Author: Gift Ifeanyi

The Federal Government has decisively signaled a shift in Nigeria’s educational paradigm with the launch of the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG). This groundbreaking national initiative, driven by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is positioned as a bold entry into venture capitalism by the public sector, aiming to fundamentally re-engineer tertiary institutions into engines of innovation and enterprise. Held in Abuja, the launch ceremony was hailed as a decisive move to transition Nigeria from an inherited, colonial education structure to a model actively driving national development and industrialization. The Dual Mandate: Capital and Capacity The S-VCG is far…

The recent Silver Jubilee Celebration and Annual Awards in Lagos was more than an anniversary for FATE Foundation—it was a powerful validation of the enduring partnership between Nigeria’s private sector and its mission to cultivate entrepreneurship. At the forefront of this sustained collaboration is SO&U, the communications giant whose support embodies a deep, personal commitment to fostering enterprise. SO&U’s relationship with FATE is a model of corporate synergy, focusing on collaborative projects and strategic communication to amplify the Foundation’s programs, document success stories, and demonstrate their significant contribution to national development. Leadership by Example: The Personal Connection The partnership is…

Nigeria’s bustling, largely informal event industry—estimated to be worth $20 billion—is undergoing a critical phase of digital disruption. Addressing the chaotic reality of planning Nigerian events, entrepreneurs Oluwapelumi Adewoyin, Faruq Musodiq-Bishi, and Dr. Mufti Jokomba have co-founded EventPark, an end-to-end platform designed to unify event management for planners and vendors. The startup’s genesis stems from the founder’s personal frustration with juggling multiple spreadsheets, messaging apps, and payment systems, a problem amplified by COVID-19 and Nigeria’s accelerated push toward digital payments. EventPark aims to bring order to an industry defined by massive celebration volumes—from elaborate naming ceremonies to large social gatherings.…

The future of African innovation, centered on climate action and sustainability, was on full display in Abuja, Nigeria, as Junior Achievement (JA) Africa successfully hosted the 15th edition of the JA Africa Company of the Year (COY) Competition. Under the urgent theme, “ACT! Action for Climate Transformation,” the continental finals showcased the brightest young entrepreneurs from across Africa who had triumphed in their respective national competitions. Nigeria’s Smartgenix was crowned the overall Company of the Year 2025, demonstrating a superior blend of innovation, strong execution, and high potential for impact. The Podium of Sustainable Solutions The top three winners underscored…

The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) is taking a bold step to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world economic impact. The Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS), in partnership with key industry stakeholders, has officially launched the FSS Entrepreneurial Challenge, a strategic competition designed to convert student innovation into tangible, scalable solutions. This initiative is a direct response to the global demand for graduates who possess not only theoretical knowledge but also the capacity for creative problem-solving and venture creation. The Mission: Nurturing the Next Generation of African Trailblazers According to FSS Dean, Professor Sunday A. Adedini, the challenge’s core…

Imo State is officially being repositioned as a critical emerging hub in Nigeria’s quest for economic diversification.2 This strategic shift was cemented at the Imo State Economic Summit 2025 in Owerri, where the Federal Government unveiled significant new financing mechanisms designed to empower local businesses, drive agro-industrial capacity, and spur the development of gas-based industries. Vice President Kashim Shettima, addressing the summit, emphasized that unlocking national prosperity hinges on every state realizing its economic potential. The announcement signaled a dedicated commitment to transforming Imo’s economic landscape through structured support and strategic private-sector alliances. Capital Injection: New Lifelines for SMEs The…

Lagos, Nigeria — Sheriff Deputies Limited, a leading private security and safety solutions provider in Nigeria, has been recognised by the Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) for its outstanding support in delivering hope, relief, and vital assistance to vulnerable individuals and communities. The recognition was conferred during Health Emergency Initiative’s 10th Anniversary celebration, a milestone event that brought together partners, stakeholders, and advocates committed to improving health outcomes and supporting underserved communities across Nigeria. According to Health Emergency Initiative, the award acknowledges Sheriff Deputies Limited’s consistent commitment to social responsibility, community safety, and humanitarian impact, particularly its support for interventions aimed…

