Lagos, Nigeria – October 12, 2026 – CardinalStone Group has reinforced its position as a leading financial services institution in Nigeria, clinching six prestigious awards at the 2026 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, held on Friday, October 9, 2026, in Lagos.
The Group’s recognition across six categories spanning investment banking, asset management, trust services, registrar services, investment research and stockbroking underscores its commitment to excellence, innovation and delivering exceptional value to clients across its business lines.
CardinalStone emerged victorious in the following categories:
- Best Investment Bank for M&A – CardinalStone Partners
- Investment Management Firm of the Year – CardinalStone Asset Management
- Best in Private Trust Services – CardinalStone Trustees
- Most Innovative Registrar of the Year – CardinalStone Registrars
- Investment Research Firm of the Year – CardinalStone Securities
- Stockbroking Firm of the Year – CardinalStone Securities
The multiple wins highlight the depth of CardinalStone’s expertise and the strength of its integrated business model, reflecting its ability to deliver specialised financial solutions while maintaining a consistent standard of excellence across the Group.
The recognition of CardinalStone Partners for its expertise in mergers and acquisitions reinforces its track record in advising on strategic transactions and providing innovative investment banking solutions. Similarly, CardinalStone Asset Management’s recognition reflects its commitment to delivering professionally managed investment solutions that help clients achieve their financial objectives.
In trust services, CardinalStone Trustees was recognised for its expertise in private trust solutions, wealth preservation and succession planning, while CardinalStone Registrars’ innovation award highlights its continued focus on leveraging technology to improve shareholder services and enhance the investor experience.
CardinalStone Securities secured two awards for investment research and stockbroking, reflecting its strength in delivering actionable market insights, research-driven investment solutions and securities trading services.
Commenting on the achievement, Michael Nzewi, Group Managing Director, CardinalStone, said:
“Winning six awards across five of our businesses is an important milestone for CardinalStone. Beyond the recognition, these awards reflect the confidence our clients continue to place in us and the dedication of our people to delivering excellence across every aspect of our business.
Our ambition has always been to build a world-class investment banking and asset management firm of African origin. This recognition reinforces our commitment to that vision and challenges us to continue raising the bar through innovation, trusted partnerships and exceptional service delivery. We are grateful to our clients, partners and employees who continue to make achievements like this possible.”
The BusinessDay BAFI Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in Nigeria’s banking and financial services industry, recognising institutions that demonstrate excellence, innovation, leadership and meaningful contributions to the sector’s development.
These latest accolades add to CardinalStone’s growing portfolio of industry recognitions and further affirm its position as a trusted financial services partner to individuals, businesses and institutions.
As CardinalStone continues to expand its capabilities and strengthen its market position, the Group remains focused on building enduring client relationships, creating sustainable value and contributing to the growth and development of Nigeria’s financial markets.
About CardinalStone
CardinalStone is Nigeria’s leading independent investment and multi-asset management firm, providing integrated solutions across advisory, capital markets, asset management, securities trading, trust services, financing, registrar services, and pensions.
With over ₦7 trillion in capital markets and M&A transactions advised, CardinalStone has established itself as one of Africa’s premier financial institutions. The firm was the first securities house to surpass ₦2 trillion in transaction value on the Nigerian Exchange and has ranked as the Exchange’s number-one securities firm by value for four consecutive years (2022–2025).
CardinalStone’s market leadership has been recognised through numerous industry awards, including Euromoney’s Awards for Excellence (2026), Euromoney’s Market Awards (2024 and 2025), and multiple DealMakers Africa Awards (2026) for excellence in equity advisory and capital markets execution.
