Author: Gift Ifeanyi

For Nigerian retailers, peak seasons like “Detty December” bring a surge in business but also a major headache: long queues and failed transactions. Nomba, a leading African digital bank, has moved to solve this by integrating Apple Pay across its platform, becoming the first payments company to enable the service for both in-store and online transactions in Nigeria. The move aims to slash checkout times and open local businesses to a global customer base by removing the friction of manual card entries and failed bank transfers. Faster Checkouts: The End of the POS Queue During high-traffic periods, when the diaspora…

In a week celebrating lifelong impact and commitment to human capital development, renowned technologist and entrepreneur Mr. Tim Akano has been conferred with two prestigious Distinguished Alumnus Awards. The honors, presented by Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and his primary school, Baptist Day School, Oluponna, recognize his decade-spanning contributions to education, technology, and community development. These awards highlight Akano’s unique approach to philanthropy, which blends traditional infrastructural support with forward-looking investments in emerging technologies. Empowering the Future of AI at OAU As a member of the class of 1983, Akano’s recognition by OAU reflects his active role in keeping his alma…

As the 2025 festive season reaches its peak, Ecobank Nigeria has assured its millions of customers of uninterrupted access to essential financial services. While physical branches may adjust their hours for public holidays, the bank’s comprehensive suite of digital platforms remains fully operational to handle the surge in holiday transactions. Victor Yalokwu, Head of Products & Analytics at Ecobank Nigeria, emphasized that the bank is prioritizing convenience and reliability during this high-spending period, ensuring that both individual and business customers can bank “anytime, anywhere.” A Comprehensive Digital Ecosystem Ecobank has deployed a wide array of “e-channels” to ensure that users…

As Nigeria’s financial landscape shifts, women are moving from the fringes to the center of economic leadership. Leading this charge is FSDH Merchant Bank’s Women in Business Initiative (WIBI), which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. Over the past five years, the bank has channeled more than $3.9 million (₦3 billion+) into women-led enterprises, proving that targeted institutional commitment is the key to unlocking the full potential of the female economy. Despite the rise of female entrepreneurs in tech, manufacturing, and the creative sectors, structural barriers—particularly limited access to credit—remain. FSDH’s model addresses this through a “finance plus capability” approach. Breaking…

As we wrap up 2025, the African startup ecosystem continues to demonstrate that the most impactful solutions often come from localizing global trends. From turning plantain waste into logistics solutions to building Liberia’s first super-app, these five companies are redefining their sectors across the continent. 1. BioSPACE GH: Circular Economy in the Poultry Coop Sector: AgriTech/CleanTech | Country: Ghana BioSPACE GH is tackling two problems with one solution: agricultural waste and high livestock production costs. By processing discarded plantain fibers and sawdust, the startup produces eco-friendly egg cartons. Impact: Reduces Ghana’s reliance on Chinese imports while providing poultry farmers with…

As 2025 draws to a close, the Nigerian textile and garment sector finds itself at a critical crossroads. At a high-profile cultural showcase in Abuja themed “Canvas of Culture: Ancestors Are Watching, GLAM Trad,” Nnamdi Daniel, CEO of CNDaniels Couture, issued a passionate plea to the Federal Government for an urgent policy overhaul to protect local artisans from extinction. Despite being a sector with massive job-creation potential, the Nigerian textile industry is currently battling a “triple threat” of rampant smuggling, infrastructural decay, and the westernization of local fashion. The Smuggling Crisis: “Stolen Designs, Inferior Quality” One of the most pressing…

The saga of Obinwanne Okeke, once celebrated as one of Africa’s most promising entrepreneurs, reached a new milestone this week. According to records from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Okeke—widely known as Invictus Obi—was released from federal custody on Wednesday, December 23, 2025. His release comes significantly earlier than his original projected date of September 3, 2028. While official reasons for the early release haven’t been detailed, legal experts point to the First Step Act, which allows well-behaved federal prisoners to earn time credits through rehabilitation programs. The Rise and the Phishing Scheme Before his 2019 arrest, Okeke…

On Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, the United States military launched a series of “powerful and deadly” airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in northwestern Nigeria. President Donald Trump announced the operation on Truth Social, framing it as a direct response to what he described as the “slaughtering of Christians” by “ISIS terrorist scum.” The strikes, which took place in Sokoto State, represent a significant escalation in U.S. military involvement in the region and follow months of threats from the Trump administration to intervene “guns-a-blazing” if religious violence in Nigeria was not curtailed. Key Details of the Operation According to…

In a strategic move to capture the massive “inbound” value of the Nigerian diaspora, fintech leader Nomba has expanded its payment stack to support Apple Pay across both physical and online storefronts. This integration is particularly timely, arriving as the company targets the “Detty December” season—a peak period when international visitors bring foreign-issued cards and a preference for contactless biometrics to Nigeria. While Apple Pay has seen limited adoption in Nigeria due to regulatory and infrastructure hurdles, Nomba’s merchant-focused approach bypasses these by enabling local businesses to accept payments from global users’ iPhones and Apple Watches. Key Features of the…

Sun King, a global leader in off-grid solar energy, has officially expanded its “Pay-As-You-Go” (PayGo) ecosystem in Nigeria to include smartphones. By leveraging the same flexible payment model that helped millions access solar power, the company aims to dismantle the high upfront cost barrier that prevents many Nigerians from participating in the digital economy. The initiative is now active across all 36 states and the FCT, targeting students, small-scale entrepreneurs, and low-income households who require mobile connectivity for education, work, and financial services. The PayGo Smartphone Model: How It Works The program follows a simple, deposit-based structure designed to fit…

