The theme was, “The interplay between capital markets and economic growth: exploring the dynamic relationship”.

In his speech, Bukar highlighted the critical role that capital markets play in economic development. He noted that capital markets provide businesses with access to long-term capital, which is essential for expansion and investment. Capital markets also create job opportunities and foster wealth creation.

Bukar also discussed the challenges facing the Nigerian capital market, such as a lack of investor confidence, inadequate regulatory framework, low liquidity, infrastructure deficiencies, volatility and risk, limited access to capital, information asymmetry, foreign exchange controls, macroeconomic factors, political and security risks, and market depth.

Bukar provided policy recommendations to catalyze opportunities in the Nigerian capital market. He recommended that the government implement policies to increase the level and size of market capitalization in the capital market, promote financial literacy, and improve the regulatory environment.

Speaking during her welcome address, the host of the 39th edition and President and Chairman of the Council of the Nigerian Institute of Management Chartered (NIM), Dr. (Mrs.) Christiana V.N. Atako, reiterated the importance of the capital markets in Nigeria’s economic prosperity and the need for Nigeria to improve its economic growth through the pillars of sustainable growth: knowledge, investment, innovation, job creation, infrastructure provision and economic stability.

Mrs. Taiwo Ganiyat Olusesi, the Institute’s Registrar and Chief Executive, averred that the theme, focused on nuanced interrelation between capital markets and economic development, is profoundly relevant and pivotal in today’s age marked by swift technological progress, changing geopolitical undercurrents, and adaptive financial terrains.

“Often referred to as the pulsating heart of our economy, capital markets serve as essential pathways, directing savings and investments from capital providers, such as individual and institutional investors, to capital consumers including businesses, governments, and the general public. These markets stand as gauges of our economic vigor, mirrors of our assurance, and indicators of our prospective growth. The profound positive influence of Dr. Michael Omolayole, in whose honor the Lecture is organized, cannot be overemphasized. His significant contributions to globally renowned institutions and his visionary leadership remains our beacon”, Mrs. Olusesi stated.

In her speech, co-host and President of the AIESEC Alumni Nigeria, Olubunmi Abejirin, emphasized the role of the capital markets in well-regulated markets as the life-blood of the economy and champion for innovation, commerce, infrastructure development, financial inclusion and job creation.

She averred that within the current context of a depreciating Naira, inflation, mounting external debts, and rising fuel costs, there is no better moment for a deeper functioning of the capital markets than now, to intensify investments.

She also emphasized the connection between the lecture series and Dr. Omolayole’s vision of fostering excellence in management and business leadership.

According to Dr. Omolayole, the AIESEC Alumni President, has shown his nation-building capacity by continuously spearheading programs and initiatives that have propelled our indigenous leadership and management economy to greater heights.

“He is proof of the high regard the corporate world as a collective hold for Dr. Omolayole, with the collaboration between the NIM, LCCI, NECA, and CIPM for almost a decade, enabling key stakeholders of high intellectual capacity to analyze and recommend new ideas to benefit the business and economic development of our country.”

The Omolayole Management Lecture Series (OML) honors the legacy of Dr. Michael Omolayole, a pioneering business leader and management icon who was the first Nigerian Chairman/Managing Director of Lever Brothers Nigeria Plc. (now Unilever Nigeria Plc.).

His unparalleled achievements include being the only African to serve on the Board of Advisors of AIESEC International in Brussels.

The OML lecture had in attendance, captains of industries, CEOs of top corporations, management gurus, related government agencies, and financial institutions, and other guests from various sectors of the economy.

The 39th Omolayole Management Lecture Series was hosted by the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), in collaboration with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI); Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Omolayole and Associates, and AIESEC Alumni Nigeria (AAN).

While the award comes from a global youth leadership group, its meaning for the tech economy is much bigger.

It tells the story of a new wave of developers in Nigeria who are using advanced technology to tackle urgent challenges, earning their tech scene a place on the world stage.

At the core of John’s recognition is his pivotal work during the COVID-19 crisis, where he moved beyond theoretical AI to deliver actionable intelligence for the healthcare sector.

His co-authored paper, “SARS-CoV-2: Application of Mathematical Modelling In Managing the Pandemic in Nigeria,” was not just an academic exercise. By utilizing the CHIME (COVID-19 Hospital Impact Model for Epidemics) model, John helped create predictive forecasts for viral progression.

In economic terms, this provided public health officials with a data-driven toolkit for optimizing hospital capacity and deploying countermeasures, directly impacting resource allocation and potentially saving millions in reactive spending.

He further drilled down into logistical and public health efficiency with another critical analysis, ‘Optimizing Health Facilities Allocation for COVID-19 Management Using Social Vulnerability Index and Spatial Data Analysis’.

This work essentially created a data-driven heat map, allowing health systems to preemptively allocate resources to the most vulnerable populations, a model of efficiency that could be scaled and adapted for future public health challenges.

But John’s impact wasn’t confined to data modeling. Demonstrating a keen understanding of full-stack innovation, he translated his insights into tangible hardware solutions.

He developed a drone project equipped with computer vision to automate the detection of facemask compliance, a practical, scalable solution he pitched for airport adoption. This initiative was potent enough to capture the attention of Google’s own AI Lead, Laurence Moroney, signaling its technical credibility.

Brain’s trajectory places him firmly within Nigeria’s vibrant AI ecosystem. As a knowledge volunteer for Data Science Nigeria, he operated alongside global AI heavyweights like Sara Hooker of Google AI and prominent thought leader Dr. Stephen Odaibo.

This collaboration underscores the increasing integration of Nigerian talent into the global AI discourse.

The AIESEC award for Aboze Brain John is more than a personal accolade. It’s a market signal. It validates a powerful narrative: that African innovators are no longer just consumers of technology but are building and deploying bespoke AI solutions that address hyper-local needs with world-class sophistication.

For investors and global tech firms, the message is clear: the next wave of disruptive, high-impact innovation is being coded in hubs like Lagos.