Author: Gift Ifeanyi

Raymond Ijeomah, a property lawyer turned real estate developer, is quickly becoming a defining voice in Nigeria’s real estate sector.1 As the founder of Fortreal Rei Limited and the Fortreal Real Estate Academy, Ijeomah has transformed a personal setback—losing his savings to a forex crash just before the COVID-19 pandemic—into a multi-continental movement for ethical real estate practice. In 2025, his leadership was formally recognized when he was named among The Guardian’s 100 Top Strategic CEOs of Nigeria’s most transformative companies. The TESS Initiative: A Holistic Vision At the heart of Ijeomah’s business philosophy is the TESS Initiative, a…

In the first week of January 2026, Mr. Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, took to social media to celebrate a “roaring start” to the Nigerian business year. Highlighting the activities of billionaires Femi Otedola and Tony O. Elumelu, Tinubu described their recent multi-billion dollar deals as masterclasses in investment discipline, timing, and the deepening of indigenous ownership in Nigeria’s strategic sectors. The Otedola “Exit Strategy”: Geregu to Banking Tinubu specifically lauded Femi Otedola for his spectacular exit from Geregu Power Plc. On December 29, 2025, Otedola completed the sale of his controlling interest in Geregu for ₦1.08…

The inaugural Kano Startup Weekend (KSW) 2025, held on December 13–14, 2025, at the Coronation Hall in Kano, marked a major milestone in Northern Nigeria’s digital journey. Organized by the Kano State Information Technology Development Agency (KASITDA), the event served as a high-impact launchpad for the state’s Digital Transformation Agenda (2025–2030). The weekend brought together over 1,000 participants—including founders, investors, and policymakers—to focus on the state’s priority HEAT sectors: Health, Education, Agriculture, and Transportation. Interswitch: Empowering Regional Innovation As a key sponsor, Interswitch played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between early-stage ideas and market-ready solutions. Patrick Okebu, Interswitch’s…

In a significant victory for international anti-corruption efforts, the British High Commission has announced the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the repatriation of $9.5 million to Nigeria. The agreement, signed in December 2025 by Mark Temple, the UK’s Attorney General for Jersey, and Nigeria’s Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, marks the latest chapter in a long-standing partnership to recover illicit wealth hidden in the UK’s Crown Dependencies. This recovery follows a landmark forfeiture order issued by the Royal Court of Jersey on January 12, 2024, which determined that the funds were the proceeds of corruption involving…

In a provocative new policy paper titled “After the Repo-Man Cometh: Nigeria’s American Romance and the Don-Row Doctrine of Asset Liquidation,” Dele Kelvin Oye, Chairman of the Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics (AERE), has issued a stark warning regarding Nigeria’s fiscal trajectory. Oye argues that Nigeria’s increasing reliance on the United States and international financial institutions (IFIs) like the IMF and World Bank puts the nation at risk of a “sovereignty crisis” similar to that of Venezuela. The “Don-Row Doctrine” and Asset Liquidation Oye introduces the concept of the Don-Row Doctrine, which he describes as a modern, more aggressive…

As Nigeria implements its most ambitious tax reform in decades, a detailed review by KPMG Nigeria has uncovered significant “errors, inconsistencies, and gaps” in the new laws. While the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA) and Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA) aim to boost the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio, KPMG warns that certain provisions could inadvertently penalize businesses and deter foreign investment. 1. The Inflation Trap: Taxing “Paper Profits” The new laws require capital gains to be calculated based on the historical cost of an asset without adjusting for inflation. The Problem: With inflation averaging above 18% over the last few years, asset…

On December 4, 2025, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) elected Engr. Leye Kupoluyi as its 44th President and Chairman of Council. In his first major policy address in January 2026, Kupoluyi signaled a strategic pivot for the 137-year-old institution: moving beyond local advocacy to championing the continental competitiveness of Nigerian businesses. As Africa transitions into a “borderless economy,” Kupoluyi argues that Nigeria—as the continent’s largest economy—must act as the “arrowhead” of African trade and industry. The 2026 Advocacy Pillar: “Evidence-Based Engagement” Kupoluyi’s tenure focuses on three key areas to strengthen Nigeria’s productive capacity: Regional Dominance: Advocacy that…

In the rapid evolution of Nigeria’s digital economy, few brands have achieved the ubiquity of Glovo. Since its 2021 launch, the Spanish delivery platform has scaled to 11 cities, supported 6,000 merchants, and generated over ₦71 billion in revenue for local partners. However, by early 2026, the brand is facing a “rupture in integrity” that threatens its very foundation. As the Hausa proverb says, “Ga fili, ga doki”—”Here is the field, and here is the horse.” For Glovo, the field is a skeptical Nigerian market, and the horse is a platform struggling to maintain its stride amidst a series of…

The Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) chapter of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has confirmed it will join the nationwide strike scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2026. This action, tagged “TICS 2.0: No Implementation, No Going Back,” follows the alleged failure of the Federal Government to fulfill the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on November 29, 2025. Despite a National Industrial Court injunction issued on Friday, January 9, restraining the association from the strike, NARD leadership has indicated that the resolve of its members remains “unshaken,” with many chapters across the 91 federal and state tertiary hospitals…

The Unity Bank Corpreneurship Challenge has officially crossed a major milestone, having disbursed over ₦270 million in grants since its launch in 2019. In its latest edition (Batch C, Stream I, December 2025), the initiative awarded grants to 30 new winners, bringing the total number of “Corpreneur” beneficiaries to 608. Implemented in partnership with the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, the challenge serves as a business incubation platform that turns “serving” graduates into job creators. The Corpreneurship Challenge: 2026 Snapshot The initiative operates on a competitive “pitch” model held at NYSC orientation camps across 10 states. Participants…

