FirstHoldCo Plc, a Nigerian financial services holding company, has been included in the FTSE Frontier 50 Index effective 21 September 2026, according to Nairametrics. The inclusion places FirstHoldCo alongside five other Nigerian companies among the most liquid and investable firms across frontier markets. The report describes the move as strengthening the company's global investor access and market visibility, and characterizes the index as more significant than the FTSE Russell Index.

FTSE Russell has added Wema Bank Plc and nine other mid-capitalised Nigerian companies to its Frontier Index Series, according to ThisDay Live. The inclusion follows the index provider's recent reclassification of Nigeria from "Unclassified" to "Frontier Market" status. The move is expected to raise the visibility of the listed firms among international investors tracking frontier market benchmarks, though the full list of the ten companies was not detailed in the available report.

Nigeria's efforts to regain its Frontier Market status have encountered a new challenge as FTSE Russell, a global index provider, has postponed the process. This delay represents an unexpected setback for the country in its pursuit of re-entering the global financial index, according to Tribune Online.

FTSE Russell has confirmed Nigeria's return to Frontier Market status on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), effective September 21, 2026, according to Vanguard. The decision reverses the country's 2023 relegation to "Unclassified" status, which followed foreign-exchange liquidity problems, difficulties repatriating investment proceeds, and concerns about market accessibility that had made Nigeria less attractive to foreign investors. The upgrade is seen as a significant vote of confidence in the NGX.

Six Nigerian banks, including Access Bank, have been named among Africa's 20 largest lenders by total assets, according to a ranking reported by Legit.ng. The list highlights the growing strength and scale of Nigeria's banking sector within the continent's financial landscape. The report, published on 9 September 2026, invites readers to find out more about the featured institutions and their positions among Africa's biggest banking groups.

According to Techpoint Africa, 81% of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria are optimistic about the upcoming year, driven by their growth ambitions. This positive outlook reflects the resilience and potential of the SME sector in the country as they prepare for future opportunities.