The Group Chief Executive Officer of United Capital Plc, Peter Ashade, has said ongoing economic reforms by Nigeria’s monetary authorities are reshaping the economy and creating conditions for improved financial market stability and possible appreciation of the naira.
Ashade made the remarks on Wednesday at the United Capital Investor Relations Connect held in Lagos, themed “Decoding Performance: Insights into United Capital’s Growth Drivers and Outlook.”
He said policy adjustments aimed at addressing structural weaknesses in the economy were opening up investment opportunities across different sectors.
“A few weeks ago, they ranked Nigeria as the best-performing stock market in the entire world in dollar terms, so people are taking positions,” Ashade said, urging investors to focus on opportunities emerging from current economic challenges.
He added that identifying opportunities within economic disruptions would be key for investors seeking long-term value.
The Chief Economist at United Capital Group, Ayodele Akinwunmi, said improvements in domestic production capacity, particularly in petroleum refining, would help reduce pressure on foreign exchange demand and support the naira.
Akinwunmi projected that the naira could strengthen to around N1,360 per dollar by the end of the year, driven by reduced demand for foreign currency as local production increases.
He explained that refined petroleum products previously accounted for a significant portion of foreign exchange demand, but increased domestic refining capacity would reduce import dependence and support currency stability.
Akinwunmi also highlighted opportunities from government policies discouraging the export of raw materials, saying increased local processing could create jobs, strengthen industries and improve economic value creation.
On United Capital’s expansion strategy across Africa, Akinwunmi acknowledged the risks associated with operating in different markets but said the company’s research capabilities and risk management framework would help it navigate challenges.
He noted that the firm focuses on identifying opportunities within difficult environments while continuously monitoring market developments.
The Group Chief Finance Officer, Shedrack Onakpoma, said United Capital remained committed to disciplined execution, strategic expansion and long-term shareholder value creation.
He explained that the decision to retain part of earnings, including the declaration of a 30 kobo per share interim dividend, was aimed at funding high-return opportunities and strengthening future growth.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of United Capital Asset Management Limited, Odiri Oginni, said the company’s growth strategy was built around product development, market expansion, experienced personnel and strong corporate governance.
She said United Capital was focused on building a sustainable institution capable of navigating future market cycles rather than relying only on past successes.
Oginni emphasised that trust, governance and risk management remained central to the company’s operations, noting that financial institutions depend heavily on stakeholder confidence.
United Capital reported strong financial results for the first half of 2026, with profit before tax rising 80 per cent year-on-year to N24.78 billion, compared with N13.79 billion in the same period of 2025.
According to its unaudited financial statements filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited, gross earnings increased 58 per cent to N37.49 billion from N23.76 billion.
Profit after tax also grew by 77 per cent to N21.10 billion, while annualised earnings per share climbed 77 per cent to 234 kobo.
The company said the performance reflects the strength of its diversified business model and its strategy of expanding across investment management, securities, wealth management and other financial services segments.
