As global financial winds shift, experts are calling for Africa’s Credit Rating Agencies to collaborate and redefine how the continent is perceived.

Nigeria’s leading technology-driven Credit Rating Agency, DataPro Limited, recently hosted the Fifth Annual International Credit Rating Webinar — a landmark edition that coincided with the company’s 30th Anniversary, Book Launch and Anniversary Cake Cutting on October 9, 2025.

The virtual event drew participants from across the globe — regulators, investors, analysts and financial institutions — all converging to discuss how credit ratings can shape economic narratives in an increasingly volatile world.

The panel discussion, moderated by Prince Oladele Adeoye, Chief Rating Officer of DataPro Limited, featured a powerhouse lineup of thought leaders: Mrs. Angela Jide-Jones (CEO, Sewa Capital Limited), Mr. Zwelibanzi Maziya (COO, Sovereign Africa Rating), Mr. Vidhyasagar Lingesan (Chief Rating Officer, CARE Ratings), Mr. Daouda Sembene (CEO, Africatalyst) and Mr. Obed Mbuzi (Director, Premier Rating Services).

A World in Flux and the Race for Credibility

The panelists agreed that global trade tensions, energy shocks and shifting supply chains have fundamentally reshaped capital flows. Inflationary pressures, the rise of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing, and the quest for sustainability have forced investors to re-evaluate how and where they deploy funds.

In this new reality, clarity, comparability and credibility have become non-negotiable. Investors, the panelists observed, are no longer swayed by high ratings alone — they now look deeper, seeking to understand the story behind the numbers.

“In volatile times, investors prioritise transparency, resilience and sound governance,” one panelist noted. “They want to see how institutions manage uncertainty, not just how they score on paper.”

The consensus was clear: Africa’s institutions must step forward. Rating agencies across the continent, they emphasised, hold the power to shape investor perceptions, guide reforms and build trust. But to do so, they must evolve beyond assessing risk — they must also highlight resilience, reform and aspiration.

“Credibility is the New Collateral.”

Perhaps the most striking takeaway from the conversation was this phrase: “Credibility is the new collateral.”

In a global marketplace where sentiment can shift overnight, credibility — not just capital, determines who gains investor confidence. The panelists underscored that credit ratings serve as the gatekeepers between issuers and investors, bridging trust and transparency.

“Credit ratings shape investor perception and facilitate capital flows,” a panelist explained. In essence, they are the bridge between a nation’s promise and the market’s belief in that promise. 

Beyond traditional analysis, the experts urged rating agencies to embrace alternative data, scenario analysis and stress testing to make their reports more forward-looking and insightful. Ratings, they argued, should not only describe what is but also assess what could be.

Collaboration and the Road Ahead

When asked how regional Credit Rating Agencies could expand their reach and strengthen credibility, the panelists offered a roadmap rooted in cooperation and reform.

They proposed that regional CRAs collaborate through a common platform, harmonise rating methodologies and establish cross-border rating agreements to create scale and consistency. Enhancing data accuracy and transparency and adopting emerging market–specific rating scales, they said, would make African ratings more globally credible.

To bolster local expertise, the panel encouraged governments to empower homegrown rating agencies through supportive policies, regulatory incentives and structured dialogue between agencies. They also floated the idea of creating a “Sovereign Borrowers Forum” — a platform where governments, rating agencies and investors can exchange ideas, promote transparency and strengthen accountability.

With global investors searching for new frontiers and sustainable opportunities, the continent’s credibility — built on transparency, governance and collaboration, could become its most valuable asset.