Author: Gift Ifeanyi

Nigeria’s national oil company says it has almost completely stamped out crude pipeline theft following years of crippling losses. According to NNPC Limited’s Chief Executive, Bayo Ojulari, the joint efforts of defence and intelligence units have restored confidence in the country’s petroleum network. Speaking at a regional security forum in Abuja, he noted that receipts from pipelines and terminals are now “close to 100%”—a dramatic turnaround from three years ago when less than a third of oil shipments survived sabotage and theft. The transformation is most evident in the Niger Delta, long the epicenter of oil-related criminal activity. Officials say…

For decades, Nigeria’s bustling markets have thrived on cash transactions, leaving millions of traders outside the formal financial system. But a new wave of outreach is quietly rewriting that story—bringing banking directly into open-air stalls, crowded aisles, and small kiosks. At Lagos Island and Tejuosho markets, financial officers from Digitvant Microfinance Bank are skipping boardrooms and skyscrapers to sit face-to-face with traders. The goal: to teach savings, provide access to small loans, and show how digital payments can secure businesses against theft and cash shortages. “Markets are the backbone of Nigeria’s economy,” said Florence Ogunyamoju, Managing Director of Digitvant. “When…

President Bola Tinubu is heading to Brazil on Monday for a two-day official visit, a move his team says could redefine Nigeria’s economic ties with Latin America’s largest economy. According to Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, the visit is not just ceremonial but designed to secure practical partnerships that can accelerate Nigeria’s growth. He described Brazil — a BRICS powerhouse with global influence in agriculture, renewable energy, and aviation — as a natural ally for Nigeria. “This is not just another stop on the diplomatic calendar,” Dare explained in Brasilia. “It represents a…

In Nigeria’s bustling lifestyle sector, where few women have broken through at scale, Mrs. Lois Andrew Ihwo — widely known as Lola Andy — is rewriting the script. Through her twin brands, Deeutensils and Deescent Global, she has fused style with substance, building companies that not only deliver luxury but also create pathways for women, widows, and communities to thrive. What sets her apart is not just business acumen, but a dual commitment: elevating standards in kitchenware and fragrance while simultaneously investing in human capital through her Dee Ihwo Foundation. Her kitchenware business, Deeutensils — launched over 15 years ago…

For modern SaaS companies, finance is no longer just a feature add-on — it’s becoming a core differentiator. Across industries, from construction management tools to salon booking platforms, software providers are embedding payments, lending, insurance, and banking into their products. The reason is clear: embedded finance transforms SaaS from a tool into an indispensable business partner. The Business Case: Revenue, Retention, and Reach Recent research underscores the upside. A study by S&P Global Market Intelligence (commissioned by Stripe) found that customers using embedded financial features experience 20–40% higher sales within six months than peers without them. Here’s why: A contractor…

Nigeria’s digital economy push has received another boost as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) formally threw its weight behind the 5th edition of the Women Entrepreneurs and Executives in Tech Summit (WEETS), a platform dedicated to strengthening women’s role in the country’s fast-evolving tech ecosystem. Slated for 2025, the summit will run under the theme: “IDEA TO IMPACT: Scaling Your Tech Journey & Building Entrepreneurship.” Organizers say this year’s focus reflects the urgent need to equip women with the tools, networks, and confidence required to transform bold ideas into enterprises that create measurable impact. Unlike previous editions, this year’s program…

In 2025, Nigeria isn’t just tightening its financial rules — it’s rewriting the playbook. A wave of aggressive anti-money laundering (AML) reforms is forcing both regulators and investors to rethink what risk and opportunity look like in Africa’s largest economy. International watchdogs have kept the country on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “grey list,” but Nigeria’s accelerated progress — praised at the June 2025 FATF Plenary — signals that the narrative is no longer one of neglect, but of transition. The stakes are high: for global investors, every shift in Nigeria’s regulatory machinery alters the calculus of cost, compliance,…

From September 9 to 12, 2025, Lagos will become the epicenter of Africa’s property dialogue as it hosts the 24th Annual Conference of the African Real Estate Society (AFRES). The four-day gathering is expected to bring together policymakers, investors, academics, and industry leaders under the theme “Shaping the Future of African Real Estate Markets: Exploring Opportunities.” AFRES President Adekunle Awolaja described Africa as “the only continent that is still green,” stressing the untapped opportunities in land, resources, and innovation. He explained that the Lagos meeting will provide a platform to explore how technology, policy, and capital can be harnessed to…

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and renowned Pan-African scholar, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, will headline the 2025 Leadership Conference organized by the GOTNI Leadership Centre. The two-day event, scheduled for September 5–6, will gather influential leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers under the theme “Transforming Minds, Inspiring Results.” Obasanjo, speaking beyond the sphere of politics, will focus on entrepreneurship and business leadership, while Lumumba will challenge participants on the importance of mindset transformation and leadership from an individual perspective. Announcing the conference at a press briefing, GOTNI’s founder and chief executive, Dr. Linus Okorie, emphasized that Nigeria’s path to progress requires leaders who…

After a bruising 2024 marked by currency shocks, high interest rates, and shrinking margins, some of Nigeria’s biggest companies are staging a powerful rebound—one that is now rewriting the country’s tax story. Data from listed firms show that manufacturers, cement giants, telecom operators, and energy producers have swung back into profitability, driving tax payments to unprecedented levels. In just the first half of 2025, over ₦1 trillion in corporate taxes has already been recorded—surpassing the entire tax haul from all of 2024. Energy powerhouse Seplat led the pack with ₦411 billion in tax remittances, followed by Dangote Cement (₦209 billion)…

