Author: Gift Ifeanyi

Nigeria’s private sector stakeholders are calling for a national rethink on how the country protects those who drive its economy — investors, entrepreneurs, and employers. At the forefront of this call, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, emphasized that Nigeria urgently needs a comprehensive framework to safeguard investor rights and business interests. Despite being the backbone of job creation, innovation, and tax revenue generation, Yusuf noted, investors and employers remain exposed to significant risks with minimal legal protection. He lamented the imbalance in Nigeria’s labour and investment environment, explaining that…

A new player has emerged in Nigeria’s logistics industry as MS FastTrack officially launched its operations, pledging to deliver technology-powered, customer-focused services designed to transform the logistics experience for individuals and businesses alike. During the company’s unveiling in Lagos, Muoh Sylvia Onyedikachukwu, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MS FastTrack, emphasized that the firm was founded to redefine logistics standards and offer clients reliability, innovation, and satisfaction. According to Sylvia, MS FastTrack’s vision is anchored on becoming Nigeria’s leading provider of sustainable and technology-driven supply chain solutions. She added that the company’s mission is to connect businesses and customers…

As 2025 nears its end, Nigeria’s digital marketplace isn’t just busy—it’s transforming. The convergence of Independence Day celebrations, holiday spending, and new consumer habits has created an inflection point for online retail. Behind the year’s $9.35 billion e-commerce boom lies a story of reinvention—one driven by technology, connectivity, and shifting consumer psychology. From Clicks to Chats: The Rise of Social Commerce Nigerians aren’t just scrolling—they’re shopping. Social platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp have evolved into full-fledged digital storefronts, collapsing the traditional gap between marketing and purchase.With 37 million Nigerians spending roughly four hours daily on these platforms, brands are integrating…

While the world races toward a clean-energy future powered by lithium batteries, Nigeria—home to one of the largest lithium deposits in Africa—finds itself watching from the sidelines as foreign companies dominate extraction and profits. Lithium, often called the oil of the new economy, fuels the global electric vehicle and renewable energy revolution. Yet, despite Nigeria’s massive reserves—valued at over $34 billion—the nation remains a raw material supplier, with local investors largely absent from the booming industry now valued globally at $92 billion annually. Foreign Firms Take the Lead Across Nigeria’s lithium-rich states—Nasarawa, Kaduna, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, and Ekiti—Chinese corporations have…

In Africa’s startup story, Iyin Aboyeji has always stood apart — not just for the companies he built, but for the philosophy that shaped them. To him, success is less about the size of your funding round and more about the courage to believe in what isn’t yet visible. Long before “tech ecosystem” became a buzzword, Aboyeji was already exploring how belief — in people, purpose, and possibility — could power sustainable growth. His work with Andela turned unemployment into export. Flutterwave transformed fragmented payment systems into opportunity. Now, through Future Africa, he’s betting on founders who see constraint not…

Nigeria’s long-standing struggle with unreliable electricity is entering a decisive new phase, as financing begins to flow for projects under the World Bank–supported Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme. Designed to deliver clean, decentralized energy to millions, DARES marks one of Africa’s boldest attempts to close the continent’s power gap through renewable innovation. Under the scheme, 17.5 million Nigerians are expected to gain access to reliable electricity through 1,500 solar mini-grids and 1.5 million solar home systems. The approach prioritizes sustainability and inclusivity—linking public ambition with private expertise to drive measurable progress in energy access. Capital Flows Begin:…

MTN Nigeria has announced an extension of its widely embraced Mega Billion Promo until October 21, 2025, creating additional opportunities for customers to participate and win valuable rewards. For small business owners, particularly those in the fashion and creative industries, the extension represents more than just a chance to win—it offers the potential to invest in growth. Proceeds from the promo can be channeled into expanding boutiques, launching new collections, or acquiring digital tools to strengthen competitiveness in today’s dynamic market. Speaking on the initiative, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, highlighted the company’s ongoing commitment to empowering its…

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has positioned Nigerian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) at the heart of continental trade integration through their active participation in the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) held in Algiers, Algeria. More than a showcase, the initiative served as a gateway for Nigerian businesses to access new markets, build cross-border partnerships, and enhance competitiveness across Africa’s emerging value chains. It also reinforced Nigeria’s role in advancing the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by creating new opportunities for diversification, job creation, and regional…

Nigeria has taken a decisive step toward global digital trade leadership as its Tax Identification Number (Tax-ID) has been officially registered under the ISO/IEC 6523 International Coding System, earning international recognition for individuals and businesses engaged in cross-border transactions. This milestone, achieved through the joint effort of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), establishes FIRS as the nation’s Peppol Authority—a move that integrates Nigeria into the Pan-European Public Procurement Online (Peppol) network, already adopted across Europe, Asia, and Australia. With Peppol now operational in Nigeria, businesses gain access to a secure and standardised…

For many, Nigeria’s economic and infrastructural challenges are reasons to look elsewhere. But for Ugbede Attah, entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of DEATTAH Group, they are the very reasons to stay, invest, and build. Armed with a Master’s degree in Political Psychology from Bournemouth University in the UK, Attah returned to Nigeria determined to create businesses that meet real needs. Today, he oversees a thriving portfolio that includes Berlin Hotels and Lounge, Circles Restaurant and Fast Food, and Rubytag Properties Limited. “My studies helped me appreciate the complexity of human interactions. In business, understanding your customer is as important as…

