Author: Gift Ifeanyi

Abuja, Nigeria – Senior government officials and business leaders from the United States and Nigeria have formally inaugurated the working group meetings of the United States–Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership (CIP), marking a new chapter in economic collaboration between the two countries. The launch event, held in Abuja, follows the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in July 2024 by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Nigeria’s former Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment. The CIP is designed to strengthen commercial engagement and unlock mutual opportunities in key economic sectors. Leading the inaugural session were Ambassador Richard…

The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) has been honoured with the prestigious “Aviation Ground Handling Company of the Year” award by Transport Day Media, a recognition of its exceptional performance and transformative impact on Nigeria’s aviation industry in 2024. Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Transport Day Media, Mr. Frank Kintum, noted that the award underscores NAHCO’s resilience, operational excellence, and strong brand presence within the sector. In his remarks, Dr. Sola Obabori, NAHCO’s Group Executive Director for Corporate Services, expressed gratitude for the accolade, attributing it to the relentless efforts of the company’s workforce and their unwavering commitment to sustainable…

The Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) has called on the federal government to establish permanent, revolving intervention funds to support long-term access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide. Speaking during a panel session at the 2025 MSME Forum in Abuja, NASME President Abdulrashid Yerima emphasized that short-term or one-off financial interventions are insufficient to address the structural funding constraints MSMEs face, especially in Nigeria’s challenging economic climate. Yerima acknowledged that past government support, particularly through institutions such as the Bank of Industry (BOI), has made a positive impact. However, he stressed the need…

Ambassador Emeka Nwaogu, Managing Director of Cool Financial Services Limited, has marked his 40th birthday amid tributes from colleagues and team members who praised his pivotal role in shaping a lending institution that champions accessible credit for Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Established in the aftermath of the 2020 economic crisis, Cool Financial Services emerged from Nwaogu’s desire to bridge a pressing market gap — the struggle faced by Nigerian entrepreneurs in securing timely and affordable credit without the restrictive collateral demands of traditional lenders. Reflecting on the company’s evolution, the management highlighted the formidable challenges the institution faced,…

Finance expert and entrepreneur Tunde Magbadelo has sounded the alarm over what he describes as a fragmented and burdensome regulatory landscape in Nigeria, cautioning that the lack of synergy among government agencies is accelerating the exodus of small businesses into the informal economy. Magbadelo, who manages cross-border finance operations between Nigeria and the United States through his firm, MyAnchor Consulting, emphasized on Monday that Nigeria’s current compliance architecture is impeding enterprise growth in Africa’s largest economy. “A single microbusiness in Nigeria may be required to engage with the Federal Inland Revenue Service, state tax authorities, the Corporate Affairs Commission, NAFDAC,…

In a strategic effort to advance economic inclusion, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), in partnership with Sightsavers Nigeria, has concluded a transformative two-day SME Clinic tailored for entrepreneurs living with disabilities. The workshop, held at Exclusive Serene Hotel in Abuja, brought together participants representing various disability groups nationwide. The initiative marked a milestone in promoting accessible entrepreneurship, skill development, and sustainable livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria. Focused on equipping attendees with critical business tools, entrepreneurial insights, and institutional linkages, the SME Clinic aimed to enhance the capacity of PWD-led enterprises to thrive in…

As part of its broader mission to create economic opportunities and alleviate poverty, Mouka has reaffirmed its dedication to nurturing a vibrant ecosystem of prosperous business partners across Nigeria. This commitment was most recently demonstrated through the company’s World of Comfort 2025 Business Partner Reward Trip, a premium incentive program that celebrated outstanding trade partners with an exclusive all-expenses-paid trip to Cape Town, South Africa. The initiative forms a key pillar of Mouka’s strategy to foster long-term success for its trade network, which it views not just as distributors, but as valued stakeholders in the company’s ongoing journey. A total…

In a strategic move to deepen its footprint across West Africa, Rwandan agribusiness company Entreprise Urwibutso, led by founder and Managing Director Sina Gérard, has officially granted full distribution rights of its flagship product, Akabanga Chili Oil, to a Nigerian-based firm. This follows the firm’s complete acquisition of Akabanga 4U Limited, the previous local distributor. Speaking at a formal handover event in Lagos, Gérard expressed enthusiasm about Nigeria’s vibrant culinary culture, which he described as a natural fit for Akabanga’s bold, spicy flavour profile. “Nigeria represents one of Africa’s most dynamic consumer markets, celebrated for its rich and flavourful cuisine,”…

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has rolled out a new Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) aimed at supporting micro and nano businesses across Nigeria. This federal government-backed initiative offers financial assistance of N50,000 per qualified business owner. What the Grant Is About The CGS is designed specifically for nano businesses operating at the Local Government Area (LGA) level. The grant is not a loan and is intended to help these small enterprises create jobs, acquire basic equipment, and improve overall business sustainability. Key Objectives Promote grassroots employment: Beneficiaries are expected to use the grant to hire…

MTN Nigeria, through its 2025 Yellow Care initiative, is calling on Nigerians to adopt digital technology as a vital tool for both personal growth and community transformation. Themed “Connecting at the Roots – Connecting Communities Through the Use of Digital Tools,” this year’s edition focuses on delivering practical digital resources to underserved communities across the country. A People-Led Initiative Unlike MTN Foundation’s corporate social responsibility programmes, Yellow Care is a staff-led, volunteer-driven initiative, now in its 18th year. MTN employees fund the initiative themselves—offering their time, skills, and money to directly uplift individuals in local communities. “This campaign is about…

The Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) has announced the first-ever edition of its Sustainability ESG Conference, scheduled to take place on June 26, 2025, at The Art Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event marks a major milestone in Nigeria and Africa’s collective journey toward integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into the heart of institutional, national, and regional development strategies. With the theme “Building a Prosperous Future: Unlocking Growth Opportunities Through Sustainability and ESG Innovation,” the conference is designed to ignite high-level discussions, foster strategic collaboration across sectors, and redefine ESG from a corporate checkbox to a transformative tool…

The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) is set to host the 19th edition of its Annual Business Law Conference from July 2 to 4, 2024, at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos. Themed “The Future of Business Law in an Intelligence Age,” the conference aims to redefine the future of legal practice in the context of rapid technological transformation. Announcing the event at a press briefing in Lagos, Ozofu Latunde Ogiemudia, Chairman of the NBA-SBL, emphasized the need for the legal industry to adapt swiftly to the evolving intersection of law, business, and intelligent systems such as AI…

Lagos, Nigeria – The Chief Executive Officer of Digital Equity Africa, Mrs. Justina Nnam Oha, has reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to expanding its infrastructure and nurturing Nigeria’s future trailblazers in Artificial Intelligence. Following the overwhelming success of the first-ever Kids Tech Fest, a global AI Summit for Children held at Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, Nnam Oha described the experience as a “historic moment in Africa’s tech story.” The event drew a crowd of over 5,000 attendees, including children, parents, educators, and tech enthusiasts—underscoring a growing appetite for digital empowerment in Africa. “The vision for us is clear: to raise the…

Despite the hurdles of entering unfamiliar markets and navigating complex systems, Nigerian entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom are thriving—leveraging the country’s supportive business environment to establish and scale their ventures across various industries. In interviews with PUNCH Online, several Nigerian business owners shared their journeys of perseverance and growth, revealing how passion, preparation, and community support have helped them transition from local startups to global brands. Ayomide Babadele: Redefining African Luxury in the Global Market Ayomide Babadele, a fashion and interior designer now based in Birmingham, relocated to the UK in 2023 for her master’s degree in Project Management at…

Lagos-based HR and payroll technology firm, PaidHR, has raised $1.8 million in seed funding to accelerate its growth and enhance its footprint across Africa’s enterprise and SME landscape. The round was led by Accion Venture Lab, with renewed support from existing investors Zrosk, Chui Ventures, and Zedcrest Capital. Founded in 2020, PaidHR is currently operational in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, and serves more than 250 businesses across diverse sectors including logistics, retail, and financial services. The new capital will be used to fuel product development, expand the company’s team, and drive deeper penetration into Africa’s fragmented payroll and compliance…

In a bold step beyond last-mile logistics, Nigerian delivery startup Chowdeck has acquired Mira, a restaurant point-of-sale (POS) and management platform, marking a strategic shift towards becoming an end-to-end technology partner for food businesses. While the terms of the deal remain undisclosed, Chowdeck CEO Femi Aluko confirmed the acquisition is intended to address persistent inventory management challenges and improve vendor-side operations. “For a long time, we’ve focused more on the customer side than on the restaurant, supermarket, and pharmacy side,” said Aluko in an interview with Techpoint Africa. “But as we begin to expand, we’re paying deeper attention to the…

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a strong warning to the Nigerian public, urging extreme caution against investing in several unregistered and unregulated entities posing as legitimate financial service providers. In a series of public advisories, the SEC identified six firms operating without proper registration and engaging in illegal capital market activities. The commission emphasized that these firms are not licensed to operate in Nigeria, and any involvement with them is done entirely at the investor’s own risk. Spotting the Red Flags The commission noted that fraudulent investment schemes often lure unsuspecting Nigerians by offering unrealistic returns, leveraging…

Nigeria’s industrial landscape is poised for a significant leap as Yikodeen Company Limited prepares to commission its newly expanded, ultra-modern manufacturing facility in Lagos on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. The high-profile event will be chaired by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and attended by key figures across government, traditional leadership, and the private sector. The facility — now the largest safety footwear manufacturing plant in West Africa — spans 120,000 square feet and has the capacity to produce 5,000 pairs of safety boots daily, a dramatic increase from its modest beginnings in 2016 with just 20 pairs per day. A…

Richies Attai, Nigerian entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Winich Farms, has been named first runner-up in the Access to Finance and Markets category of the prestigious 2025 AYuTe NextGen competition — a youth-focused agricultural technology initiative by Heifer International. Attai’s recognition came at the close of a dynamic three-day conference in Kampala, Uganda, where agritech innovators, investors, and development leaders gathered to spotlight scalable solutions transforming Africa’s agricultural sector. His company, Winich Farms, delivers end-to-end digital infrastructure that connects farmers directly with processing factories, while also integrating access to credit and insurance solutions. The platform has proven effective in addressing systemic…

In a country where wellness and entrepreneurship are fast becoming national conversations, Adebimpe Osanyintuyi is quietly reshaping the narrative — not with noise, but with impact. Armed with a marketing degree from Bond University, South Africa, and years of experience managing trusted health brands like Horlicks and Panadol at Nutricima PZ and GSK, Adebimpe made a decisive pivot into the health food sector. Her mission? To bridge the gap between nutrition and accessibility with empathy, purpose, and long-term vision. Today, she is the founder and force behind Dios Dlite Healthy Treats, a company that has spent more than a decade…