As part of its ongoing commitment to fostering youth empowerment and advancing financial literacy, FMDQ Group PLC (“FMDQ Group” or the “Group”) commemorated the 2025 Children’s Day and International Day of the Boy Child by hosting an educational excursion for students from C.M.S. Grammar School, Bariga – Nigeria’s first secondary and all-boys school, and Topfield College, Ajegunle, a co-educational secondary school, both in Lagos. The excursion was held at the Group’s business complex, Exchange Place, on Friday, May 23, 2025.
International Day of the Boy Child (celebrated on May 16) and Children’s Day (May 27) are globally recognised observances that highlight the importance of childhood – a time of learning, curiosity, dreams and play. These observances also serve as a reminder to nurture and protect children while promoting the message that true strength in boys lies in kindness, respect, and responsibility.
This initiative, driven by the FMDQ Next Generation Financial Markets Empowerment Programme (“FMDQ-Next”), the Group’s flagship corporate responsibility programme, aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG 4 – Quality Education and SDG 1 – No Poverty, reinforcing FMDQ Group’s commitment to inclusive and transformative education. The excursion welcomed thirty-six (36) students and four (4) accompanying teachers, offering them a unique opportunity to gain insights into Nigeria’s financial markets landscape, interact with professionals, and understand FMDQ Group’s role as a key financial market infrastructure (FMI) provider.
On the excursion day, the students were introduced to foundational financial concepts such as money, savings, and investment, as well as the structure and operations of the Nigerian financial markets, and the history of FMDQ Group and its subsidiaries. With engaging presentations, an informative tour of Exchange Place, and interactive Q&A sessions, the students were empowered with knowledge to support informed financial decision-making and to inspire future career interests in the financial services industry.
Speaking on the initiative, Ms. Kaodi Ugoji, Group Chief Operating Officer, FMDQ Group, stated, “Children are the foundation of tomorrow’s progress. At FMDQ, we believe in actively investing in their future by bridging knowledge gaps and providing access to learning that goes beyond the classroom. Through FMDQ-Next, we are committed to enabling inclusive education and nurturing a financially literate and empowered generation.”
FMDQ-Next is designed to promote financial markets education and awareness among students across all levels, including university graduates. It provides young minds with meaningful engagement opportunities within the financial markets. Since FMDQ-Next launched in July 2018, over one thousand, two hundred and thirty-six (1,236) participants, from primary students, through to fresh graduates, have been positively impacted through: five (5) Summer Camps; nine (9) Excursions; eight (8) Virtual Financial Literacy Sessions; seventeen (17) Trading Challenges; and fifteen (15) Internships. FMDQ-Next reflects FMDQ Group’s unwavering commitment to driving innovative programmes that pave the way for a sustainable financial future, empowering the next generation to thrive in an evolving global economy.
FMDQ Group is Africa’s first vertically integrated FMI group, strategically positioned to provide registration, listing, quotation and noting services; integrated trading platform, clearing & central counterparty, and settlement services for financial markets transactions; depository of securities, as well as data and information services, across the debt capital, foreign exchange, derivatives and equity markets, through its wholly owned subsidiaries – FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited (“FMDQ Exchange”), FMDQ Clear Limited, FMDQ Depository Limited and FMDQ Private Markets Limited. As a sustainability-focused FMI group, FMDQ Group, through FMDQ Exchange, operates Africa’s premier Green Exchange – FMDQ Green Exchange – positioned to lead the transition towards a sustainable future.