Author: Gift Ifeanyi

KANO — The strategic importance of Nigeria’s northern commercial hub is set to be a focal point of the upcoming Kano International Trade Fair, as major industrial players move to align with the region’s economic ecosystem. The event, running from November 22, is poised to become a key testing ground for linking large-scale industrial projects with local SME development. This synergy is central to the Dangote Group’s participation. The conglomerate is actively framing its sponsorship as a vehicle for national food security, highlighting Kano’s role as the anchor for its 1.5 million-tonne per annum rice milling capacity being built across…

LAGOS — A detailed analysis of Nigeria’s digital landscape reveals that the “creator economy” is undergoing a significant professional maturation, moving decisively beyond a reliance on viral fame and large-scale brand endorsements. The dominant public perception of influencers is being rendered obsolete by a much larger, more stable economic subsystem. In this model, creators are monetizing their influence through sophisticated, often overlooked, structured methods that function independently of audience size. Industry observers note that the most sustainable incomes are now being generated through a diversified portfolio of activities. This includes a “long-tail” economy where creators leverage niche-but-loyal followings to secure…

LAGOS — Nigeria’s corporate communications sector is experiencing a strategic pivot from traditional product marketing to a more complex field: the personal branding of executives. According to industry experts, this shift is driven by a market realization that in a crowded digital landscape, a leader’s personal reputation is a primary business asset. This trend is the foundational principle for the CEO of Brands and PR, a firm that evolved from managing consumer products to specializing in building the public identity of founders and C-suite leaders. “I tell clients all the time that ‘people buy you before they buy what you’re…

PRETORIA — In a major diplomatic and economic offensive, Nigeria’s administration executed a high-level trade and investment dialogue in South Africa on Friday, strategically timed just ahead of the G20 Summit. The event signaled a coordinated, top-down effort to attract South African capital, led by Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Adebayo Olawale Edun, and a special adviser to the President. Minister Edun delivered the administration’s core message to the assembled South African CEOs and investors, stating unequivocally: “Nigeria is open for business, safe for investment.” This message of macroeconomic stabilization was reinforced by concrete policy goals. Sanyade Okoli, Special Adviser to…

ABUJA — Following a recent equity acquisition by Afreximbank, tech entrepreneur D’banj’s C.R.E.A.M Platform is being leveraged to power a new, large-scale social impact initiative. The project, “Nigerian Youth Positively Driven” (NYPD), was launched at the UN@80 celebration in Abuja. It functions as a nationwide crowdsourcing campaign designed to identify and fund grassroots community projects. The initiative employs a dual-incentive structure to generate content: it offers a weekly ₦1,000,000 grant to the subject of a positive story and a ₦250,000 grant to the person who uploads the content via the NYPD portal. However, the grant system is only the first…

In a bid to nurture the next generation of finance professionals, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) have partnered with Thomas Adewumi University and Landmark University to introduce the CGMA Finance Leadership Programme in Nigeria. This innovative, digital, self-paced programme enables accounting and finance students to access comprehensive learning and assessment resources remotely. It offers a direct pathway for students to complete CIMA’s CGMA Professional Qualification, ultimately earning the prestigious CGMA designation. The curriculum is grounded in real-world case simulations, equipping students with essential finance, accounting, business, leadership, people, and digital…

TotalEnergies has strengthened its position in Nigeria’s offshore oil sector by acquiring an additional 50% interest in oil exploration block OPL 257 from long-standing Nigerian partner Conoil. This strategic move brings TotalEnergies’ holding in the block to 90%, with Conoil retaining a 10% stake. The agreement is pending regulatory approval. Located 150 kilometers off Nigeria’s coast, OPL 257 sits adjacent to PPL 261, the site of the Egina South oil discovery in 2005—a project also involving TotalEnergies and its partners. As part of the new deal, an appraisal well on OPL 257 is scheduled for 2026, underscoring the block’s ongoing…

Africa’s digital revolution has produced a handful of transformative companies, and few have shaped the continent’s fintech landscape as profoundly as Moniepoint. In less than ten years, the Nigerian firm—formerly TeamApt—has evolved from a boutique banking software provider into one of Africa’s largest and most influential financial platforms. The company’s meteoric rise has caught the attention of global investors. Its latest $90 million funding round, which included heavyweight backers like Google’s Africa Investment Fund and Visa, pushed Moniepoint’s total capital raised past $200 million. Such investor confidence underscores both the platform’s leadership and the continent’s growing clout in the world’s…

A new call to action is reverberating through Nigeria’s higher education landscape, as the National Universities Commission (NUC) and EyeCity Africa urge universities to reimagine their role—not merely as institutions that produce job seekers, but as incubators for future job creators and innovators. This message was at the forefront of a recent roundtable in Abuja, which convened key stakeholders from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the British Council, regulatory agencies, international organizations, and private sector partners. Their collective aim: to chart a bold course for entrepreneurship and innovation in Nigerian universities. Representing the NUC, Lawal Mohammed Faruk, Director of…

In a landmark financial move, Nigeria recently secured $2.35 billion from an international bond issuance, with investor orders exceeding $12 billion—setting a new record for demand in the nation’s sovereign debt history. This overwhelming response stands out against a backdrop of global investor caution toward emerging markets, highlighting a significant shift in sentiment toward Nigeria’s economic prospects. A Vote of Confidence in Economic Reforms What’s fueling this optimism? After years of volatility, Nigeria’s macroeconomic landscape is showing real signs of improvement. Recent foreign exchange reforms have stabilized the naira, while six consecutive months of declining inflation and ongoing fiscal consolidation…

