Author: Gift Ifeanyi

In a major policy shift aimed at crushing the final remnants of hyper-inflation, Nigeria is preparing to review its import tariff structure. Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, revealed on Thursday that the government is “recalibrating trade measures” to lower production costs and curb food prices. The announcement was made during the Nigeria–United States Commercial and Investment Partnership (CIP) ministerial meeting in Lagos—a high-stakes forum where officials from both nations are negotiating the future of a $13 billion trade relationship. Strategic Relief: Why Now? While Nigeria has seen a dramatic drop in food inflation—plummeting from nearly…

Nigeria’s post and courier sector has emerged as a powerhouse of the 2025 digital economy, recording a staggering ₦248.14 billion turnover in just nine months. This represents a 56.28% increase from the ₦158.73 billion earned during the same period in 2024, signaling that logistics is no longer just a support service—it is the very pulse of Nigerian trade. While the numbers are high, they reveal a fascinating story of seasonal shifts, the “e-commerce effect,” and a new era of “informal exports.” The Quarterly Rollercoaster: Festive Booms vs. Rainy Realities The sector’s performance in 2025 followed a distinct seasonal pattern, highlighting…

Kano State is moving to end the era of industrial blackouts by opening its doors to aggressive private-sector investment. In a high-level stakeholder meeting in the Dakata industrial quarters, the Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, Dr. Gaddafi Sani Shehu, unveiled a roadmap to transform Kano into an energy-secure hub for SMEs and large-scale industries. The meeting focused on a strategic partnership with Slash Power, a key player in the renewable sector, to optimize distribution and bridge the massive energy deficit currently stifling local productivity. The Industrial Rescue Plan For Kano’s small and medium enterprises, energy isn’t just a utility—it’s…

The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc has positioned itself as the strategic bridge for the nation’s “export revolution.” At a recent capacity-building forum in Lagos, the company signaled its intent to turn local SMEs into global players, aligning with the Federal Government’s ambitious goal of a $1 trillion economy. According to Group Executive Director Saheed Lasisi, the path to this milestone isn’t just through big oil or manufacturing—it is paved by the thousands of small businesses ready to export Nigerian commodities. The Logistics Backbone: More Than Just Cargo For many SMEs, the hurdle isn’t producing a great product; it’s…

Nigeria’s industrial landscape is being re-engineered at the grassroots level. The upcoming GENSPARK 2026 industrial summit has received a massive boost from WellaFitta Resources Limited, which has stepped in to sponsor the registration for 2,000 young entrepreneurs. Set to take place at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan from March 17 to 21, 2026, the summit is more than a conference—it is a strategic strike against the “Japa Syndrome” (youth migration) by providing a credible, profitable path to local manufacturing. The WellaFitta Intervention: Scaling for Self-Reliance Representing WellaFitta Resources, Pharm. (Mrs.) Jooda emphasized that the company’s sponsorship is a deliberate investment in…

Olajide Adebayo’s journey to the spotlight didn’t begin in a nightclub or a TV studio; it started in the pews of the Catholic Church. Today, the man known globally as “JideScata” has successfully bridged the gap between church leadership and international entertainment, proving that the discipline of the pulpit is a perfect foundation for the energy of the world stage. Now a professional MC, hypeman, and MBA candidate at the University of East London, JideScata is redefining what it means to be a “versatile” entertainer in 2026. The Foundation: Built by Service Before commanding crowds of thousands, JideScata was a…

Nigeria is currently home to one of the world’s largest Muslim populations—over 100 million people—yet it remains a passive consumer in a global market it is structurally built to dominate. The Halal Economy, a massive $2 trillion+ global ecosystem, is almost entirely absent from Nigeria’s business school curricula. This isn’t just a missed academic opportunity; it is a strategic blind spot that costs the nation billions in potential exports, foreign investment, and job creation. Halal: More Than Just “No Pork” The most damaging myth in Nigeria’s business landscape is that “Halal” is merely a religious dietary restriction. In reality, the…

Nigeria is currently battling two types of poverty: the visible lack of bread and the invisible poverty of meaning. While the nation’s elites and middle class have mastered the art of “performative reform,” the reality beneath the surface is a landscape of manufactured ignorance and rationed hope. In a scathing reflection on the current state of the Nigerian “personality,” observers are warning that the country’s survival depends not on political saviors, but on a fundamental psychological and ethical reset of its most influential citizens. The Architecture of Exploitation In Nigeria, poverty is often not a tragedy of scarcity, but a…

The Zaar Kingdom has erupted in celebration following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, as the Board Chairman of the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC). In an official communiqué from the Gung Zaar Council, the appointment was hailed as a “divine testament” to Dogara’s career in public service and a strategic win for Nigeria’s financial ecosystem. A Legacy Reaffirmed The letter, signed by Council Secretary Bitson M. Timothy, emphasized that Dogara’s new role is more than a political appointment—it is a national recognition of a “sterling record…

For many Nigerian students, an NGO scholarship is more than just a grant—it’s a career catalyst. As we move into the 2026 academic year, several prominent foundations have updated their portals, shifting from “paper-based applications” to rigorous, merit-driven digital systems. Whether you are a secondary school student in Kwara or a graduate aiming for an Ivy League Master’s, here is the current status of the most impactful scholarships in Nigeria. 1. Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Programme Status for 2026: OPEN (Closes March 1, 2026) Target: Young entrepreneurs (18+) with a business idea or a startup under 5 years old.…

