Exclusive: Mr Eazi eyes NGX listing, wants Nigerians to own his tech

The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) is experiencing a breakout year in 2026, emerging as one of the top-performing stock markets worldwide due to robust capital gains and strong year-to-date returns. Both domestic and foreign investors have been increasingly attracted to Nigerian equities. The total market capitalization of listed companies has grown significantly, increasing by more than 430% over the past three years—rising from approximately N30 trillion in 2023 to N160 trillion in 2026.

NGX forecasts that the market could surpass N230 trillion before the year concludes. A key factor behind this growth is a series of upcoming new listings, with the most prominent among them being the anticipated Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals IPO, projected to raise $5 billion and scheduled for completion by October 2026.

President Bola Tinubu has been encouraged by NGX to introduce policies that would require major fintech and e-commerce firms to list their shares on the local exchange, enabling Nigerians to directly benefit from their growth. One individual who has taken notice of this trend is Mr. Eazi, also known as Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, a musician turned entrepreneur and founder of emPawa Africa, a talent incubator supporting emerging African artists.

In an interview with Nairametrics, Mr. Eazi discussed his increasing interest in Nigeria's capital market, drawing inspiration from successful business figures such as Abdul Samad Rabiu, Aliko Dangote, and Femi Otedola. He expressed his intention to "scale big" on the NGX and emphasized the need for the development of smaller mid-sized venues and sound stages for artists across the nation, allowing international artists to perform in Nigeria.

Additionally, Mr. Eazi highlighted his existing investment in the Nigerian Stock Exchange, which he believes will further solidify his commitment to building global companies in Nigeria and promoting their listing on the local exchange.