NASDAQ is the world’s second-largest stock exchange in New York.
The Nigerian presidency has committed a major blunder by claiming President Bola Tinubu was the first African Head of Government to ring the bell at the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (NASDAQ).
NASDAQ is the world’s second-largest stock exchange in New York.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale had in a statement said Tinubu became the first African leader to ring the closing bell at NASDAQ on September 20, 2023.
The event was held in Times Square, New York, in honour of the U.S. Chamber’s bell-ringing ceremony.
According to Ngelale, the president was invited to the event in honour of his determined global push to aggressively attract foreign direct investment into Nigeria.
“In honour of President Bola Tinubu’s determined global push to aggressively attract foreign direct investment into Nigeria, the world’s second largest stock exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System (NASDAQ), on Wednesday in the world’s financial capital, invited President Tinubu to ring the closing bell, making him the first African President to ever receive the honour,” he had said.
“The President, surrounded by Nigerian business leaders and officials of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, in trademark fashion, did not fail to seize the opportunity presented by the historic moment to boldly advance his foreign investment push as he stood, live, in front of financial markets at the famous stock exchange.”
However, checks by SaharaReporters revealed that another African leader, then President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania rang the NASDAQ closing bell on September 21, 2011.
This 2011 event was themed around Global Health Commitments, focusing on Women’s Health and Cancers. Notable attendees included First Ladies, Health Ministers, and Global Health Leaders from various countries.
“Global Health Leaders will announce Global Health Commitments for Women’s Health and Women’s Cancers at the NASDAQ MarketSite in New York City’s Times Square.
“In honour of the occasion, President Kikwete of Tanzania, First Ladies and Health Ministers, and Global Health Leaders will officially ring The NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell,” an excerpt from NASDAQ’s official website ahead of the bell-ringing ceremony by the Tanzanian President had read.