In a bold move bridging African entertainment and capital markets, Mr Eazi eyes NGX listing for tech ventures across his expanding business portfolio. The musician-turned-venture-capitalist, legally known as Oluwatosin Ajibade, revealed his ambitions to give local retail investors direct equity access. Consequently, everyday users will soon have the opportunity to share in the wealth created by digital platforms they actively support.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Nairametrics, the Zagadat Capital founder emphasized that listing on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) allows local consumers to transition from mere users to true co-owners.
Backstory: Transitioning From Afrobeats Hitmaker to Venture Capitalist
long before considering public stock markets, Mr Eazi reshaped how African creatives view business ownership. After launching his music career, he recognized early on that distribution platforms and financial tools held far greater long-term value than performance fees alone.
Also read Mr Eazi breaks silence on viral rumours of ‘welcoming first child’ with wife, Temi Otedola
To solve funding bottlenecks for independent artists, he founded emPawa Africa. Shortly after, he established his venture firm, Zagadat Capital, to back high-growth startups across Africa. His fund has made notable equity investments in prominent platforms, including:
- Fintech & Payments: PawaPay and remittance-focused financial tools.
- Home Services & Tech: Eden Life.
- Music Distribution: Early equity positioning in global distribution network Vydia.
- Healthcare & Manufacturing: A major 17.31 percent stake purchase in Intravenous Infusions PLC reported by Modern Ghana.
This disciplined transition laid the strategic foundation for his current capital market expansion plans.
Drawing Inspiration From Industrial Icons and Local Free Zones
The entrepreneur credits established Nigerian industrial leaders for showing how domestic public markets can power massive wealth creation. Specifically, he pointed to figures like Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and Femi Otedola as major influences.
“I do believe that some of our elders have shown us what it is to not just build in Nigeria, but build global companies in Nigeria and list them on the local exchange,” he stated. Furthermore, Mr Eazi noted that listing tech entities locally helps democratize financial success across the country.
To streamline this transition, he is centralizing corporate operations within domestic special economic zones like Itana. Choosing local digital free zones over offshore jurisdictions like Delaware reduces cross-border regulatory friction while keeping investment capital anchored directly within Africa.
Riding the Historic Surge in Nigerian Equity Capital
Timing plays a crucial role in this public listing ambition. The Nigerian Exchange is experiencing an unprecedented rally, with market capitalization surging from N30 trillion in 2023 to N160 trillion in 2026. Financial projections suggest market value could approach N230 trillion by the end of the year.
By preparing his technology, gaming, and IP assets for domestic listing, Mr Eazi aims to prove that tech startups can flourish on local public exchanges. Ultimately, this move promises to connect tech innovation directly with everyday Nigerian investors.