A leading voice in Nigeria’s financial sector is intensifying the conversation around human capital investment as the definitive pathway to economic resilience. At the recent Jericho Businessmen Club’s third Annual Socio-Economic Summit, The Alternative Bank, a prominent non-interest lender, championed the urgent provision of specialized technology resources and ecosystem support for Nigeria’s young innovators. The summit, which gathered influential figures from the business, policy, and academic spheres, zeroed in on two critical challenges: forging sustainable economic models and rapidly addressing the widening digital skills gap among Nigerian youth. An Equalizer for Global Competitiveness Korede Demola-Adeniyi, Executive Director (South) of The…

Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape is a high-stakes arena—Africa’s largest economy, teeming with youthful ambition, yet defined by relentless systemic friction. The rapid rise of the Nigerian startup ecosystem is fueled by resilience, but survival demands a skillset that transcends conventional Silicon Valley playbooks. For founders operating in this vibrant, volatile market, generic entrepreneurial advice is insufficient. Success is not just about having a great idea; it’s about cultivating nine specific, non-negotiable competencies. This is the definitive founder’s manual for converting Nigeria’s formidable challenges into unprecedented opportunity. The Context: Why Nigeria Demands Specialized Skills The fundamental market realities shape the required skillset:…

The Point-of-Sale (PoS) agency banking sector has solidified its position as Nigeria’s most accessible entrepreneurial gateway, driven by soaring demand for deposits, transfers, and bill payments outside traditional bank branches. With accessibility and digital infrastructure fueling a massive 209% Year-on-Year surge in transaction volume (reaching over 8.36 million registered terminals by March 2025), the opportunity for micro-entrepreneurs is undeniable. However, in a market led by giants like OPay and Moniepoint, and increasingly regulated by the CBN, success now hinges less on effort and more on strategic execution and adherence to new compliance standards. The Five Pillars of Sustainable PoS Success…

In a powerful call to action delivered at the 37th Convocation of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele declared that the era of graduates seeking white-collar jobs is over. The imperative for Nigeria’s 8,000 fresh graduates, and the nation at large, is a radical pivot toward digital entrepreneurship and job creation. Speaking on the theme, “Entrepreneurship Development in the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology for Job Creation and Economic Growth,” the Senator emphasized that the future of the Nigerian economy hinges on citizens—especially the youth—acquiring advanced digital skills to become global economic contributors. The Three-Pronged Strategy for Digital…

Nigeria’s quest to transform its tertiary institutions into dynamic hubs of economic innovation has received a landmark boost. The Federal Ministry of Education, in partnership with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has officially launched the Student Venture Commercialization Grant (S-VCG), a strategic initiative designed to fuel entrepreneurship and accelerate the commercialization of student-led research across the nation. Announced in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the S-VCG offers student innovators up to ₦50 million in equity-free seed funding to scale their most promising ventures. The Engine of Innovation: Why the S-VCG Matters The S-VCG is structured…

Nigeria’s economy sustained its momentum into the final quarter of 2025, marking an impressive eleven consecutive months of business expansion. The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) reported a notable rise in the Current Business Performance Index, climbing to 113.3 points in November (up from 111.3 in October), signaling a robust 16.0 index point jump year-over-year. This enduring streak is overwhelmingly anchored by a massive surge in the Trade Sector, which emerged as the month’s star performer. The sector’s index skyrocketed by 71.1 points, reaching an extraordinary 186.5 points, its highest level for the year. The Drivers: Why Confidence is Soaring…

This article reports on Nigerian President Tinubu’s request for increased French security support to combat rising violence in Northern Nigeria, alongside context regarding US concerns about the In a significant diplomatic move, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has formally requested enhanced support from France to address the severe escalation of violence engulfing Northern Nigeria.2 This appeal comes at a pivotal moment, mere weeks after the United States publicly voiced strong concerns—and suggested possible retaliatory measures—regarding the Nigerian government’s efforts to safeguard its Christian population.3 The region has been plagued by a fresh wave of large-scale insecurity, characterized by recent mass kidnappings…