Nigeria is no longer just a consumer of global technology—it is becoming a formidable exporter. The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has revealed that Nigerian-developed software and applications hit a historic $1 million in international sales in 2025. This milestone, announced by NOTAP Director-General Obiageli Amadiobi, signals a massive shift in the country’s economic narrative, proving that “Code from Lagos” is now a globally competitive commodity. The Global Appetite for “Naija Tech” The surge in sales reflects a growing confidence in Nigerian digital engineering. These products are no longer confined to local servers; they are being deployed…

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has officially planted its flag in Sub-Saharan Africa. In a landmark deal signed on Thursday, January 29, 2026, the European lender injected $100 million into Nigeria’s Access Bank, marking its first-ever investment in the region. This isn’t just a loan; it’s a strategic alliance designed to supercharge Nigerian imports and exports while tightening the economic bonds between Africa and the EBRD’s global network. The Engine of the Deal The $100 million facility is the cornerstone of the EBRD’s Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP). Rather than a standard credit line, this capital is engineered…

As Nigeria’s traditional banking giants pull back—bruised by record-high interest rates and a spike in loan defaults—a new titan is stepping into the gap. Moniepoint Inc. has revealed that it disbursed more than N1 trillion ($625 million approx.) in credit to small businesses in 2025, proving that in the new economy, transaction data is more valuable than land titles. The milestone highlights a widening divide: while commercial bank credit to the private sector contracted to N75.8 trillion by late 2025, fintech platforms are aggressively scaling to keep the nation’s informal economy alive. The Lending Gap: Banks vs. Fintechs Traditional lenders…

Nigeria’s economic recovery has a new frontline: the local storefront. In a bold push to reverse the loss of three million businesses since the pandemic, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has launched a multi-billion naira offensive to transform “nano” operations into industrial players. At the heart of this strategy is a staggering N200 billion federal commitment, alongside a move to formalize one million new businesses by the end of 2026. The Capital Injection: Grants Over Debts Recognizing that the smallest businesses are often the most fragile, Director-General Charles Odii revealed a tiered funding structure designed…

Nigeria’s livestock sector—a Sleeping Giant that employs 30% of the rural population—is finally getting a high-tech wake-up call. The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has officially launched a nationwide tour across all six geopolitical zones to turn livestock farming from a “survivalist trade” into a bankable, industrial powerhouse. Under the World Bank-funded Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), the initiative kicked off in Enugu this Wednesday, signaling a new era of “Resilient Agribusiness.” The Strategy: Bridging the “Trust Gap” The primary hurdle for Nigerian livestock farmers has never been a lack of animals; it’s been a lack of “financial…

The “analog” era of Nigerian small business is facing a forced retirement. This Monday, 6,000 microbusiness owners across the federation logged on for the seventh phase of the MTN Foundation’s ICT and Business Skills training, a massive virtual push to replace handwritten records with high-speed digital systems. This isn’t just a tech workshop; it is a tactical alignment with the Federal Government’s National Digital Economy agenda, aimed at formalizing the millions of “invisible” businesses that power the nation’s streets. From Hope to Systems The inaugural session, led by business strategist Babajide Jolaolu-Kehinde, delivered a blunt reality check to participants: “Hope…

Nigeria’s agricultural backbone—which fuels 40% of the national GDP and supports 60% of its people—is currently under siege. A landmark study of 480 smallholder farmers has revealed that the country’s “Big 7” staple crops are reacting to the climate crisis in drastically different, and often devastating, ways. With dry spells increasing by 28% compared to the 1990s and flooding becoming a seasonal certainty, the traditional “rain-fed” farming model is no longer a viable strategy for survival. The Vulnerability Matrix: Who Survives and Who Drowns? The research utilized a “Crop Vulnerability Scale” to rank how Nigeria’s primary food sources handle extreme…

While many see a gap in Nigeria’s educational system, Morenike Keye sees a mission. Through her non-profit, Dews and Aire Career Guidance, Keye is transforming her own history of childhood instability into a roadmap for the next generation. Founded in 2024, the organization has quickly pivoted from an informal passion project into a structured powerhouse for youth empowerment. Keye isn’t just offering a helping hand; she is building a launchpad for careers that haven’t even started yet. Turning Pain into Purpose Keye’s drive stems from a personal “why.” Growing up without a steady mentor, she recognized a silent epidemic of…

Education in Nigeria is undergoing a radical “factory reset.” At the 13th Student Product Exhibition of Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO), Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ikechukwu Ezemonye delivered a blunt ultimatum to the nation’s academic sector: transition from traditional lectures to job-creating enterprises, or risk economic irrelevance. The event, held at the David Osunde Centre for Entrepreneurship, served as a live demonstration of how ivory towers are being dismantled to build industrial hubs. Degrees as Economic Charters For Prof. Ezemonye, the era of the “employable graduate” is over. The new goal is the “employing graduate.” He argued that the classroom must evolve into…

Nigeria’s business landscape is often defined by the “hustle,” but Joseph Tegbe, Director-General of the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), argues that hustle alone won’t build an empire. Speaking at a high-level capacity-building seminar, Tegbe delivered a masterclass on how Nigerian entrepreneurs can “hack” their economic growth by adopting the disciplined, long-term tactics that fueled China’s rise to global dominance. The seminar, titled “Leveraging Chinese Partnerships to Scale Nigerian Businesses,” serves as a bridge for knowledge transfer, moving beyond simple trade toward deep-rooted industrial strategy. Innovation Through Adaptation One of the most provocative points in Tegbe’s presentation was his deconstruction of…