Nigerian Exchange Group achieves EDGE certification
Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) has announced that it has received EDGE accreditation, making it the world’s first exchange group and the first indigenous Nigerian firm to do so.
NGX Group was certified at the EDGE Assess level, highlighting the company’s progress on diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as its commitment to providing equal opportunities throughout its talent pool.
Economic Dividends for Gender Equality (EDGE) is the main global standard for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I), focusing on workplace gender and intersectional equity. Employee surveys, analysis of group-wide workforce statistics, focus group talks, and a rigorous third-party audit of all data provided by the organization as well as its policies and practices relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion were all part of the certification process.
“We are overjoyed to have achieved yet another first in our efforts to promote gender equality and champion Africa’s long-term development,” said Oscar N. Onyema, OON, Group Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group. “This certification demonstrates our commitment to creating a workplace that is inclusive, equitable, and diverse.” We at NGX Group think that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success. With the EDGE certification, we can now be certified against the world’s top standards as we continuously measure and benchmark progress toward gender equality.
Commitment to gender equality is not just the ethical thing to do, but it is also the greatest thing to do in terms of governance, since it leads to greater business performance. As a key player in the capital market, we are committed to galvanizing the ecosystem for long-term impact via our wholly owned subsidiaries, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), NGX Regulation Limited (NGX RegCo), and NGX Real Estate Limited (NGX RelCo), as well as other key stakeholders. This begins with creating an inclusive and equal workplace for all of our employees,” added Onyema.
“Stock exchanges play a critical role in driving gender equality in the private sector, unlocking business opportunities, and promoting economic development,” said Kalim M. Shah, IFC’s Senior Country Manager for Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. IFC is pleased to have assisted the Nigerian Exchange Group in becoming the first stock exchange in the world to achieve the EDGE Gender Certification, thereby increasing transparency and accountability for its role in championing workplace gender parity in Nigeria and serving as a model for other exchanges in Africa and around the world.
“Through the certification process, the Nigerian Exchange Group has strengthened its foundation for promoting gender equity in the organization,” said Aniela Unguresan, Founder, EDGE Certification Foundation. The EDGE Assess Certification demonstrates the Nigerian Exchange Group’s commitment to take deliberate, prioritized, and measured steps to achieve greater gender equity in the workplace.
The EDGE accreditation is well-known around the world for its emphasis on analyzing company processes via an impact lens. It validates NGX Group’s female leadership in the capital market as it drives impact on the Nigeria2Equal (N2E) initiative in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The awarding of EDGE Assess has also provided a numerical and qualitative perspective on the NGX Group of Companies’ and IFC’s collaborative efforts to close the gender inclusion gap in the private sector and mainstream additional opportunities for women while leaving men behind. Gender champions under N2E can now follow in the footsteps of NGX Group to improve working conditions for their employees and advocate for more equal outcomes.
