Author: Gift Ifeanyi

Two years have passed—730 sunrises over savannahs, deltas, and dense megacities—since the last election swept in new promises of rebirth and reform. We now stand at democracy’s midpoint between ballots, and while whispers of 2027 already echo in Abuja’s halls, the true test of leadership lies not in campaign slogans, but in the day-to-day lives of commuters, farmers, traders, and students who’ve endured each of these 730 days. Before the drums of the next election start beating, we must ask: Has life tangibly improved for Nigerians since 2023? Is the economy more stable? Are our homes safer from terror and…

In a bold move to transform Nigeria’s digital financial landscape, global payment technology provider BPC has expanded its footprint in the country—naming veteran banking executive Dapo Adeosun as Managing Director to lead its ambitious growth agenda. The expansion marks a strategic investment in Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy, where demand for secure, scalable, and inclusive financial solutions has never been greater. “We’re not just building payment systems; we’re building the future of finance in Nigeria,” said Adeosun, who brings over 30 years of leadership experience from top-tier institutions including First Bank, Access Bank, UBA, and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).…

Niger State Governor-elect, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has expressed his firm commitment to leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to drive economic growth and strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the state. Bago made this promise during the launch of Labspace, a new innovation and tech hub in Minna aimed at promoting digital entrepreneurship. Highlighting the strategic role of ICT in economic transformation, he emphasized that his administration will prioritize the sector as a tool for youth empowerment, job creation, and business scalability. “Private enterprise, with strategic government support, is the engine of economic progress,” Bago stated. “We are committed…

MTN Nigeria has launched the 2025 edition of its flagship employee volunteer program, “21 Days of Y’ello Care,” with a renewed mission to bridge the digital divide across underserved communities in Nigeria. Running from June 1 to June 21, this year’s campaign is themed “Connecting at the Roots – Connecting Communities through Digital Tools.” The focus is on empowering individuals at the grassroots level with essential digital skills and tools to participate more effectively in the modern economy. The initiative kicked off on Sunday, June 1, with staff-led training sessions across several Lagos communities. MTN employees volunteered their time to…

Nigeria’s economy—home to over 200 million people and valued at over ₦78 trillion—is often influenced by government policies and infrastructure. But some of the most transformative developments in recent years haven’t come from policy—they’ve come from individuals and private enterprises working independently of the state. Despite inconsistent public investment, a growing portion of Nigeria’s GDP is now being fueled by sectors built by determined entrepreneurs, tech innovators, creatives, and small business owners. These industries, often informal or under-regulated, have shown remarkable growth through resilience, digital adoption, and youth-led innovation. While the country’s oil sector and traditional industries remain influential, their…

In a major step toward global creative inclusion, Woof Studios Africa is set to lead a landmark session at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity this June. The session, titled “Cracking the Code with Africa’s Creators,” will take place on June 17 at the Creators Rooftop within the iconic Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes. It marks a historic milestone—the first time a delegation led entirely by African creators will address the Lions Creators Forum. This development reflects the increasing recognition of Africa’s influence in the global creative and digital economy. With a rapidly growing youth…

Amidat Adigun, founder of Lo’meedarfresh, is showing the world that Nigerian-born businesses can compete globally—with authenticity, innovation, and community at their core. Her journey from personal passion to international recognition has become a model for other local entrepreneurs looking to break into the wellness space. Building a Brand from the Ground Up Lo’meedarfresh was born out of a lifelong exposure to healthy eating. What began as a deeply personal lifestyle has grown into a thriving enterprise that promotes nutritious living through fresh, natural beverages. Launching in Nigeria, however, came with its fair share of trials—unpredictable power supply, high operational costs,…

Nigeria’s Business Performance Index (BPI) continued its upward trajectory for the fifth month in a row in 2025, reflecting steady—though slightly moderated—growth in the private sector. The BPI for May 2025 reached +9.78, indicating a mildly positive level of economic activity. This figure, though lower than April’s +12.29, still marks improvement from the +6.58 recorded in March, signaling overall resilience in the business environment. These insights come from the latest Business Confidence Monitor, jointly published by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and Stanbic IBTC. The May edition, titled “Enduring Infrastructure and Financial Conundrum Constraint Business Growth,” identifies both progress…

Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is undergoing a transformative phase, with homegrown energy companies taking the lead in revitalizing production and infrastructure. As international oil majors divest from onshore and shallow water assets, local operators are stepping in with ambitious investments aimed at unlocking the country’s vast untapped reserves. A notable milestone in this shift is the launch of the Otakikpo onshore crude terminal, Nigeria’s first fully developed and operated by a local company. Built by Green Energy Limited and situated in the OML 11 block near Port Harcourt, the facility has a daily export capacity of 360,000 barrels. Its…

Nigeria is seeking $25 billion in investments to develop a major offshore gas pipeline that will supply natural gas to Europe through Morocco, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima. The announcement was made during a meeting with energy trading firm Vitol Group at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The proposed Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline will stretch along the West African coast, serving as a key element in the country’s long-term economic and energy agenda. Vice President Shettima emphasized that the project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s broader reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies, exchange rate unification, and a revamp of…

