Author: Gift Ifeanyi

LAGOS — As Nigeria intensifies its quest for food sovereignty, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc (FMN) has officially opened applications for the fifth season of its prestigious FMN Prize for Innovation. This year, the spotlight falls squarely on Cassava, a crop that serves as a dietary anchor for millions but remains hampered by traditional processing bottlenecks and high post-harvest losses. The 2026 edition is designed to unearth scalable, “made-in-Nigeria” engineering and agricultural solutions that can transform cassava from a subsistence staple into a high-efficiency industrial powerhouse. A Two-Tiered Search for Talent The competition is strategically split into two categories to…

LAGOS — In a vibrant fusion of grassroots commerce and celebrity advocacy, ASHA Microfinance Bank took its 2026 International Women’s Day celebrations directly to the heart of the “informal economy”: the Mushin Market. The event, held on Monday, signaled a shift in the bank’s strategy toward high-touch, community-based financial services for Nigeria’s millions of market traders. A defining moment of the celebration was the official unveiling of veteran actress and producer Jaiye Kuti as the bank’s new Brand Ambassador. The appointment is a calculated move to bridge the gap between formal banking and the local entrepreneurs who power Nigeria’s retail…

LAGOS — As rising electricity tariffs and grid instability continue to squeeze the margins of Lagosian households and small businesses, Baobab Microfinance Bank Nigeria has stepped forward with a specialized intervention. On Monday, the bank officially launched the Green Finance Project, an initiative designed to move solar energy from a “luxury experiment” to a “financially viable reality” for the mass market. The project addresses a critical bottleneck in Nigeria’s renewable energy transition: the lack of qualified, honest advisory services that bridge the gap between technical solar specifications and the actual pocketbooks of SMEs. Training the “Green Consultants” of Tomorrow Unlike…

LAGOS — For decades, China has used “Chinatowns” as more than just cultural enclaves; they are sophisticated, permanent trade outposts that anchor Chinese products in global markets. Now, trade expert Mr. John Isemede is proposing that Nigeria adopts a similar “Nigeria Market” framework to formalize its “soft power” and flip the script on non-oil exports. The concept moves beyond temporary trade fairs to create permanent commercial hubs in major global cities, leveraging the massive Nigerian diaspora to turn “Asoebi economics” and jollof rice into a standardized, multi-billion dollar export industry. The Strategy: Formalizing “Relationship Marketing” Currently, much of Nigeria’s international…

ABUJA — In a move set to end nearly two decades of regulatory gridlock, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a strategic fiscal incentive package to greenlight the Bonga Southwest Aparo (BSWA) project. The decision is expected to trigger a massive $20 billion infusion of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Nigeria’s offshore energy sector. The approval, announced Tuesday by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, clears the final hurdles for a Final Investment Decision (FID) on the deepwater asset, which has remained stalled since the mid-2000s. Breaking the 20-Year “Logjam” Operated by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo)…

ABUJA — In a unique blending of spiritual growth and economic pragmatism, the Al-Habbiyyah Islamic Society has launched its “For Women by Women” Ramadan Tafsir series. Held at the society’s headquarters in Abuja, the program is moving beyond traditional religious lectures to provide a roadmap for female-led small business development. Dr. Rakiya Momo Abaji, Coordinator of the Just Foundation, emphasized during the weekly Saturday session that the holy month offers a prime opportunity to build both character and “capital,” enabling women to become stronger pillars within their families and the broader Nigerian economy. The “Ripple Effect” of Empowerment The initiative…

WARRI — In an extraordinary display of private-sector philanthropy, the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), High Chief (Engr.) Kestin Ebimobowei Pondi, has significantly scaled up his national youth empowerment scheme. During the second edition of the Kestin Pondi Business Grant Award, what was initially planned as a N5 million windfall for 50 entrepreneurs was dramatically increased on the spot. Beneficiaries will now receive N10 million each, with the number of recipients expanded to 80 people drawn from all 36 states of the federation. A Surge in Collective Philanthropy The event, held to mark Engr. Pondi’s birthday,…

LAGOS — The landscape of African industrial finance is poised for a seismic shift as shareholders of DEAP Capital Management & Trust Plc gather this Thursday. The landmark Annual General Meeting (AGM) is set to ratify the firm’s evolution from a traditional investment banking group into the continent’s first major private-sector institution dedicated to mineral finance. Backed by a wave of high-net-worth investors from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Europe, the emergent entity aims to bridge the massive funding gap in Africa’s critical minerals and rare earth industries. Unlocking a $2 Billion Pipeline The primary objective of the newly restructured…

ABUJA — The era of the “Lion” on Nigerian roads is poised for a significant comeback. Marc Fonbaustier, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, has revealed that France’s automotive titans are moving beyond simple importation to establish deep-rooted assembly partnerships aimed at reclaiming their historical dominance in the Nigerian market. This strategic re-entry focuses on two massive joint ventures that leverage local industrial expertise to bypass the high costs associated with fully built imports. 1. Dangote Peugeot (DPAN): The Kaduna Revival The most ambitious of these projects is Dangote Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited (DPAN), a partnership between Aliko Dangote’s industrial empire…

LAGOS — In the mid-1990s, while his contemporaries were looking toward Europe and America for “greener pastures,” a young industrial chemist named Chika Ikenga was looking at the scalps of Nigerian women. What he saw was a silent epidemic: chemical burns, hair breakage, and a deep-seated belief that locally made products were inherently inferior. Today, nearly thirty years later, his brand Natures Gentle Touch stands as a testament to the power of “Homegrown Excellence,” having transformed from a experimental lab project into a continental beauty powerhouse. From Formula to Philosophy A 1986 graduate of the University of Nigeria, Ikenga’s journey…