In the heart of Ogun State, the town of Ogijo has become the continent’s epicenter for lead recycling, outpacing any other African location. Arriving in Ogijo, visitors are greeted by a haze the color of old parchment—a sky heavy with pollutants. Throughout the town, smoke pours not just from factory chimneys but also from corroded rooftops, evidence of a pervasive, unchecked environmental threat. Despite persistent complaints from residents about symptoms like headaches, stomach pain, and chronic fatigue—hallmarks of lead poisoning—there has never been a government-led, comprehensive screening program. High testing costs and competing public health crises, such as malaria, have…

A fresh wave of financial innovation is sweeping through the U.S. housing and fintech sectors, and at its heart is Nigerian-born entrepreneur Wemimo Abbey. As co-founder of Esusu, along with Samiir Goel, Abbey is tackling a critical flaw in the American credit system—the exclusion of rental payment histories from credit building. Esusu’s platform is rapidly becoming a game-changer for immigrants, minorities, and low-income earners striving for economic mobility. Esusu enables renters to report their on-time rent payments to all major credit bureaus, improving their credit scores and unlocking access to financial products that were previously out of reach. For property…

Digital payment adoption in Nigeria has reached unprecedented heights, with 2024 seeing electronic transactions soar to ₦1.08 quadrillion—an 80% leap from the previous year, according to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System. Point-of-sale activities surged in parallel, reflecting a dramatic shift toward digital finance and growing confidence in secure, accessible payment options. In response to this evolving landscape, Mastercard and Zenith Bank have partnered to unveil the Essential Debit Card, a scalable solution purpose-built to bridge the financial inclusion gap. Targeted at underserved individuals—especially those previously excluded from the banking sector—the card empowers users with reliable, everyday banking tools that meet…

Across boardrooms and startups alike, artificial intelligence has become an integral part of how Nigerian organisations operate, serve customers, and chart their growth. The rapid integration of AI into everyday business isn’t just about efficiency or innovation—it’s also a test of our values, trustworthiness, and responsibility to those whose lives and data are impacted by these technologies. With the introduction of the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) under the Nigeria Data Protection Act in September 2025, the rules of engagement have fundamentally changed. No longer can companies afford to treat data governance as an afterthought. To thrive in this…

From Abuja to Accra and beyond, a new entrepreneurial energy is sweeping across Africa. At the forefront of this movement, the Africa 10X Business Summit debuted in Nigeria’s capital, gathering visionaries and industry leaders determined to redefine the continent’s economic future. The summit’s convener, Theo Godson, set a bold agenda: to cultivate entrepreneurs who don’t just play on the local stage but command a presence worldwide. “Those who invest the most in customer acquisition ultimately triumph,” Godson asserted, urging founders to adopt intentional, data-driven strategies for growth. Adding to the summit’s momentum, Judith Okafor—a respected wellness coach and entrepreneur—emphasized that…

Abuja – November 18, 2025: The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to reward exceptional entrepreneurs with prizes valued at over N220 million, recognising their innovation, resilience, and contribution to national economic growth. The announcement was made during a briefing in Abuja by Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The awards form part of the eighth edition of the National MSMEs Awards, scheduled to coincide with 2025 MSMEs Week, in alignment with the 2024 United Nations World MSMEs Day, which celebrates the vital role of small businesses…

Ilorin, Kwara State – November 18, 2025: The Kwara State Government has reinforced its commitment to youth empowerment by disbursing N5.4 million to 15 student entrepreneurs from tertiary institutions across the state. The grants were awarded during the Kwara State Entrepreneurship Expo, held in Ilorin to mark the 2025 International Students’ Day. The beneficiaries were carefully selected from over 500 applicants, who submitted pitches for innovative or existing business ventures, highlighting the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of Kwara’s youth. Emerging as the top winner, Zainab Omodolapo, a University of Ilorin student and Ewa Aganyin vendor, received a N1 million grant…

Monaco – November 17, 2025: Former presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi has spotlighted Nigeria as Africa’s premier destination for investment, emphasizing the nation’s youthful workforce, abundant natural resources, and immense economic potential. He made these remarks while addressing international investors and business leaders at the 4th Africa Day event, hosted by the Club des Entrepreneurs Monégasques en Afrique (CEMA) in Monaco. During his keynote, Obi described Africa as the “continent of tomorrow”, citing its rich human and natural resources as key drivers for sustained growth. He projected that by 2050, Nigeria’s population will reach 320 million, with 200 million young…

Lagos State is witnessing a surge in diaspora-led investment in the tourism sector, underpinned by deliberate government support for private-sector initiatives. A leading example of this trend is Giwa Gardens Water Park, a multi-billion-naira facility developed by UK-based Nigerian entrepreneur Keji Giwa, which has become a symbol of investor confidence under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration. Since its inauguration in December 2023, the 12,100sqm water park in Sangotedo has attracted thousands of visitors and catalyzed commercial activity along the Lekki–Epe corridor. Now considered one of the largest water-based leisure destinations in West Africa, Giwa Gardens has generated employment opportunities, stimulated ancillary…

Kazeem Tewogbade, Group Chief Executive Officer of Bluechip Technologies Limited, has released his memoir, Unlikely, offering a candid account of his rise from humble beginnings to a leading figure in Nigeria’s technology sector. Launched last week in Lagos, the book details Tewogbade’s journey of perseverance, strategic decision-making, and faith-driven resilience, aimed at inspiring aspiring entrepreneurs across the country. Speaking on the motivation behind the memoir, Tewogbade stated, “This is not just a story to be told—it is a story to inspire action. Success often appears improbable, but with dedication and purpose, it is attainable.” He emphasized that the book reflects…