Author: Gift Ifeanyi

Business leadership and creative innovation will converge in Lagos next week as Emiralty Africa stages the 2026 edition of its flagship Scar 2 Shine Conference. The event is scheduled for May 14 at Radisson Blu Ikeja and is expected to attract entrepreneurs, professionals, creatives, and industry stakeholders for discussions centered on resilience, reinvention, and long-term growth. Organised by Emiralty Africa’s Chief Executive Officer, Idris Olakunle Bello, the conference is designed to create practical conversations around turning professional setbacks into opportunities for strategic advancement. This year’s keynote address will be delivered by Kazeem Olayemi Odeyeyiwa, one of Nigeria’s leading business executives…

Access Bank could be forced to restructure part of its international investment portfolio as it works to meet a regulatory exposure cap introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), according to recent disclosures referenced by Bloomberg. The new regulatory framework reportedly requires Nigerian banks to keep total investments in foreign subsidiaries within 10 percent of shareholders’ funds, giving lenders a 12-month period to align with the rule. Based on Access Holdings’ 2025 audited financial results, the bank’s offshore subsidiary investments were valued at approximately ₦446.6 billion, while Access Bank Nigeria’s shareholders’ equity stood at around ₦2.315 trillion. This places…

Africa’s richest businessman, Aliko Dangote, has renewed calls for deeper regional integration, warning that Africa’s economic ambitions will remain limited unless governments dismantle the bureaucratic barriers restricting the movement of people, goods, and services across the continent. Speaking during a high-level discussion with Makhtar Diop, Dangote said the inability of African entrepreneurs to move freely across borders continues to undermine the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area. According to him, despite decades of conversations around integration and economic cooperation, practical progress remains slow due to excessive visa restrictions and trade bottlenecks. Dangote disclosed that he currently requires visas…

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has launched a fresh application cycle for its SheVentures initiative, introducing interest-free funding support designed to strengthen women-led businesses and improve access to affordable working capital across Nigeria. The financing package offers eligible entrepreneurs access to loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦10 million, depending on business size and category. Under the programme, businesses applying through the standard funding category can access between ₦500,000 and ₦5 million, while enterprises operating in specialised sectors may qualify for financing between ₦5 million and ₦10 million. Loan approvals are determined based on business performance, with applicants eligible for up…

Stanbic IBTC Bank has reinforced its dedication to supporting trade expansion and economic development across West Africa after playing a major role as the lead sponsor of the 2026 edition of the Global Trade Review (GTR) West Africa conference. The two-day gathering, hosted at the Eko Convention Centre, brought together regulators, financial institutions, fintech companies, logistics operators, and corporate executives to discuss the future of trade and finance within the region. More than 400 participants representing over 200 organisations attended the event, highlighting the increasing importance of collaboration in sectors such as banking, agribusiness, digital finance, and supply chain management.…

FirstBank has been ranked as the most powerful brand in Nigeria in the 2026 edition of the Nigeria 25 report released by Brand Finance, a global consultancy specialising in brand valuation and strategy. The financial institution secured the prestigious AAA+ rating, the highest grade awarded in the assessment, highlighting its strong market reputation, customer confidence, and leadership within Nigeria’s banking industry. According to the report, the bank recorded a Brand Strength Index score of 92.2%, reflecting improvements in customer perception, operational performance, and long-term brand value. The annual ranking by Brand Finance measures organisations across multiple sectors using indicators such…

Credit Direct has unveiled Money Talks, a new financial education initiative designed to help Nigerian entrepreneurs improve cash flow management and strengthen the survival rate of small and medium-sized businesses. The programme, led by experienced business operators and industry experts, aims to tackle one of the biggest challenges affecting SMEs in Nigeria — poor financial planning and liquidity management. During the first edition of the session, Olagoke Balogun stressed that inadequate cash flow remains a major reason many businesses collapse, regardless of their size or market potential. Drawing from his entrepreneurial experience, Balogun explained that many business owners misunderstand the…

Members of the Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association are set to gather in Ile-Ife for their 2026 annual reunion, where conversations will centre on national development, entrepreneurship, and untapped opportunities within Nigeria. The three-day programme, scheduled between May 8 and May 10 at Oduduwa Hall, is expected to attract alumni, business leaders, academics, policymakers, and professionals from different sectors. A major highlight of the event will be the keynote lecture to be delivered by Lanre Issa-Onilu. His presentation, titled “The Potentials Within Nigeria,” will examine the country’s resources, opportunities, and pathways for growth. According to the organisers, the reunion…

Questions are being raised about the onboarding systems used by food delivery platforms in Nigeria after an investigation revealed how easily businesses can allegedly be impersonated online. The issue gained attention in December 2025 when food brand Corporate Ewa publicly accused fake vendors of cloning its identity on Glovo despite the company never officially registering on the platform. According to the business owner, unauthorised stores used photos and branding materials taken directly from the company’s social media accounts to appear legitimate. Following the complaint, reporters from Techpoint Africa conducted an independent test to examine the vendor approval process on major…

Aliko Dangote has revealed that the Dangote Group is preparing to enter the power sector with plans to generate up to 20,000 megawatts of electricity, marking one of the company’s most ambitious infrastructure moves yet. Dangote disclosed the plan during a discussion with Makhtar Diop, where he outlined the group’s broader industrial expansion strategy across Africa. Nigeria currently produces only about 4,000 to 4,500 megawatts of electricity despite having significantly higher installed capacity, leaving millions of households and businesses struggling with unreliable power supply. Dangote’s proposed investment could dramatically reshape the country’s energy landscape if implemented successfully. Beyond electricity generation,…