Moniepoint Inc., a leading Nigerian fintech firm, is preparing to break into Kenya’s financial market after receiving regulatory approval to acquire a controlling interest in Sumac Microfinance Bank. The Competition Authority of Kenya has given the green light for Moniepoint to purchase a 78% stake in the Nairobi-based bank. This marks a strategic move by the Nigerian company to deepen its footprint in East Africa’s financial sector after a previously failed acquisition attempt. According to regulatory documents, the transaction is not expected to cause any disruptions in the workforce or harm public interests. Current employees of Sumac will remain on…

Shell has commenced crude oil exports from Nigeria’s newly commissioned Otakikpo onshore terminal, a major step for the country’s petroleum industry. This marks the first shipment from the $400 million facility, which was developed by Green Energy International—a company managing marginal oil fields. Situated within the OML 11 region, southeast of Port Harcourt, the terminal boasts a daily export capacity of 360,000 barrels. Crude oil is transported through a 20-inch pipeline stretching 23 kilometers to a single-point mooring system located offshore in the Atlantic. With a draught depth of 21 meters, the facility can accommodate large vessels such as Aframax…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to supercharge the global economy by a staggering $15.7 trillion by 2030. For Nigeria, this isn’t just a statistic — it’s a call to action to harness AI’s transformative power and unlock unprecedented growth. This insight comes from the groundbreaking whitepaper “AI in Nigeria: Opportunities, Challenges and Strategic Pathways,” unveiled last week in Lagos. The report, a collaboration between Lagos Business School (LBS), Microsoft, and PwC, lays out a compelling vision for how AI can fuel Nigeria’s economic evolution by boosting productivity, driving innovation, and revolutionizing critical sectors like healthcare, education, and finance. Launched during…

In a remarkable display of intellect, leadership, and global excellence, Nigerian scholar Enuma Ezeife has led her University of Connecticut (UConn) team to first place at the APICS Northeast Student Case Competition, one of the most competitive business challenges in the United States. The prestigious event, held in Albany, New York, drew top-tier students from renowned institutions such as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rutgers University, and the University of Massachusetts, all vying to solve a complex, simulation-based business scenario that tested their mastery of strategy, operations, finance, and marketing. Ezeife—alongside her teammates Cheng “Ted” Jin, Alexandra Buchanan, and Avinash Chugani—emerged as…

Excitement is mounting ahead of the 2025 Annual Business Summit hosted by the Capital Market Solicitors Association (CMSA), set for Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the Lagos Oriental Hotel. Under the theme “Investment and Securities Act 2025: Innovations and Opportunities in the Nigerian Capital Market,” this year’s summit is perfectly timed, arriving just months after the passage of the groundbreaking Investment and Securities Act 2025 (ISA). The new legislation repeals the 2007 Act and introduces transformative reforms designed to reposition Nigeria’s capital market for sustainable, long-term growth. A Landmark Moment for Nigeria’s Capital Market CMSA Chairman, Mr. Odiaka Vincent Iweze,…

Nigeria is set to host the 4th African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) from July 14 to 17, 2025, in Abuja. The summit aims to accelerate sustainable growth across Africa by fostering smart, cross-sector collaboration in natural resources and energy investment. This announcement was made in a statement by Mr. Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, on Monday in Abuja. Africa’s Premier Platform for Sustainable Economic Development AFNIS is recognized as Africa’s leading platform for leveraging the continent’s rich natural and energy resources to drive inclusive and sustainable economic…

The MVNO Nigeria 2025 Conference convened telecom policymakers, mobile operators, digital infrastructure leaders, and investors in Lagos for a landmark dialogue on Nigeria’s connectivity future. Held under the theme “Unlocking Growth, Competition and Connectivity,” the event marked a significant step toward establishing a thriving Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) ecosystem in Africa’s largest telecom market. MVNOs: Catalysts for National Inclusion and Economic Growth Opening the conference, Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), highlighted MVNOs as pivotal drivers of digital inclusion, economic resilience, and service diversification. “MVNOs should be seen not as threats but…

At the annual Committee of Chief Information Security Officers of Nigerian Financial Institutions (CCISONFI) conference held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, cybersecurity leaders and stakeholders called for intensified collaboration to combat the rising tide of cybercrime. Under the theme “Cyber Resilience in a Disruptive World,” CCISONFI Chairman Mr. Festus Amede opened the conference by emphasizing the urgent need for a serious, holistic approach to cybersecurity—from system design to boardroom decisions. “The conference presents an opportunity for all stakeholders to rethink how we secure our systems, train our personnel, update policies and processes, and foster stronger partnerships with financial and security…

Leaders and changemakers from over 110 countries have convened in Hamburg, Germany, for the highly anticipated second edition of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC)—a major global platform aimed at fast-tracking the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This year’s conference, which brings together approximately 1,600 participants across 60 high-level sessions, seeks to foster international cooperation and drive practical solutions to some of the world’s most critical challenges—from climate change and economic inequality to sustainable financing and infrastructure. Organized by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in collaboration with the United Nations Development…

In a groundbreaking move to shift the narrative of African diaspora involvement from remittances to investment, the African Diaspora Network (ADN) and Myriad USA have unveiled the African Diaspora Innovation Fund (AfDIF)—a new initiative designed to empower entrepreneurs across Africa with grants of up to $25,000 each. The fund was officially launched at the 10th African Diaspora Investment Symposium (ADIS25), held at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and is set to raise $1 million within six months through a blend of diaspora contributions and institutional support. Starting with minimum contributions of $500, AfDIF seeks to democratize philanthropy within the…