Author: Gift Ifeanyi

International Breweries PLC (IBPLC) has reiterated its long-term commitment to youth empowerment in Nigeria as it hosted the 2025 edition of its flagship entrepreneurship programme, Kickstart, in Lagos. The company noted that its parent organisation, AB InBev, has invested $380 million (₦513 billion) to strengthen local operations and broaden economic opportunities across Nigeria’s business ecosystem—an investment it described as clear evidence of sustained confidence in the country. At the event, IBPLC’s leadership highlighted Kickstart’s evolution into one of the nation’s most impactful youth-focused enterprise development programmes. Targeted at Nigerians aged 18 to 35, the initiative provides structured business training, seed…

Dublin, Nov. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – ResearchAndMarkets.com has released a detailed industry report, “Construction Stone Market in Nigeria: Business Report 2025”, offering an extensive analysis of the country’s construction stone sector. The report provides a thorough examination of Nigeria’s construction stone industry, covering production, consumption, trade, and market dynamics. It includes insights into the nation’s business environment, economic landscape, and key industry players, equipping stakeholders with the knowledge needed to navigate this growing sector. Report Highlights: Country Overview: An introduction to Nigeria, including general information, economic indicators, and an assessment of the business climate. Market Analysis: In-depth evaluation of…

The Foursquare Church Without Bounds has announced the 2025 edition of its flagship youth and entrepreneurship initiative, TOUCH, aimed at equipping young Nigerians with leadership skills, business insights, and tools for national development. The program is scheduled for December 6, 2025, in Lagos. Speaking at a press briefing, Faith Oluwagbesan, convener of TOUCH 2025, highlighted that the initiative is designed to inspire young professionals and entrepreneurs to actively contribute to Nigeria’s growth. “TOUCH is an annual platform that fosters career development, entrepreneurial excellence, and nation-building. Its goal is to encourage young people to invest in the country’s future rather than…

The Mary Ojulari Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to fostering sustainable development and community-driven growth in Nigeria, has disbursed N50 million in grants to eight exceptional young entrepreneurs from its second Vanguard Fellowship Cohort. The recipients recently completed the Foundation’s intensive two-week Ignite Bootcamp in Lagos. The grant awards were announced by Mary Ojulari, Founder and President of the Foundation, during the Vanguard Fellowship Ignite Bootcamp Awards & Networking Cocktail Night held on November 21, 2025, at the J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, Onikan, Lagos. Each awardee received N6.2 million. The winners are Safaya Ikechuckwu, Oluwakemi Olaniyan,…

The Institute of Certified Business Consultants (ICBC) has emphasized that continuous mentorship and professional guidance are critical for Nigerian entrepreneurs navigating economic volatility and rapid technological change. Addressing attendees at its 2025 Induction Ceremony in Lagos, ICBC Registrar Dr. Emmanuella Chinonye Nwankwo underscored that sustainable businesses are often built on consistent coaching and informed decision-making, particularly as artificial intelligence reshapes global markets. She highlighted ICBC’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurs through advisory services, structured mentorship, and its monthly Lunch and Learn consulting series. Dr. Nwankwo also noted that ICBC extends its training beyond members, equipping artisans, small-scale business owners, and NYSC…

The Innovation Support Network (ISN) has entered a new leadership phase as Hanson Johnson assumes the role of Board Chairman with a pledge to significantly deepen investment and coordination across Nigeria’s fast-growing startup ecosystem. Johnson — a recognised leader in the technology community and founder of Start Innovation Hub — outlined a strategic direction focused on creating clear and efficient pathways that link startups to financing, markets, and transformative partnerships. He noted that ISN’s extensive national footprint provides a unique platform for identifying founders who are prepared for scale and international competitiveness. A central part of his agenda is strengthening…

Lontor Hi-Tech Development Company has introduced a wide-reaching business empowerment and mobility initiative designed to accelerate smart energy adoption and expand distribution capacity across Nigeria. The announcement was made during the company’s annual business conference in Lagos, held under the theme “Growing Stronger Together.” At the center of the initiative is the Wuling Bus Partnership Program, a large-scale logistics and sales mobility scheme supported by eight strategic partners, each contributing ₦150 million. The program is structured to enhance regional coverage, improve product visibility, and create stronger activation channels for Lontor’s expanding portfolio of energy and smart-living solutions. During the event,…

A commercially focused law firm has encouraged Nigerian startups and small businesses to reassess their growth strategies and give greater consideration to debt-market instruments as a realistic and sustainable expansion pathway. The firm delivered this message during a roundtable at its Lagos office titled “Scaling Smarter: Debt Markets as a Growth Catalyst for Startups.” The session gathered regulators, credit-rating specialists, tax professionals, investors, and other market stakeholders for an in-depth discussion led by the firm’s partners. In its presentation, the firm outlined why debt market instruments are becoming a more compelling alternative to equity for emerging businesses. It argued that…

The leadership of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex has pursued a strategy centered on broad collaboration, securing alliances across government agencies, business associations, financial institutions, and private-sector partners. The aim is to position the Nigeria International Trade Fair (NITF) as a shared platform where public institutions, investors, and small businesses collectively advance national trade objectives. A key component of this strategy is strengthened support for micro, small, and medium enterprises. Through partnerships with major national business groups and the Ministry responsible for industry and trade, the Fair is introducing tailored exhibition spaces, targeted workshops, and structured networking sessions. These…

Nigeria’s tourism authority has reaffirmed that its core objective is to develop a tourism landscape capable of generating revenue, supporting employment, and strengthening national identity. Speaking at the launch of Naija Flavour: Destination December 2025 in Abuja, the agency emphasized that tourism, arts, culture, and the creative economy form a central pillar of the government’s economic strategy. Scheduled for 13 December 2025, the event is designed as a large-scale cultural showcase featuring Nigerian cuisine, fashion, live theatre, music, and a marketplace dedicated to small and medium-sized businesses. Organizers describe it as a platform where creativity and enterprise converge to highlight…

