AVA Capital has identified integrity concerns and inadequate capital market literacy as major obstacles hindering the growth of Nigeria’s financial and capital market.

AVA’s managing director, Olukayode Fadahunsi, disclosed this during a media briefing held on Tuesday in Lagos.

Mr Fadahunsi said sustaining investor confidence depended on effectively matching credible investment opportunities with available capital in the market. According to him, the greatest threat to the capital market is not a shortage of funds but misdirected investment into unworthy ventures.

“The greatest risk in the capital market is integrity. Capital must freely meet genuine opportunities, but those opportunities must also speak the language of capital,” he said.

He added that even sincere business promoters could struggle to attract investment if they lacked adequate understanding of how capital markets function.

Mr Fadahunsi stressed the need to improve financial and capital market literacy across the country to support sustainable economic development. He said Nigeria’s education curriculum had not kept pace with changes in the global financial environment and investment landscape.

According to him, the rise of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies requires young Nigerians to acquire practical finance and entrepreneurship skills.

Mr Fadahunsi said stronger financial education would help individuals and businesses access investment opportunities and participate meaningfully in economic growth. He noted that regulators played a vital role in safeguarding the financial system and maintaining market stability.

However, he said market operators bore greater responsibility for conducting thorough due diligence before introducing investors to investment opportunities.

“Regulatory frameworks provide broad standards, while investment firms must undertake deeper assessments to uncover hidden risks. When capital is lost through fraudulent or poorly structured investments, confidence declines, and capital begins to retreat from the market,” he said.

He warned that reduced investor confidence could limit capital flows to credible businesses and negatively affect economic growth.

Speaking on AVA Capital’s competitive advantage, Mr Fadahunsi attributed the company’s success to innovation and investment in young professionals. According to him, the company recruits between 30 and 40 graduate trainees annually through a structured development programme.

The initiative is designed to nurture talent, strengthen corporate culture and prepare future leaders within the organisation.

Mr Fadahunsi said several departments were managed by employees who began their careers through the graduate trainee scheme.

“Our young professionals constantly bring fresh ideas that improve our business. We combine their innovation with our experience to continue connecting capital with viable opportunities,” he said.

AVA Capital chairman Adeyinka Adedeji described the company’s recent listing on the Nigerian Exchange main board as significant. Mr Adedeji said the listing marked the beginning of greater accountability and stronger commitment to global corporate governance standards.

According to him, the move is not merely aimed at increasing visibility but reinforcing transparency, accountability and long-term value creation. He said those principles had guided the organisation since inception and would continue shaping its growth strategy and operations.

Mr Adedeji expressed confidence in the future of Nigeria’s capital market and its capacity to drive national economic development. He said significant opportunities existed to deepen investor participation, strengthen confidence and support long-term economic growth across the country.

(NAN)