DataPro 2026: Nigeria’s Push for Investment-Grade Rating Takes Centre Stage

Nigeria’s path towards achieving and sustaining an investment-grade sovereign credit rating will come under the spotlight at DataPro’s 2026 International Rating Webinar scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2026.

The virtual event, themed “Sovereign Credit Rating: Africa’s Roadmap to Investment-Grade Status,” will bring together leading professionals and academics to examine the fiscal, economic, institutional and political factors shaping sovereign creditworthiness across Africa.

The webinar, scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. West African Time, will feature discussions on fiscal discipline, debt sustainability, economic resilience, institutional strength, risk management and investor confidence.

Among the distinguished panelists is Dr. Misheck Mutize, Lead Expert on Credit Rating Agencies at the African Peer Review Mechanism, who is expected to provide insights into Africa’s credit rating agenda and the continent’s positioning within the global financial system.

Mutize, who is also involved in efforts towards the establishment of the Africa Credit Rating Agency, will examine the challenges African economies face in strengthening their credit profiles, improving market credibility and attracting global capital.

Also joining the discussion is Mrs. Oluwakemi Babalogbon, Executive Director of Risk Management at the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, MOFI.

With more than two decades of experience spanning corporate finance, asset management and public finance, Babalogbon is expected to bring a practical perspective to discussions around public-sector risk management, institutional governance and the strategic management of state-owned assets.

Dr. Daniel Cash, Founder of the Credit Rating Research Initiative and Associate Professor at Aston University, will also feature on the panel.

Cash, who is a Senior Fellow at the United Nations University’s Centre for Policy Research, is expected to shed light on the complex processes behind sovereign credit ratings and the factors considered by rating agencies in assessing a country’s risk, resilience and creditworthiness.

The webinar will also feature Prof. Dr. Torsten Schmidt, Head of Macroeconomics and Public Finance Research at RWI – Essen, who will focus on the importance of sound economic fundamentals in building a credible case for investment-grade status.

Fiscal sustainability, stable public finances, economic growth and macroeconomic stability remain central to sovereign creditworthiness, particularly for African countries seeking to deepen their access to international capital markets.

Adding a political economy perspective, Prof. Kai Gehring of the University of Bern will examine how institutions, governance structures and political incentives influence economic reforms and sovereign credit outcomes.

The discussion is expected to explore whether reforms can deliver lasting improvements in a country’s creditworthiness without strong institutions and credible policies capable of sustaining economic progress.

DataPro said the perspectives of the five panelists converge on the reality that investment-grade status cannot be achieved through a single policy reform or temporary improvement in economic indicators.

Rather, it requires sustained macroeconomic stability, fiscal discipline, manageable debt levels, prudent risk management, effective institutions and strong policy credibility.

The webinar comes at a time when Nigeria and other African economies are seeking to strengthen fiscal positions, attract long-term investment and deepen their participation in global capital markets.

The October 8 conversation is expected to provide fresh insights into what African countries must do to build stronger sovereign credit profiles and move closer to the coveted investment-grade rating.

DataPro September 2026