Nigeria’s upstream regulator has set December 1, 2025 as the launch date for its next oil block auction, a move expected to broaden participation for domestic small and medium-sized enterprises across the petroleum value chain. According to the Commission, the bidding platform will be activated directly on its website on the opening day, with the entire exercise conducted through a digital interface designed to ensure openness and full alignment with the Petroleum Industry Act (2021). The new system will deliver instant outcomes to participants, eliminating the prolonged verification and approval periods that previously discouraged smaller players. The auction will unfold…

In the vibrant chaos of Africa’s entrepreneurial boom, a brilliant idea is not enough. The greatest challenge isn’t a lack of innovation, but a lack of a megaphone. While visionaries build the future, their stories often remain trapped in obscurity, unable to reach the investors, customers, and partners essential for growth. This is the chasm Pressdia was built to cross. More than a digital PR marketplace, it is a strategic architect for African business narratives, systematically connecting the continent’s most promising startups and SMEs with the verified media voices that can amplify them to the world. Democratizing the Spotlight “For too…

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – In the dusty confines of St. Mary’s school, the return of 50 children has done little to quiet the anguish. Their escape from armed kidnappers last Friday and Saturday has been met not with celebration, but with a more piercing dread for the 253 students and 12 staff still held captive. The mass abduction, one of the worst in Nigeria’s history, has left this community suspended in a torturous limbo. While the Catholic Church and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed the escape, the news has only sharpened the focus on the massive scale of the…

ABUJA, Nigeria – Chariot Corporation (ASX: CC9), in partnership with Continental Lithium and C&C Minerals, has announced a strategic three-phase plan to systematically develop its Nigerian lithium portfolio, transitioning from existing artisanal mining operations to a structured, revenue-generating enterprise. The plan is designed to leverage the confirmed potential of the Fonlo, Gbugbu, Iganna, and Saki project clusters, where artisanal miners have been successfully extracting and selling high-quality, spodumene-rich ore since 2021, thereby validating both product quality and market demand. The structured partnership will see Continental Lithium, with its established local presence, manage on-ground mining and logistics. Chariot Corporation will spearhead project…

While Minister Edun’s address formally presented Nigeria’s reforms to the investment community, its underlying narrative conveyed a far more pressing argument: Africa is facing a decisive moment to avoid perpetual economic dependency. The international order is undergoing a fundamental restructuring, consolidating into exclusive blocs. The pathways to development that previously enabled the rise of Asian economies are closing. The choice for Africa is no longer about gaining a seat at an existing table, but about rapidly constructing its own. A Ticking Clock, Not a List of Grievances The four global shifts Edun outlined function not merely as challenges, but as…

The “Defunct Division” Defense: A Pre-Planned Alibi Notice a pattern? When asked for documentation on a $22.84 million overpayment, NNPC’s response is that the “Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD)… no longer exists.” For a $1.93 million vessel charter scandal, the blame is placed on the “now-defunct PPMC.” This is not a coincidence; it is a systemic strategy. By constantly restructuring and “winding down” divisions, the NNPC builds a ready-made archive of institutional amnesia. It creates a corporate structure where accountability has an expiration date, and the paper trail is designed to dissolve. The “SAP Number” Shield: The Bureaucratic Runaround In multiple instances,…

The standard take is that this is a guide to paying taxes. But look deeper. This isn’t just a procedural update; it’s the quiet rollout of a new social contract between the Nigerian state and its people, built on the foundation of digital transparency. The old system was defined by opacity, middlemen, and distrust. The new system, TaxPro Max, isn’t just a portal—it’s a public ledger of civic participation. From Obligation to Transaction The shift is psychological. By making the process “simpler, fully digital, and free,” the government is reframing tax payment from a burdensome obligation into a clean, efficient transaction. The emphasis…

The standard narrative is simple: the China International Import Expo (CIIE) helps Nigerian products, like cashews, find a market. But the real story is far more strategic. Nigeria isn’t just selling goods; it’s using the CIIE as a lever to execute a fundamental economic pivot—from a raw material supplier to a value-creating partner. This isn’t just about export growth; it’s about supply chain sovereignty. The “Cocoa Bean” Lesson The real significance of the $1.2 million cocoa deal isn’t the price tag. It’s the identity of the buyer: one of China’s largest cocoa bean processors. This signals a crucial shift. Nigeria is no longer…

While many will frame the upcoming AbilityX 1.0 conference as a noble event for disability inclusion, its true ambition is far more radical. This isn’t about charity; it’s a strategic move to position Nigeria at the forefront of a global economic shift by recognizing persons with disabilities as a critical, untapped market and innovation engine. The theme, “The Future of Disability Inclusion in Nigeria,” is a misnomer. The real theme is “The Competitive Advantage of Inclusive Design.” From “Beneficiaries” to “Architects” When the organizers state that persons with disabilities must be “active architects,” they are making an economic argument. The most successful…

The recent consultations between Egypt and Nigeria’s foreign ministers are typically framed as bilateral diplomacy. But a closer look reveals a more significant, strategic ambition: the deliberate formation of a geopolitical anchor for Africa. This isn’t just about strengthening ties; it’s about building an integrated power bloc capable of setting the continent’s agenda. Beyond Military Training: A Unified Security Doctrine The emphasis on military and security cooperation is the cornerstone. Egypt, a North African military power with deep counter-terrorism experience, is not merely offering training to Nigeria, a West African giant. They are beginning to align their security architectures. By combining Egypt’s…