Mr Eazi eyes NGX listing, inspired by Dangote, Otedola

Mr Eazi eyes NGX listing, inspired by Dangote, Otedola

Musician-turned-entrepreneur Oluwatosin Ajibade, popularly known as Mr Eazi, has joined the growing wave of market optimism, disclosing in an exclusive interview with Nairametrics on Wednesday that he plans to tap into Nigeria’s domestic capital market, inspired by Alhaji Aliko Dangote and father-in-law Mr Femi Otedola.

Speaking on the call by market regulators and the Federal Government for major tech firms and unicorns to list locally, Mr Eazi expressed strong support for giving everyday Nigerians a stake in the digital businesses they help build. The founder of emPawa Africa and Choplife pointed to established Nigerian industrial titans as the blueprint for his ambition.

“I do believe that some of our elders have shown us what it is to not just build in Nigeria, but build global companies in Nigeria and list them on the local exchange and invite Nigerians to invest, partake in the company they help build and get the benefits of the companies,” he stated.

He emphasised his intention to emulate top business leaders, saying, “It will be beautiful to one day be like my egbons. The likes of Abdul Samad Rabiu, Alhaji Dangote, Mr Otedola and the likes and list, not just your normal brick-and-mortar businesses, but also in this new world.”

While planning his capital market debut, Mr Eazi highlighted the ongoing operational expansion across his portfolio, which integrates entertainment, media, tech, gaming, and intellectual property. A key part of this strategy involves shifting Choplife’s core operations to Itana, a digital-first economic zone backed by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority.

This strategic move reflects a broader trend among African tech founders who are re-evaluating traditional offshore holding structures, such as Delaware or London, in favour of domestic special economic zones designed to streamline regulatory compliance and cross-border capital flows.

Addressing why he chose a local digital free zone over traditional offshore jurisdictions, he explained, “Having had the advantage of having a global career, I do realise that there is also the global risk that nobody tells you about. And when I look at what Itana is building, I think it is building on everything. So it’s an opportunity for us to leverage and centralise our operations, and very important to us that it’s on the continent.”

Beyond capital markets and corporate structuring, Mr Eazi addressed critical infrastructure deficits affecting the African creative and technology sectors. He noted that while massive arenas get the spotlight, the true lifeblood of the music ecosystem lies in mid-sized venues of 250 to 1,000 capacity, alongside specialised sound stages.

Furthermore, he highlighted cross-border regulatory friction as a primary bottleneck for African tech scale-ups, advocating for deeper policy harmonisation across jurisdictions through initiatives like the African Prosperity Network to foster a unified African digital market.

He urged  African media to reshape the continent’s business narrative by spotlighting local engineering talent, observing, “There is this story that is not told enough of the quality of Nigerian engineers building technology,  global-standard  technology for Africa  with  the local  sort  of nuances. Perhaps if that story is told, dem go dey rush us like hot noodles.”

Mr Eazi is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, venture capitalist, and tech entrepreneur. Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, he pioneered Banku Music, a fusion sound that blends Ghanaian highlife with Nigerian Afrobeat rhythms and laid-back vocals.

The Nigerian Exchange is experiencing a historic surge, with its total market capitalisation skyrocketing by over 430 per cent from N30tn in 2023 to N160tn in 2026, and projections pointing towards N230tn before the end of the year.

The unprecedented rally comes on the heels of major structural reforms in the Nigerian financial sector, driven by aggressive policy shifts under President Bola Tinubu’s administration aimed at deepening domestic equity markets.

Amidst this rapid growth, foreign and local investors alike are turning their eyes towards Nigeria’s equity market, driven by upcoming mega-listings such as the anticipated $5bn Dangote Petroleum Refinery Initial Public Offering.

Source: https://punchng.com/mr-eazi-eyes-ngx-listing-inspired-by-dangote-otedola/