PEARL Awards Holds 20th Anniversary Edition In Style

The drive by Nigerian capital market regulators, stakeholders and investors to deepen investment in the market over the years though encouraging, is yet to yield results at the desired level attainable based on the national economic and investment potentials.

 Various initiatives by the government to encourage an increase in global FDI share; local long-term investments; transparency and best corporate governance models; investor education and sensitization have been effective due to support by non-state actor initiatives like the PEARL Awards and a host of others over the years.

In celebration of its 20th Anniversary, PEARL Awards Nigeria initiated a series of activities to mark the milestone, which is exactly 20 years since 1995 when the PEARL Awards vision became a reality.

The theme for this anniversary year is The Spirit of Excellence & Resilience, in celebration of rewarding quoted companies for excellence and the doggedness of staying the course over the years.

Endorsed in 2003 by the Securities & Exchange Commission, PEARL Awards is today the only awards body for companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Various initiatives by PEARL Awards Nigeria have also been instituted over the years, including PEARL Awards Public Lecture for Capital Market Development;  Annual PEARL Awards Nite; publications such as Winning Strategies of Nigeria’s Corporate Giants; The Nigerian Stock Market Annual; as well as TV programmes namely Stock Market This Week; Banking & You, among others.

Over 75 companies have received awards at the PEARL Awards Nite since inception in 3 categories. The 20th edition of the awards will witness the introduction of a 4th category, creating more opportunities for other companies to be part of the PEARL success story.

As a part of its 20^th Anniversary initiatives, PEARL Awards Nigeria and NASD Plc have formalized a partnership to bring into consideration OTC transactions and companies not listed on the NSE, but are tradable on the platform of NASD. This new arrangement will no doubt broaden the Nigerian financial industry through the provision of alternative investment channels for investors, while promoting healthy competition among non-listed companies.

The PEARL Awards Methodology has always being an empirical exercise without bias or favour, and its results have never been overturned by analysis carried out by other parties as it is based on verifiable facts and figures acquired from a) Financial reports of companies as presented at AGMs; b) NSE Daily Listing and finally, c) the NSE 52-week trading reports. This process which has been highly scientific and objective has been applauded by all market stakeholders.

A host of Captains of commerce and industry, including who’s who in Corporate Nigeria, government and diplomacy are expected to grace the 20^th Anniversary.  Prince Samuel Adedoyin, Chairman, Doyin Group of Companies is confirmed to chair the 2015 Awards Dinner, while other confirmed distinguished guests for the event include Mounir Gwarzo, Director General, Securities & Exchange Commission; Mr Yemi Akeju, President, Institute of Directors, among others.

A number of activities have been lined up to make the milestone edition memorable. Nominee companies for this year’s Awards will be announced by October, with the winning companies to be announced and honoured at the Awards Dinner holding Sunday, November 29 at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.