Author: Gift Ifeanyi

Corporate Nigeria is facing a reality check. In 2023, Nigerian Breweries Plc reported a ₦106 billion net loss, while MTN Nigeria declared a ₦400.44 billion after-tax loss in 2024. Both giants cited naira devaluation and forex-related costs as major drivers of the downturn. Beyond financial headlines, one area deeply affected is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). In previous years, CSR in Nigeria was visible through big-budget sponsorships—Project Fame, Gulder Ultimate Search, Maltina DanceAll, and Nigerian Idol defined an era of entertainment-driven corporate philanthropy. Today, many of these shows are gone, reflecting shrinking budgets and shifting priorities. The banking sector exemplifies the…

As Nigeria races deeper into the digital era, a once small gathering of finance correspondents has transformed into a national platform shaping the country’s economic direction. This year marks the 35th edition of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) Conference, and the weight behind it is unmistakable. Set for September 20, 2025, at Orchid Hotels, Lekki, the conference will explore the theme:“Bracing for the Digital Economy in Nigeria: Taxation, Banking and Finance.” Heavyweights Lend Their Voice The list of backers reads like a who’s who of Nigeria’s financial ecosystem. From regulators like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and…

Nigeria’s learning and development community is preparing for one of its biggest gatherings yet, as the Learning and Development Network International (LDNI) unveils plans for its flagship Champions of Talent Development (CTD) 2025 Conference. The three-day event, scheduled for September 16–18 in Lagos, will run under the theme:“Future Fit Talent: Learning, Leading and Thriving.” Organizers say this year’s edition will convene business leaders, HR experts, policymakers, and innovators from across Africa to explore how the continent can harness technology, leadership agility, and workforce resilience to thrive in an era of rapid change. Star-Studded Line-Up At the center of the conversations…

In a world where technology is rewriting the rules of business and society, the Institute of Change Management (ICM) is stepping forward with its maiden annual conference — a platform designed to prepare Africa’s leaders for the turbulence and opportunities of tomorrow. Themed “Navigating to the Future: Synchronising People, Processes and Technology for the Next Era of Change,” the two-day gathering will hold on September 25–26, 2025, at NECA Hall, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. The Bigger Picture From artificial intelligence and digital finance to shifting workplace cultures, organizations across Africa are under immense pressure to adapt. Yet, many still lack the…

The Nigerian Bar Association’s 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) in Enugu will be remembered for two things: the spectacle of celebrity “new wigs” making headlines, and the searing reminder from Oby Ezekwesili that the survival of Nigeria’s democracy may depend on how the legal profession responds to its duty. Sadly, most public commentary gravitated toward the first. The buzz about Deji Adeyanju, Dino Melaye, and Osita Chidoka’s seating positions and ceremonial prominence made for viral chatter but trivialized the moment. The real story—the one Ezekwesili forced into the open—was not about robes or rituals. It was about whether Nigerian lawyers…

In Nigeria today, social media has become more than just a place to scroll memes or chat with friends—it has become a digital marketplace where ordinary hustles can explode into thriving businesses. Two young women, starting from modest beginnings, show just how powerful the right post, video, or platform can be in rewriting financial stories. Waist Beads and Instagram: Anita’s Breakthrough Fresh out of NYSC and broke, Anita was living with her aunt in Ikeja. She had one skill—stringing waist beads from cheap glass materials she bought for just a few thousand naira. At a trade fair, she sold about…

Nigerian entrepreneurs are being urged to rethink how they build businesses, with petroleum engineer and consultant Usunobun Ernest placing mentorship and strategic planning at the center of long-term success. Ernest, founder of CitiTap Nig Ltd, has carved out a reputation not just as a business strategist in energy and real estate but also as a guide for emerging entrepreneurs. With over a decade of professional experience and projects spanning both the public and private sectors, he now channels much of his expertise into coaching the next generation. “Too many people chase profit without building the structures to sustain it,” Ernest…

Jigawa State is carving a path to become one of Nigeria’s foremost digital hubs, as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) joined forces with the state’s Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy to chart the next stage of its transformation. At the NITDA-Sub National Engagement and IT Ecosystem Development Programme, held in Dutse, leaders and stakeholders rallied around the theme “Creating Opportunities, Breaking Boundaries Towards Digitalisation and Entrepreneurial Evolution.” The discussions moved beyond policy into action, positioning Jigawa as a testing ground for how states can lead Nigeria’s digital revolution. Digital literacy and inclusion emerged as the foundation of…

Zamfara State is taking an ambitious step toward private-sector–driven growth as Governor Dauda Lawal flagged off the disbursement of over ₦1.1 billion in grants under the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme. The five-year initiative, backed by the World Bank, is designed to dismantle structural barriers, stimulate enterprise, and create sustainable jobs across Zamfara’s economy. With funding support ranging from $20 million to $52 million between 2022 and 2026, SABER represents one of the most significant economic reform efforts in the state’s history. At the inauguration held at the JB Yakubu Secretariat in Gusau, Lawal underscored the programme’s…

With a career that stretches across banking, academia, governance, and consultancy, few public figures in Kwara politics can boast the kind of blended experience that [Candidate’s Name] brings to the table. For him, however, the journey isn’t about slowing down — it’s about stepping up. Having worked nearly 10 years in the private sector with GTBank and other financial institutions in the 1990s, he transitioned into academia and governance, leaving his mark on the establishment of Kwara State University (KWASU) in 2009. As founding Director of its Centre for Entrepreneurship and later Dean of the School of Business and Governance,…

Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system is under fresh pressure as resident doctors across public hospitals launched a five-day strike, highlighting once again the unresolved cracks in the nation’s medical sector. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), representing about 15,000 physicians, said the action follows the government’s failure to release the 2025 medical residency training fund and settle outstanding salary arrears. Attempts at negotiation have repeatedly stalled, leaving doctors frustrated and patients stranded. Resident doctors are the backbone of Nigeria’s public hospitals, running emergency rooms and critical wards where urgent care cannot wait. Their absence exposes the system’s overdependence on a…

Nigeria has introduced tougher financial rules for oil companies operating in its upstream sector, with regulators confirming that $4.42 billion worth of decommissioning and abandonment plans have been approved since April 2023. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) revealed that 94 plans tied to Field Development Projects have cleared regulatory review. Under the system, operators are required to set aside funds throughout the production life of their fields in escrow accounts, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021. NUPRC chief executive Gbenga Komolafe explained that the framework is designed to prevent future environmental and financial burdens…

For many Nigerians, retirement is supposed to signal a time of rest and enjoyment. Yet, the country’s stubbornly high inflation is making that dream harder to achieve, leaving retirees and workers-in-waiting with a sobering reality: pension savings alone are no longer enough. Inflation eats into retirement savings Even with the protection of the Pension Reform Act (2014), many workers discover that their Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) fail to provide adequate income. A retiree with N20 million saved by age 65 may receive between N150,000 and N180,000 monthly — barely N5,000 to N6,000 a day. The bigger challenge is that most…

Nigeria has unveiled a bold industrial roadmap aimed at more than doubling the sector’s share of national output over the next decade, projecting a rise from the current 10% contribution to 25% of GDP by 2035. The plan was highlighted at the Gastech Exhibition and Conference in Milan, where Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan, described the framework as a defining milestone of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. From resource-driven to production-driven economy Owan told participants that the policy signals Nigeria’s transition away from a resource-dependent economy toward a competitive, innovation-led industrial hub. “This is the first time in…

Nigeria’s energy wealth has long powered exports, but policymakers and experts are warning that the country’s greatest opportunity lies in using those resources to fuel small businesses, jobs, and local industries. At the heart of this shift is the Electricity Act 2023, which hands states authority to regulate their own electricity markets. Analysts say this reform could finally enable solutions tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—the backbone of the economy—many of which still spend more on diesel than on business expansion. “Think of a food processor losing half its produce to spoilage or a market cluster…

Nigeria’s renewable energy ambitions received a major push this week as the United Capital Infrastructure Fund (UCIF) approved a ₦5 billion ($3.3 million) revolving debt package for Husk Power Systems, the global leader in privately operated solar minigrids. The facility, which runs for ten years, gives Husk the flexibility to build, expand, and reinvest in solar projects across the country. Initial investments will target standalone minigrid sites, followed by interconnected systems and dedicated installations for commercial and industrial users. UCIF has set a wider target of enabling at least 100 megawatts of new clean energy capacity by 2030. “Financing is…

In Nigeria’s fast-evolving digital economy, social media is no longer just a tool for sharing photos or entertainment — it is fast emerging as one of the most powerful engines of business growth. Recent data from Statista (2024) shows that digital advertising spend in Nigeria reached $169 million, with social media platforms commanding over 40 percent of that total. For small business owners and student entrepreneurs, the message is clear: the future of commerce is online. Take Aisha, a university student who turned a small passion project into a thriving business by promoting her products on Instagram. Her story mirrors…

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has called on entrepreneurs and human resource professionals to prioritise collaboration as a survival strategy in the country’s challenging business climate. At the institute’s Corporate Membership Forum held on Wednesday, CIPM President, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, said the high mortality rate of small businesses in Nigeria—many of which collapse within their first five years—stems largely from a culture of isolation rather than partnership. “Nigeria has the people, the talent, and the resources to build successful enterprises,” Gobir stated. “But sustainability without collaboration is like cooking jollof rice without pepper—it will be…

Nigeria’s currency extended its winning streak on Wednesday, closing at ₦1,500.91/$ at the official foreign exchange market—its strongest performance in more than six months. The development marks the second day in a row the naira has traded under the symbolic ₦1,500 per dollar threshold. Figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) show the naira traded between ₦1,498/$ and ₦1,507/$ during the day, underscoring its renewed momentum. Only weeks earlier, the local unit had opened September at ₦1,526.09/$, before firming to ₦1,506/$ by Monday and holding steady on Tuesday. The last time the naira touched the ₦1,500/$ level was on…

Across Africa, small businesses remain the backbone of economic transformation, yet thousands of aspiring founders struggle to turn their ideas into reality. Limited funding, inadequate support systems, and the burden of running multiple business functions often stall dreams before they can flourish. For Gambian entrepreneur and international business consultant David Jeng, these challenges are not reasons for despair—they are a call to action. Over the past decade, Jeng has emerged as one of the continent’s most influential entrepreneurship advocates, guiding more than 10,000 entrepreneurs in over 20 countries, from Nigeria and Rwanda to Ethiopia, Kenya, and beyond. Building Bridges for…