen collaboration with state-level data agencies in order to craft more realistic and actionable economic plans.

“Our informal sector remains grossly underdeveloped. If we are serious about achieving the trillion-dollar dream, we must invest in agriculture and unlock the value chains embedded in local economies,” Mutfwang emphasized. “Improving the purchasing power of the average Nigerian is not just desirable, it is an urgent imperative.”

The Governor commended CIS for organizing what he described as a “timely intervention to redirect Nigeria’s economic narrative,” and emphasized the importance of moving beyond lofty policy statements to coordinated, grassroots-driven action.

“As a Governor representing the sub-nationals, I must say this clearly: as long as we keep producing top-to-bottom statistics, we will continue making top-to-bottom decisions, with limited impact,” he warned.

President of the Institute, Dr. Oluropo Dada, noted that the workshop was part of CIS’s ongoing contribution to national development, stating: “Capital formation requires strong institutions, an enabling environment, and deliberate support for indigenous productivity.”

Also lending their voices, Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. Babatunde Ogunjimi, acknowledged the ambitious nature of the trillion-dollar target but stressed its feasibility with “bold policy reforms, infrastructure investment, and renewed private sector confidence.”

Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, and the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, both emphasized the role of inclusive policies, broader access to capital markets, and institutional accountability in Nigeria’s economic renaissance.

Other dignitaries present included Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Emomotimi Agama, and keynote speaker, Dr. Armstrong Ume-Takang, who called for technology-driven reforms and a more robust framework for attracting foreign direct investments.

The workshop concluded with a strong consensus that capital market reforms, data integrity, and grassroots inclusion must form the bedrock of Nigeria’s journey toward a one trillion-dollar economy.