The narrative of rural agricultural failure, often blamed on poor yields, frequently overlooks the true systemic hurdle: financial exclusion. The success of Lydia, a cassava farmer in Ogun State, Nigeria, serves as a powerful case study demonstrating how targeted financial literacy, paired with accessible microcredit, can fundamentally transform a subsistence operation into a commercial value-added enterprise. Lydia’s trajectory from a struggling smallholder to a farmer-processor embodies the potential of holistic financial inclusion supported by initiatives like the German-funded Global Project Promotion of Agricultural Finance (GP AgFin). The Intervention: Shifting Mindset and Mitigating Risk Before receiving support, Lydia faced common obstacles:…

A major strategic realignment is underway in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, as the Frigoglass Group confirms the sale of its Nigerian Glass business to Helios Investment Partners, a premier Africa-focused private equity firm. The transaction, valued at up to €100 million, represents the final major step in Frigoglass Group’s post-restructuring strategy initiated in 2023. The agreement covers the entirety of Frigoglass’s shareholding in Frigoinvest Nigeria Holdings, the holding company encompassing: Beta Glass PLC: The core Nigerian glass container manufacturing entity. Frigoglass Industries Nigeria: Operations related to plastic crates and metal crowns manufacturing. Culmination of Transformation and Financial Rebalancing Gagik Apkarian, Founder…

In a powerful validation of the growing global influence of arts-based social entrepreneurship, Nigerian-UK leader Kunle Adewale was honored with the prestigious Social Impact Award for Community Development and Inclusion at the Global Entrepreneurship Festival (GEF) 2025 in Accra, Ghana. The Global Entrepreneurs Award, the highest accolade at the world’s largest entrepreneurship festival, recognized Adewale as a visionary whose interdisciplinary work has redefined communities and propelled global humanitarian efforts. A Global Portfolio Rooted in Empathy Adewale’s recognition stems from his pioneering work at the convergence of art, health, and social equity. He is the founder of the Arts in Medicine…

The benchmark for success in Ogun State’s commerce is no longer just local survival—it’s global competitiveness. This was the core message delivered by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, to a vast gathering of local entrepreneurs and businesswomen at the Deemakay Business Exhibition Season 7 in Abeokuta. The Commissioner challenged vendors to urgently refine their craft, demanding that local goods and services be prepared to compete favorably with international counterparts. The Platform of Resilience and Innovation Addressing the exhibitors at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Adeleye lauded the exhibition as more than just a marketplace; she…

The fight for survival among Nigerian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) demands more than mere encouragement—it requires structure and strategic intervention. This principle was the driving force behind the hugely successful 2025 Abeokuta Business Summit, where INBRID Global convened over 2,000 entrepreneurs in a high-impact capacity-building forum. The summit was explicitly designed to tackle the most persistent bottlenecks hindering MSME growth, including crippling access to capital, severe operational friction, and escalating business costs—challenges that persist despite the sector contributing over 45% to Nigeria’s GDP. The Strategic Mandate: From Struggling to Structured Godwin Adekoya, Principal Consultant at INBRID, articulated the…

In a powerful demonstration that effective empowerment requires both financial resources and moral grounding, the MajmolQueen Foundation, led by US-based philanthropist and registered nurse Hajia Majeedah Ashimi Idris, recently injected crucial support into Nigeria’s small business ecosystem. At a special gathering held at Crescent Schools, Victoria Island, Lagos, the foundation disbursed cash grants and essential equipment valued at millions of naira to over 14 young entrepreneurs, predominantly women. The impactful event was paired with a comprehensive business seminar focused on two critical success factors: accessing interest-free (non-riba) funding and adhering to ethical Islamic business practices. The Visionary: Empowerment Across Continents…