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum continued his aggressive “post-insurgency recovery” agenda by disbursing N1 billion to Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs) across five Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the Borno South Senatorial District. The disbursement, unveiled in Biu LGA, is part of a broader fiscal strategy outlined in the state’s N890.3 billion 2026 “Sustained Recovery and Growth” budget. By injecting capital directly into the hands of rural entrepreneurs, the administration aims to foster grassroots self-reliance and stabilize the local economy. The Borno South SME Package The funds were specifically allocated to business owners and vulnerable groups in the following council areas:…

In a business climate where over 20% of Nigerian SMEs fail in their first year (NBS), the struggle to move from survival to sustainability is real. The primary culprits? Digital noise, rising ad costs, and a lack of credible market visibility. Against this backdrop, Leadway—a premier Nigerian financial services provider—evolved its frontline SME initiative, Media Dash, into a physical marketplace. The inaugural Leadway Lifestyle Fair, held on December 27 and 28, 2025, transformed the L’eola Hotel in Maryland, Lagos, into a vibrant hub for emerging brands. The Evolution: Media Dash 3.0 The “Media Dash” concept began three years ago with…

Femi Otedola publicly celebrated Sir Gilbert Chagoury as his “mentor and role model.” In a heartfelt tribute shared on X (formerly Twitter), Otedola credited the 80-year-old industrialist with shaping the modern Nigerian skyline through a unique blend of “vision, discipline, and unwavering belief.” Chagoury, a Nigerian-born philanthropist of Lebanese descent, is often described as the architect of modern Lagos, responsible for projects that moved from being “bold ideas” to national landmarks. The “9th Wonder”: Eko Atlantic and Banana Island Otedola’s tribute centered on two iconic developments that redefined Nigerian urban planning: Banana Island: Otedola noted that without Chagoury’s foresight, this…

According to the OECD Africa Markets Report 2025, Nigeria’s stock market is now the third-highest in Africa by the number of listed companies. This ranking highlights the growing depth of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), which currently hosts 156 listed firms, positioning it as a key pillar of the continent’s financial architecture. The Continental Leaderboard The OECD report places Nigeria in an elite group of African exchanges that dominate the region’s equity landscape. Together with Egypt and South Africa, Nigeria represents nearly half of all listed companies on the continent. Rank Country Stock Exchange Listed Companies Approx. Market Cap 1 Egypt…

The strategic partnership between Nigeria and China has entered a high-growth phase, characterized by a 30.2% year-on-year increase in bilateral trade. According to Ms. Yan Yuqing, China’s Consul General in Lagos, trade volume between January and October 2025 exceeded $22.3 billion, a figure that already surpasses the total trade recorded in the entirety of 2024. As both nations look toward 2026—a year marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations—the focus is shifting from simple commodity exchange to deep-seated industrial and digital integration. Infrastructure as a Trade Catalyst The surge in trade volume is directly linked to the operational maturity of…

Nigeria’s private aviation sector has transformed from a rare luxury into a high-stakes business necessity. As of early 2026, the fleet of private business aircraft has surged to 157, a massive leap from just 44 in 2005. This 350% growth highlights a shift where time is the ultimate currency for the nation’s economic elite. While private jets are often seen as status symbols, for Nigeria’s top executives, they are productivity tools. A corporate leader can now visit three different cities across West Africa in a single day—a feat impossible with standard commercial schedules. The Titans of the Terminal: Major Commercial…

The narrative of a nation is often its most potent form of “soft power.” Recognizing this, Lens For Good (LFG), founded by Nosa Asemota—who serves as the Personal Photographer to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Special Assistant to the President on Visual Communications—has emerged as a pivotal force in Nigeria’s creative economy. In early January 2026, the movement reached a new milestone with the “Stories That Move Us” conference, held at the newly restored Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts (formerly the National Theatre) in Lagos. The Power of Authentic Narrative The conference served as a high-level…

Nigeria is rapidly transforming into the primary digital infrastructure hub for West Africa. According to the latest 2026 data, the market is shifting from “discussion” to “aggressive build-out,” with the total data center market size expected to reach $374 million in 2026 and surge to over $782 million by 2031. With global giants like Equinix and Digital Realty leading the charge, Lagos has become the epicenter of this expansion, driven by subsea cable landings, data sovereignty laws, and a booming startup ecosystem. The Infrastructure Surge: By the Numbers The scale of construction currently underway is unprecedented in the Nigerian real…

Nigeria is sitting on a “non-oil goldmine” that could generate $10 billion in annual revenue and create millions of jobs. According to Dr. Ojo Joseph Ajanaku, President of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), achieving this requires a radical shift from exporting raw nuts to aggressive local processing and industrial value addition. Speaking in Abuja ahead of the 4th National Cashew Day (January 22–24, 2026), Dr. Ajanaku emphasized that while Nigeria has the land and the talent, it is currently losing billions by shipping raw materials to Asia, where the bulk of the profit is captured. The Gap: Land…

Edo State is currently at a critical policy junction. After historical rankings of 34th and 37th in Nigeria’s subnational Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) surveys, the Governor Monday Okpebholo administration has launched a multi-sectoral counter-offensive. Central to this is the SHINE Agenda, a strategic roadmap designed to pivot the state from “stories to development.” The SHINE Agenda: A New Governance Blueprint The SHINE acronym represents the five pillars through which the administration aims to rebuild public trust and investor confidence: S – Security: Strengthening the Special Security Squad and enacting strict anti-cultism/kidnapping laws. H – Healthcare: Building a new 100-bed…