Nigeria’s economy rests on the shoulders of small businesses, and global delivery platform Glovo is betting big on their future. On Tuesday, the company launched the Glovo Academy in Abuja, an initiative designed to build skills, strengthen partnerships, and help micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) scale sustainably. At the unveiling, Kolawole Adeniyi, Head of Commercial at Glovo Nigeria, said the academy reflects the company’s long-term vision of investing in Africa’s grassroots economy rather than extracting quick gains. Since expanding into Africa in 2018, Glovo has invested over €206 million across six countries, with Nigeria already becoming one of its…

The Joseph Ogungbemi Foundation (JOF) has opened applications for its 2025 Business Grant Initiative, designed to empower Nigerian entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources to grow and create meaningful community impact. With grants of up to ₦1,000,000, the initiative supports innovative startups and growth-oriented enterprises, helping them scale operations and strengthen sustainability. Application Deadline: Not specified (Winners will be announced on December 5, 2025 at Alone With God 4.0). Who Can Apply? Nigerian entrepreneurs or small business owners. Owners of startups or existing businesses with strong growth potential. Applicants committed to using the funds strictly for business purposes.…

Africa’s gaming sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by mobile technology, digital payment systems, and a young population eager to engage in online entertainment and betting. For investors and entrepreneurs, the continent offers diverse opportunities — but each market has its own strengths, regulatory frameworks, and unique drivers of success. South Africa: Scale and Stability South Africa leads with one of the most structured gaming environments on the continent. With over 118 million smartphone connections — nearly twice its population — the digital betting space is thriving. More than half of South Africans participate in sports betting, and although licensing…

Nigeria is stepping onto the world stage with a bold statement: the nation is no longer just a consumer of technology but a creator of solutions with global impact. This message will resonate in London on October 9, where 105 groundbreaking Nigerian innovations will be unveiled before investors, policymakers, and development leaders. The initiative, spearheaded by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) in collaboration with UKALD London, represents a defining moment in Nigeria’s innovation diplomacy. Selected from more than 3,000 entries nationwide, the innovations span HealthTech, AgriTech, FinTech, Clean Energy, Artificial Intelligence, and precision farming, reflecting the country’s ambition…

Nigeria’s fashion and creative industry is gaining fresh momentum as The Community Collective, in partnership with MTN Nigeria and the British Council, unveiled new strategies to help entrepreneurs build resilient businesses and scale globally. The announcement came at the third edition of the Venture Stack programme in Lagos, themed “Designing Desirability: Unlocking Value Chain and Market Assets for Fashion and Beauty Products and Brands.” The gathering brought together designers, business leaders, and creatives to explore how innovation, consumer insights, and collaboration can transform Nigeria’s fashion economy. Industry icons shared their perspectives on overcoming challenges. Celebrated designer Mai Atafo emphasized a…

PalmPay Nigeria has taken a bold step toward fueling grassroots entrepreneurship with the launch of its Hustle Grant campaign, a funding initiative designed to transform everyday hustles into sustainable businesses. Running from August 28 to September 29, the campaign reflects PalmPay’s mission of going beyond digital transactions to provide meaningful financial support for Nigeria’s entrepreneurs. In the first phase, four winners emerged from thousands of entries nationwide. Each received ₦500,000 to scale their ventures — including a community builder from Kebbi State, two emerging fashion designers from Lagos and Jos, and a farmer whose innovation is driving food security. These…

Nigeria’s creative economy is undergoing a quiet revolution, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerging as the defining tool for a new wave of entrepreneurs. Recent Google Search data shows a sharp rise in interest from young Nigerians seeking to combine creativity with technology to build sustainable careers. Over the past year, searches for “how to learn AI” surged by more than 160%, while queries such as “how to make money with AI” increased by 40%. At the same time, career-focused searches like “how to start creating content” and “how to start freelancing with no experience” dominated online trends. Together, these signals…

For years, Nigeria’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) — from local food stalls to family-owned salons — have struggled under the weight of unreliable and expensive internet services. These challenges disrupt everything from mobile payments to online marketing, stifling the very sector that contributes nearly half of the nation’s GDP. Airtel Nigeria is now positioning its latest innovation, the SmartConnect 5G router, as a solution. Launched this month at a starting cost of ₦25,000, the package includes a router, SIM card, and 30 days of unlimited data. Monthly subscriptions begin at ₦25,000 for speeds up to 50 Mbps and ₦45,000…

Nigeria’s pension sector is entering a period of major restructuring, with Verod Capital’s divestment from Tangerine APT Pensions signaling how regulatory reforms are already reshaping the industry. The Lagos-based private equity firm on Wednesday announced it is selling its stake in Tangerine APT Pensions to APT Securities and Funds Limited, a Nigerian financial services company. While financial terms remain undisclosed, the move is one of the first significant transactions since the National Pension Commission (PenCom) introduced its recapitalization directive. Under the new rules, all Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) managing under ₦500 billion in assets must increase their minimum share capital…

Nigeria’s energy sector is witnessing renewed momentum as both international and indigenous operators signal progress on projects that could boost domestic gas supply and unlock the country’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) potential. At the African Energy Week 2025 in Cape Town, Seplat Energy CEO Roger Brown confirmed the company is close to finalizing commercial terms on a new gas development. He pointed to the Yoho field, a stranded asset, as a prime candidate to feed LNG opportunities and strengthen Nigeria’s role as a regional gas hub. “We’re very clear on our gas strategy,” Brown said. “With three existing plants, Seplat…