Author: Gift Ifeanyi

Move over, Nollywood. A new wave of digital storytellers is commanding the global stage, one short, hilarious video at a time. From the pockets of millions of Nigerians wielding smartphones, a revolution is being broadcast. This is the world of the “skitpreneur”—a generation of young comedians who have turned social media platforms into a powerful economic engine and a vibrant cultural export. This isn’t just about getting laughs; it’s a masterclass in digital ingenuity. Faced with economic hurdles and a massive youth population, Nigerian creators have built a thriving industry from the ground up. They’ve leveraged platforms like TikTok, Instagram,…

In a move that signals a profound shift in economic strategy, the Nigerian government has officially entered the venture capital arena. Its inaugural investment, channeled through the ambitious iDICE programme, has landed with Lagos-based Ventures Platform—a firm that has just secured $64 million for its second fund. This is more than a financial transaction; it’s a powerful statement of intent. For a nation that is already the continent’s undisputed leader in spawning billion-dollar “unicorn” startups, this move represents a critical evolution: from a government that regulates to one that actively co-invests in its own innovative future. Beyond Oil: Building an…

Calling all Nigerian innovators with a vision to build, grow, and impact. A powerful opportunity to transform your business idea into a sustainable, thriving venture has arrived with the launch of the Orange Corners Nigeria Incubation Programme (Cohort 14). This isn’t just another business course. It’s a comprehensive launchpad, meticulously designed for young Nigerian founders determined to be the next drivers of the nation’s economy. If you are building a solution in a key sector like agritech, sustainable fashion, health innovation, or advanced manufacturing, this programme provides the tangible tools, network, and knowledge to accelerate your journey from concept to…

A quiet revolution is being seeded within Nigeria’s educational landscape, and its architects believe the most crucial agents of change are not policymakers or tech giants, but classroom teachers. In a strategic move to reshape the country’s economic future, Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) is mobilizing a national coalition with a clear objective: to fundamentally reposition educators as the primary catalysts for entrepreneurship. Dubbed the SET4LYF National Convening, the initiative—which stands for School-to-Work Educational Transitions for Long-Term Youth Fulfilment—is more than a conference. It is the cornerstone of a long-term advocacy campaign designed to embed an entrepreneurial mindset into the very fabric…

Every great movement begins with a personal story of overcoming. For Louis Awode, that story started in the overcrowded, under-resourced classrooms of Ogbere, a small community in Ogun State. It was here, sitting on broken desks with outdated textbooks, that he first understood the stark reality of “opportunity bankruptcy”—a challenge that would later become the catalyst for a nationwide mission of empowerment. Today, as the founder of the Louis Awode Foundation (LAF), he is systematically dismantling the very barriers that once confined him. His journey is not just one of personal success, but a blueprint for turning adversity into agency.…

In a strategic move to fortify regional economies from the ground up, the Ecobank Group and Proparco have inked a new €10 million trade finance guarantee. This agreement, finalized at the Africa Financial Industry Summit, does more than just inject capital; it strategically expands a proven financial pipeline to include Chad, directly targeting the bottlenecks that stifle small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This latest facility is a key piece of a much larger puzzle. It represents the continued evolution of the Ecobank-Proparco Trade Finance Programme, a partnership that has now channeled €125 million in guarantees since 2018 toward a single…

Kano’s status as a commercial powerhouse of Northern Nigeria received a significant endorsement with the strategic entry of Signature Bank. The launch of its new branch is more than a physical expansion; it is a direct investment in the region’s economic engine, with a clear pledge to fuel the small businesses, traders, and agricultural producers who form its backbone. This move signals a growing recognition of Northern Nigeria’s vast, yet often undercapitalized, economic potential. For Signature Bank, it represents a strategic deepening of its national footprint, positioning itself at the heart of a critical trade and agricultural hub. A Partnership…

In a significant stride for Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, a new cohort of small-scale manufacturers has been unleashed onto the market, armed with validated products and scalable business models. The graduation of the Manufacturers Business Accelerator (MBA) Cohort 2 marks a critical inflection point, demonstrating that with targeted intervention, micro-enterprises can rapidly evolve from informal side hustles into formal drivers of economic growth. The event, themed around “Innovation, Inclusion, Impact,” served as a powerful showcase of what’s possible when Nigeria’s most promising entrepreneurs are given the right tools. ‘Desola Jimmy-Eboma, Founder of SSE Lab, the organization behind the MBA, framed the…

In a small workshop in Ibadan, the rich, earthy scent of roasting cocoa beans fills the air. Here, Temilade Ogunbiyi of Temmy’s Cocoa Crafts is not just making chocolate; she is quietly scripting a new chapter for the Nigerian economy. Three years ago, her business was a local endeavor. Today, she ships her “Made in Nigeria” chocolate abroad, a testament to a burgeoning movement that is transforming the nation from a raw material exporter into a hub of finished, branded luxury. This quiet revolution is now gaining a powerful ally. A landmark five-year partnership between Providus Bank and BusinessDay’s Go…

After nearly ten years of shaping Nigeria’s natural gas landscape, Helios Investment Partners is preparing to step away from Axxela Limited, the energy infrastructure company it helped transform into a regional leader. The London-based private equity firm, co-founded by Nigerian investor Temitope Lawani, has signed an agreement to divest its remaining 75% ownership in Axxela. The deal, once completed, will mark the end of Helios’ long-standing involvement in West Africa’s gas distribution sector. Lawani described the move as a strategic realignment rather than a reaction to market conditions, emphasizing that Helios’ decision was driven by shifting investment priorities. “We’ve reached…