LUYUAN Group, a Hong Kong-listed electric two-wheeler manufacturer, has launched a new West Africa Market Development Center in Nigeria as part of its broader push into the African mobility market. The announcement was made during the company’s 2026 Overseas Partners Conference held in Shanghai, where LUYUAN unveiled plans to strengthen its international operations through localized partnerships and infrastructure development. The Nigerian facility will be managed by Jinhua Rainsun International Trade Co., Ltd. and is expected to serve as the company’s operational base for West Africa. The centre will support LUYUAN’s strategy of combining Chinese research and manufacturing capabilities with local…

Nigeria’s growing digital gaming industry is set to take centre stage with the announcement of the Enugu Gaming Conference 2026, a major industry gathering focused on technology, regulation, and investment opportunities within the country’s evolving iGaming ecosystem. Scheduled to hold in Enugu State, the conference will operate under the theme: “Code, Capital and Compliance: Unlocking Nigeria’s iGaming Tech Opportunity.”  Nigeria’s Gaming Sector Enters a New Growth Phase The event comes as Nigeria’s gaming industry experiences rapid transformation driven by: Digital innovation Decentralised regulation Increased investor activity Expansion of fintech-powered gaming systems The conference is expected to bring together: Gaming regulators…

Business leaders and governance experts have raised concerns over the long-term sustainability of family-owned businesses in Nigeria, warning that weak governance structures and poor succession planning continue to threaten their survival across generations. The concerns were raised during a conference hosted by the Lagos Business School Family Business Initiative in Lagos, themed “Beyond Survival: Governance and Culture as the Foundation of Lasting Family Legacy.”  Family Businesses Remain Critical to Economic Growth Participants at the conference noted that family-owned enterprises remain central to both global and Nigerian economies, contributing significantly to: Employment creation Wealth generation Economic stability Globally, family businesses account…

Rotary International District 9111 has unveiled plans for a large-scale conference in Abeokuta, bringing together business leaders, community builders, development partners, and humanitarian advocates from across Nigeria and abroad. The four-day event, tagged Royal Conference 2026, will hold from May 7 to May 10 and is expected to position Abeokuta as a major hub for leadership dialogue, collaboration, and social impact initiatives.  Focus on Leadership, Partnerships and Community Development Speaking ahead of the event, Henry Akinyele described the conference as more than a ceremonial gathering, noting that it will serve as a platform for advancing conversations around leadership, service, and…

Nigeria’s drive to modernise its ports and simplify trade procedures has gained momentum following the rollout of a new digital licensing and permit framework by the Nigeria Customs Service. Officials say the initiative is expected to reduce delays, improve transparency, and strengthen operational efficiency across the country’s maritime and trade ecosystem.  Digital Reform Targets Faster Port Processes Speaking during the 2026 conference of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria, LA Abdullahi explained that the new system is designed to replace outdated manual procedures that have long slowed trade activities. According to him, the reforms support Nigeria’s broader ambition to…

Nigeria’s recent exchange-rate stability is beginning to reshape the country’s broader economic and fiscal landscape, with analysts increasingly pointing to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a major factor behind the reduced pressure on the naira. After experiencing severe currency volatility that pushed exchange rates beyond ₦1,600 to the dollar in early 2025, the naira has stabilised considerably in recent months, trading within the ₦1,350–₦1,430 range by May 2026. At the same time, daily currency fluctuations have dropped sharply, signaling a calmer foreign exchange market compared to the turbulence recorded throughout 2024.  Refinery Reduces Nigeria’s Dependence on Fuel Imports Economic analysts…

Nigeria’s stock market recorded another session of intense trading activity as investors exchanged billions of naira worth of shares, even though profit-taking in major companies pushed the benchmark index lower. Market data from the Nigerian Exchange Limited showed that trading volume surged sharply, reflecting continued investor confidence in equities despite a temporary market retreat.  Trading Activity Surges as Investors Stay Active Investors traded approximately 1.27 billion shares valued at over ₦75 billion in more than 100,000 transactions during the session. The jump in both trading volume and turnover suggests that market participation remains strong, driven by: Institutional activity Banking sector…

A presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has raised concerns over the mounting economic pressure facing Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), warning that the sector is struggling under rising operating costs and worsening insecurity. Hayatu-Deen made the remarks during a meeting with young entrepreneurs as part of broader consultations focused on economic recovery, youth empowerment, and private sector growth.  Entrepreneurs Battle Rising Operating Costs According to the ADC presidential hopeful, conversations with business owners revealed increasing frustration over: High energy expenses Rising transportation costs Inflation-driven raw material prices Reduced profit margins Limited business expansion opportunities He…

Nigeria’s e-commerce ecosystem has taken another step toward solving one of its biggest structural challenges—access to credit for small businesses—as Bumpa has announced a partnership with fintech infrastructure provider Vendorcredit to launch a new financing solution called Bumpa Capital. The initiative is designed to give small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) faster and more flexible access to working capital, using real-time business performance data instead of traditional collateral-heavy lending requirements.  A Shift Away from Traditional Lending Barriers For decades, access to credit in Nigeria has been restricted by strict banking requirements such as: Collateral guarantees Audited financial statements Formal salary records…

Union Bank of Nigeria has been awarded the Best SME Growth Banking Initiatives Award (2025) at the Nigeria National SME Business Awards, an event organised by the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment. The recognition highlights growing expectations in Nigeria’s SME banking sector, where entrepreneurs are increasingly prioritising speed, accessibility, and practical financial support over traditional banking product structures.  SMEs Face Rising Pressure, Banks Forced to Adapt Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises are currently navigating: Rising operational costs Tight credit conditions Increased digital competition Currency and…