NGX Chairman emerges top10 magazine’s man of 2026
Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, Group Chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), has been named Top10 Magazine’s Man of the Year 2026.
The magazine said Kwairanga emerged from a multi-stage selection process involving several distinguished personalities.
In a statement on Saturday, the magazine said the award recognised his leadership in Nigeria’s capital market, contribution to economic development and advocacy for corporate governance, transparency and integrity.
According to the statement, Kwairanga’s influence in the capital market and his leadership during a period of economic reforms and market volatility informed his selection.
The award will be presented at the magazine’s Annual Excellence Awards scheduled for Nov. 22, 2026, according to its Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Mr Tony Iji.
Kwairanga succeeds Alhaji Nasiru Haladu Danu, Chairman of Casiva Ltd., who received the award in 2025.
Other previous recipients include the late Herbert Wigwe, former Group Managing Director of Access Bank, who was the inaugural recipient in 2016; Umar Abdullahi, Chairman of Cosgrove Group, in 2020; and Chief Samuel Onyishi, Chairman of Peace Mass Transit, in 2022.
Also honoured in previous years were Muhammad Nami, former Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, in 2023, and Sen George Akume in 2024.
Kwairanga has about 25 years of experience in banking, pensions, investment, manufacturing and commerce.
He previously served on the council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and is a council member of the Institute of Directors Nigeria.
He has also served on the boards of several companies, including Ashaka Cement Plc, where he was a director and later chairman for more than 10 years.
Kwairanga is currently the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Finmal Finance Services Ltd.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maiduguri, as well as a Master of Science degree in Finance and Governance from Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom.
He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, the Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria and the Institute of Directors Nigeria.
Top10 Magazine, established more than a decade ago, instituted the annual award to recognise Nigerians whose leadership, integrity, influence and contributions to national development distinguish them.