In a groundbreaking move for Nigeria’s tech landscape, entrepreneur and innovator Clement Joshua, founder and CEO of 6Clement Joshua, has announced the official public launch of 6IXAI on 6ixapp.com — a people-centered artificial intelligence platform built in Cross River State. The platform represents a major leap in homegrown innovation, designed to help Africans learn, earn, heal, research, and build businesses with practical AI support. More than a tech product, 6IXAI reflects a mission of inclusion, placing everyday people — students, traders, creators, and small businesses — at the heart of Africa’s digital transformation. “6IXAI was built to serve people first,”…

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has highlighted the growing strength of economic relations between Nigeria and China, revealing that bilateral trade between both nations has now reached nearly $24 billion and continues to expand steadily. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2025 China Commodities Expo Nigeria in Lagos on Wednesday, Governor Sanwo-Olu—represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative, Trade, and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem—described the event as more than a business exhibition. He emphasized that it represents a vital platform fostering deeper economic collaboration between the two countries. According to the governor, Lagos remains strategically positioned as Africa’s leading…

A new study conducted by Deloitte has underscored the far-reaching influence of Beta Glass Plc, revealing the company’s substantial contributions to Nigeria’s industrial growth, employment, and sustainable development over the past decade. According to the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Report covering the period 2015–2024, Beta Glass — a leading producer of glass packaging in West and Central Africa — has played a pivotal role in advancing Nigeria’s economy through its investments, innovation, and community impact initiatives. Major Economic Footprint In 2024 alone, Beta Glass recorded a total economic output of ₦324.7 billion, accounting for nearly 1% of national manufacturing output and…

Nigeria is advancing fresh talks with German industry leaders to strengthen collaboration in technology transfer, skills development, and regulated labour mobility, all central to the nation’s drive toward building a $1 trillion economy by 2030. This renewed partnership focus emerged during a meeting in Abuja between the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and a delegation from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Giessen-Friedberg, Germany, led by Chief Executive Officer Mathias Leder. Driving Growth Through Knowledge and Partnership Senator Bagudu underscored that Nigeria’s long-term growth plan depends heavily on private-sector innovation, human capital expansion, and…

Nigeria’s government has dismissed allegations of state-backed religious persecution, reaffirming its constitutional commitment to religious freedom and tolerance in response to remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting possible U.S. military intervention. At a press briefing in Berlin on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar emphasized that Nigeria’s Constitution explicitly prohibits discrimination based on faith and guarantees the protection of all citizens. “There can be no form of religious persecution supported or condoned by the Nigerian government—at any level,” Tuggar said, underscoring that Nigeria’s leadership remains committed to upholding the rule of law and peaceful coexistence among its diverse…

Abuja is set to host a major gathering of Nigeria’s top media professionals as the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) prepares for its 2025 Annual National Editors’ Conference, scheduled for November 12 and 13. The two-day event will bring together over 500 editors, government officials, diplomats, and key figures from the business community to deliberate on the state of governance, democracy, and journalism in the country. According to a statement signed by NGE President Eze Anaba and General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh, the opening ceremony will take place at the Presidential Villa Banquet Hall, where President Bola Tinubu is expected to…

Cape Town — The 2025 edition of the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) came to a vibrant close on October 31, as eight exceptional women from across the continent were celebrated for their groundbreaking work in technology, energy, agriculture, creativity, and social impact. The awards gala, held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), marked the grand finale of the two-day AWIEF2025 Conference, which gathered over 500 delegates representing more than 50 countries. From emerging innovators to industry veterans, the winners reflected the growing influence of women in shaping Africa’s entrepreneurial and economic transformation. Among those honoured…

Lagos — A new voice has emerged in the African business landscape with the debut of Traxis Africa Magazine, a publication dedicated to showcasing the creativity and resilience of African entrepreneurs often overlooked in mainstream media. At the launch event in Lagos, the magazine’s founder, Mrs. Ijeoma Okonkwo, said the platform was born out of a determination to rewrite how the world perceives African innovation and enterprise. She emphasized that the publication aims to celebrate real stories of impact, consistency, and growth rather than fleeting moments of publicity. Drawing from her experience organizing business exhibitions, Okonkwo noted that many small…

In a continent where access to capital and political networks often define success, Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi carved an extraordinary path — one built not on privilege or connections, but on vision, grit, and relentless innovation. As the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nestoil Limited, he stands today at the helm of one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s most diversified industrial powerhouses, with interests that cut across oil and gas, energy, aviation, real estate, manufacturing, and communications. His business journey began humbly in 1983 when he launched Obijackson West Africa Limited, a small trading firm that imported household goods, engineering tools, and…

Abu Dhabi — The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has announced plans to raise its equity interest in the $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery to 20 percent, reinforcing Nigeria’s bid for energy independence and stronger participation in the downstream oil market. The disclosure was made by Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., during a session at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) 2025. Ojulari explained that the strategic expansion aligns with the company’s long-term goal of deepening domestic refining, ensuring energy security, and promoting broader Nigerian ownership in key energy assets. “Our…