LAGOS — Nigeria has officially cemented its status as the heartbeat of Africa’s tech revolution. Despite fierce competition from the “Big Four” (Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa), Nigeria continues to produce more billion-dollar startups than any other nation on the continent. With powerhouses like Flutterwave, OPay, Interswitch, Moniepoint, and Andela, the country is no longer just a participant in the global digital economy—it is a pacesetter. As of early 2026, this leadership is being driven by a rare alignment of massive market scale, a maturing regulatory landscape, and a resilient entrepreneurial spirit that thrives even in complex macroeconomic conditions. The…

TORONTO — Nigeria is shifting its mining strategy from isolated domestic growth to becoming the “anchor” for a continent-wide mineral corridor. Speaking at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Conference in Toronto, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, declared that the future of African mining lies in cross-border infrastructure and local value addition. Represented by the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Obadiah Nkom, the Minister addressed global powerhouses—including representatives from France, Saudi Arabia, and Australia—emphasizing that Nigeria is no longer interested in being a mere exporter of raw dirt. From Frameworks to Functionality Alake issued…

LAGOS — Nigeria’s leading industrialists have once again asserted their dominance as Forbes released its 2026 Africa Billionaires list. The report highlights a staggering recovery and expansion of wealth across the continent, with Nigeria’s “Big Four” leading the charge amidst a 21% surge in collective billionaire wealth. The 2026 ranking features 23 African billionaires with a combined net worth of $126.7 billion, up from $106.4 billion in 2025. This growth was fueled by record corporate profits, rebounding equity markets, and the strategic expansion of industrial empires. The Nigerian “Big Four”: Breaking Down the Numbers 1. Aliko Dangote: Africa’s Indomitable Number…

LAGOS — As Nigeria’s property market enters a more volatile and competitive phase, Veritasi Homes Plc has issued a clarion call for real estate professionals to abandon traditional methods in favor of digital-first, data-driven strategies. The firm’s recent advocacy follows the successful conclusion of the 5th Veritasi Realtors Conference (VRC), held in collaboration with the Lagos Business School (LBS) from February 25 to 27, 2026. The three-day intensive summit served as a high-level incubator for realtors, investors, and property marketers aiming to master the “New Economy” of real estate. Beyond Bricks and Mortar: Investing in Human Capital The 2026 curriculum…

LAGOS — For centuries, the world’s most enduring brands—from the 180-year-old French house of Hermès to India’s global giant Tata Group—have shared a singular secret to longevity: they stopped acting like “families” and started acting like “institutions.” As Nigeria prepares for the Third International Family Business Conference (IFBC 2026) on March 26, research from the Lagos Business School (LBS) paints a sobering picture. Fewer than 30% of family businesses survive into the second generation, and a mere 10% make it to the third. The culprit is rarely just the economy; more often, it is a “governance gap” that leads to…

ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held a high-level strategic meeting on Monday with the Minister of State for Finance-designate, Taiwo Oyedele, at the State House. The audience signals a transition from policy design to aggressive implementation as the administration moves to modernize Nigeria’s “leaky” revenue framework and eliminate the long-standing burden of multiple taxation. Oyedele, the former Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform, is widely regarded as the primary architect of the administration’s plan to simplify the tax code and boost non-oil revenue. From Proposals to Power: The Oyedele Mandate As he prepares to…

LAGOS — From the sprawling open-air markets of Kano to the frantic roadside stalls of Lagos, a small blue-and-white device has become the most powerful tool in the hands of the Nigerian trader. Moniepoint Inc., founded in 2015 by Tosin Eniolorunda and Felix Ike, has transitioned from a backend software startup into the primary financial nervous system for Nigeria’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). As of 2026, the company stands as a definitive “Unicorn,” proving that in Africa’s largest economy, the real “Big Tech” opportunity lies not in luxury apps, but in the grit of everyday commerce. Solving the “Credit…

ABUJA — The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is set for a significant expansion in 2026, with the Federal Government officially approving an additional 50,000 slots for the upcoming service year. Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, the NYSC Director-General, announced the development during the unveiling of a modernized clinic at the scheme’s National Directorate Headquarters. The event also served as a reflection on his first year at the helm of the organization. Strategic Growth and Budgetary Support To accommodate the rising number of graduates across the country, the NYSC has integrated these new slots into its 2026 fiscal planning. General Nafiu…

ABUJA — In a stirring tribute to mark International Women’s Day, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has lauded the “indomitable spirit” of Nigerian women, describing them as the foundational strength holding the fabric of the nation together. In a personal message released Sunday, the President celebrated the diverse contributions of women across all sectors—from the rural farmsteads and bustling markets to high-level corporate boardrooms and the halls of political power. Architects of National Progress President Tinubu highlighted that Nigeria’s historical and democratic milestones bear the “indelible imprint” of women who challenged the status quo. He noted that the country’s trajectory is…

ABUJA — In a major push to overhaul Nigeria’s struggling energy sector, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially inaugurated an 11-member committee to oversee the establishment of the Grid Asset Management Company Limited (GAMCO). The new entity is designed to be a “quick-fix” solution to the country’s chronic transmission failures and the problem of “stranded power”—electricity that is generated but cannot reach consumers due to a weak national grid. A Revolutionary Step in Power Reform Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, who inaugurated the committee on the President’s behalf, characterized GAMCO as a transformative initiative aimed at optimizing the country’s entire…