Nigeria’s economy continues to bleed from one of its least-discussed but most devastating problems — the cost of moving goods. According to DP World, one of the world’s leading logistics giants, moving products within Nigeria is so inefficient that in extreme cases, transport costs alone swallow up as much as 75% of the product’s value. Chief Executive Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem Akoojee (DP World Africa & Europe) did not mince words while speaking at the unveiling of the firm’s partnership with PepsiCo. He described Nigeria’s logistics sector as “among the costliest in the world,” citing poor ports, crumbling roads, and…

At the Emerge 2025 Conference in Lagos, the message to Nigerian youths was loud and urgent: learn Artificial Intelligence, but don’t forget Emotional Intelligence. Technology alone, experts argued, will not keep tomorrow’s workers relevant. The future belongs to those who can combine the hard edge of machines with the soft skills of human connection. Dr. Abiola Salami, convener of the annual event and founder of The Peak Performance Africa, warned that automation could wipe out nearly 30% of jobs by 2030. In his words, “a task that takes five hours today can be done by AI in under one hour…

Nigeria often feels like a nation suspended between promise and paralysis. With one of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing populations, its potential should be unmatched. Yet, year after year, global observers ask the same question: why does Africa’s largest economy continue to underperform? The numbers reinforce the concern. Nigeria’s GDP expanded by 3.4 percent in 2024 – respectable at face value, but modest compared to Rwanda’s 8.9 percent and Kenya’s 4.5 percent. The World Bank projects a similar pattern for 2025, with Nigeria trailing its continental peers at 3.7 percent growth, far below Rwanda’s 6.5 percent and Kenya’s 4.7 percent.…

Rivers State has been urged to drastically reduce its dependence on monthly federal allocations by prioritizing internally generated revenue (IGR) and strengthening local economic structures. Sole Administrator of the state, Ibok Ete Ibas, gave the charge in Port Harcourt at the weekend while inaugurating newly constituted boards of key state agencies. He emphasized that the state’s financial sustainability depends on urgent reforms, innovation, and accountability. Driving Revenue Independence Ibas tasked the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service Board (RIRSB) with accelerating IGR efforts through system automation, plugging revenue leakages, and improving transparency in tax administration. “The work you are about to…

What most farmers in Nigeria consider waste, Tare Robinson Korumene sees as gold. Where rotting plantain and banana stems once littered farmlands, she has uncovered the raw material for a sustainable beauty revolution. As the visionary founder of Eco-Fip Nig Ltd. and Dunaly Fibre Hair Extensions, Robinson has pioneered a process that transforms discarded plantain pseudostems into premium hair extensions, fashion accessories, furniture, and even footwear. Her model doesn’t just recycle waste — it reimagines it as the foundation of a greener, more inclusive economy. The science behind her innovation is as practical as it is elegant. Farmers traditionally abandon…

Nigeria’s creative sector has entered a new chapter with the launch of Phase 2 of the Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF) — a government-backed programme designed to supercharge innovation, unlock financing, and scale businesses across the arts and cultural industries. Unlike its pilot phase, which drew thousands of early-stage applications, this new rollout is bolder in ambition and wider in scope. Entrepreneurs, startups, and established ventures in fields ranging from film and gaming to fashion, publishing, culinary arts, and cultural tourism can now tap into loans of up to $100,000 to drive expansion. The redesigned application portal (www.cedf.gov.ng) reflects the…

Nigeria opened 2025 with renewed momentum in foreign capital inflows, recording $5.64 billion in the first quarter alone, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. This marked a stronger showing than 2024, a year defined by mixed signals: while overall capital importation grew, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) itself fell sharply, even hitting historic lows at one point. This backdrop set the stage for the maiden Atlantic-Savannah International Conference & Convention (ASICC) in Port Harcourt, where economists, investors, academics, and business leaders gathered to debate one crucial question: How can Nigeria truly attract sustainable FDI? The Call for a New FDI…

From Enugu to the World Africa Charts Bold Ethereum Path at ETH ’25In 2025, Enugu, Nigeria, became the unlikely stage for a groundbreaking experiment — a living city, a builder residency, and Nigeria’s first Ethereum conference all rolled into one. ETH Enugu ’25 wasn’t just an event; it was a declaration that Africa is ready to shape the next chapter of the Ethereum movement. A Builder’s Playground in Enugu For two weeks, Enugu transformed into a “builder-first” ecosystem powered by nonstop electricity, open co-working hubs, and daily workshops. Out of 300+ global applicants, 50 fellows from across Africa, Europe, Asia,…

Two homegrown agricultural pioneers — Wiifarm Cooperative Society and The Factory Company — have joined forces to reimagine farming in Nigeria. Their mission: to turn farmland into wealth-generating hubs and empower everyday Nigerians to become part-owners of the country’s agricultural future. The partnership was unveiled in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, with the launch of Nigeria’s first rice distribution hub and the rollout of an ambitious fractional farmland ownership scheme spanning 10,000 hectares. The initiative aims to recruit over one million members nationwide, offering them direct access to farmland, profit-sharing, and long-term wealth opportunities. A People-Powered Agricultural Revolution At the launch,…

Nigeria’s largest integrated palm oil producer, Presco Plc, has won shareholder approval to raise as much as ₦250 billion ($162.8 million) through a Rights Issue, positioning the company for its next phase of growth. The resolution, passed at the firm’s Annual General Meeting on August 19, 2025, authorizes the board to issue new shares, pursue acquisitions, and expand operations across West Africa. The fundraising plan — which is still subject to regulatory clearance — is expected to support Presco’s ambitious growth program, including direct investments and potential acquisitions. Shareholders also granted management the flexibility to leverage debt financing, or a…