THISDAYonline

Arrangements are in top gear for the organisation of the Second Edition of the Annual Capital Market Conference and Dinner scheduled to hold at the Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos between Wednesday, September 17 and Thursday, September 18, 2003.

Managing Consultant, CITC Consulting, Mr. Tayo Orekoya disclosed last week in Lagos, adding that this year's conference has a lot of features that makes it unique. Orekoya who firm is a consultant to the apex reulator of the market, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) discosed that participants are expected from other countries in Afica.

This year's conference, according to Orekoya in a press release made available last weekend, will focus on the Capital Market in National Development with the theme "Mainstreaming the Capital Market in National Policy Formulation and Management".

In line with its statutory role and functions of regulating and developing the Nigerian Capital Market, SEC instituted the Annual Capital Market Conference and Dinner, the maiden edition of which was held August 2002.

According to a release by the commission, the major objective of the Annual National Capital Market Conference is to provide a unique forum for seasoned experts, regulators, operators, investors and indeed, all stakeholders in the capital market to meet annually. This is to extensively address emergent and contemporary issues and exchange ideas with a view to impacting positively on the market players and the Nigerian Capital Market, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in both the National and global economy.

A major feature of this year's Conference is that a number of Capital Market Stakeholder institutions are partnering with the Commission towards a successful Conference. These include the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria, among a host of others.

In view of the theme for this year's Conference, a team of Capital Market experts and technocrats from both government and the private sector has been assembled as facilitators at the Conference.

Meanwhile, the Chief Host of the Conference and Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Dr. Suleyman A. Ndanusa is scheduled to address a press conference on August 26 at the Conference Room of the Commission's Lagos Office as part of events to herald the highly acclaimed capital market stakeholders forum.

Special Guests, dignitaries and participants at the conference cut across the continent as confirmation of participation has come in from South Africa, Uganda, Ghana and some other African Countries.

The Conference is expected to be declared open by Vice President Atiku Abubakar who is the Chief Guest of Honour at the event.