At a high-level fireside chat hosted by the Lagos Business School (LBS) Breakfast Club, Nigeria’s foremost industrialist, Aliko Dangote, and renowned economist Bismarck Rewane converged to outline a roadmap for transforming Nigeria into Africa’s premier manufacturing and services hub. The event, themed “Challenges and Opportunities for Making Nigeria the Leading Manufacturing and Services Hub in Africa,” provided a data-driven look at the 2026 economic landscape and the structural shifts required for long-term industrial sovereignty. The Pillars of Sustainable Industrialization Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, emphasized that Nigeria’s path to becoming a regional powerhouse depends on two critical strategies:…

Nigeria’s procurement landscape in 2025 remains a complex web of informality, structural deficits, and economic volatility. While the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) holds immense promise for regional integration, the practical reality for many Nigerian SMEs is a cycle of delays and unpredictable costs. To transition from a reactive, manual system to a proactive, technology-driven hub, Nigeria must address the critical “trust gaps” and physical infrastructure failures that currently derail procurement cycles. The Informality Trap: Why Data is the New Trust A defining hurdle in Nigerian procurement is the lack of a unified, vetted vendor database. In a market…

In a significant recognition of its rapid expansion and market impact, Rolad Properties & Allied Services Limited has been listed on the prestigious 2025 BusinessDay Top 100 Fastest Growing SMEs list. The ranking identifies Nigeria’s most dynamic small and medium enterprises based on metrics including revenue growth, scalability, innovation, and business sustainability. Founded in September 2018 by Dotun Oloyede, the firm has evolved from a startup with a vision for affordable housing into a major player in the real estate sector, operating across multiple states and international borders. A Vision for Structured Property Ownership Rolad Properties was established to solve…

In a landmark end-of-year ceremony on December 23, 2025, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma empowered over 10,000 artisans and SME operators, charging them to lead a revolution in Nigeria’s construction and services industries. The event, held at Ndubuisi Kanu Square in Owerri, marked the graduation of the Renewed Hope Empowerment Initiative, a program designed to turn vocational skills into sustainable economic independence. Describing the exercise as the “best Christmas and New Year gift” for the state, the governor emphasized that the initiative is a strategic move to address the shortage of competent local labor. Reclaiming the Market from Foreign Labor…

In a strategic evolution of its corporate social responsibility, Leadway—a premier Nigerian financial services and wellbeing provider—has announced the launch of Media Dash 3.0. This year’s edition is headlined by the first-ever Leadway Lifestyle Fair, a physical marketplace designed to provide young Nigerian entrepreneurs with the visibility and community engagement needed to scale their businesses. Moving beyond digital advertising, the initiative transforms into a two-day immersive experience scheduled for December 27–28, 2025, at the L’eola Hotel in Maryland, Lagos. From Ad Slots to Physical Market Access For years, Leadway’s “Media Dash” has been a frontline support initiative, where the company…

The 16th Meeting of the National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment concluded in Lagos with a powerful mandate: Nigeria must “produce what it consumes” to survive the current global economic shift. Hosted by the Lagos State Government, the council gathered top policymakers to move beyond policy declarations and into the “relentless implementation” of strategies that support local manufacturing and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Under the theme “Accelerating Diversification to Rebuild Prosperity by Leveraging Industry, Trade and Investment for Shared Prosperity,” leaders emphasized that diversification is no longer just a policy goal—it is an imperative for national survival. The…

Nigeria’s economic landscape is undergoing a structural transformation, fueled by a high-impact partnership between domestic commerce hubs and international expertise. Under the Partners in Transformation (PIT) framework—funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and executed by sequa gGmbH—Nigerian chambers of commerce have evolved from mere administrative bodies into powerhouse engines of private-sector growth. This initiative aligns directly with the national development agenda, proving that when institutional governance meets global standards, the entire economic ecosystem thrives. Rebuilding the Institutional Backbone The first phase of this collaboration focused on internal revolution. By overhauling governance structures and service…

The landscape of Nigerian commerce is shifting, requiring a blend of historical grit and modern agility. At the recent 10th Annual Entrepreneurs Conference and Expo in Lagos, the message from the nation’s industrial titans was clear: the era of “business as usual” is over. To survive the current economic climate, founders must embrace the RISE philosophy—Reinvent, Innovate, Strategise, and Expand. The Evolution of the Entrepreneurial Mindset True commercial greatness is rarely a gift of inheritance; it is a product of high-pressure environments and the courage to pivot. Industry veterans emphasized that staying competitive in a volatile market requires more than…

Ihifix Digital Technologies has announced a bold mission to establish Africa’s most expansive business movement after successfully training over 15,000 entrepreneurs in 2025. The milestone was unveiled at the Afriscale 2025 Conference in Kaduna, where a diverse assembly of investors, tech leaders, and policymakers explored the future of the continent’s economy under the theme: “Scaling with Intelligence: How AI Is Powering Africa’s Next-Generation Businesses.” The movement aims to prove that African enterprises are already globally competitive, provided they bridge the gap between manual operations and automated systems. The Afriscale Philosophy: Optimization Over Entry-Level Unlike traditional workshops, Afriscale 2025 targeted established…

If Nigeria is to secure its position as the undisputed energy powerhouse of Africa, it must shift from a decade-long planning cycle to a 36-month execution window. This is the core message from seasoned energy expert Canice Emeka, who has outlined a strategic roadmap consisting of seven non-negotiable steps to revitalize the nation’s power sector and turn it into a multi-billion dollar export engine. The strategy focuses on eliminating “estimated billing,” professionalizing distribution, and leveraging Nigeria’s potential as a regional energy hub. The 36-Month Metering Challenge One of the most significant bottlenecks in the current system is the “metering gap,”…