Author: Gift Ifeanyi

Nigeria’s business landscape is often defined by the “hustle,” but Joseph Tegbe, Director-General of the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), argues that hustle alone won’t build an empire. Speaking at a high-level capacity-building seminar, Tegbe delivered a masterclass on how Nigerian entrepreneurs can “hack” their economic growth by adopting the disciplined, long-term tactics that fueled China’s rise to global dominance. The seminar, titled “Leveraging Chinese Partnerships to Scale Nigerian Businesses,” serves as a bridge for knowledge transfer, moving beyond simple trade toward deep-rooted industrial strategy. Innovation Through Adaptation One of the most provocative points in Tegbe’s presentation was his deconstruction of…

At a landmark World Bank Group Business Opportunities Seminar held in Lagos on January 27, 2026, the global financial institution revealed that Nigerian companies have become a powerhouse in development procurement. Ranking fifth worldwide in contracts awarded to local contractors, Nigeria is no longer just a beneficiary of aid but a leading provider of industrial and technical services. Ms. Gallina Vincelette, World Bank Vice President for Operations Policy and Country Services, described the achievement as a testament to the growing capacity and competitiveness of the Nigerian private sector. 1. Nigeria’s Global Procurement Footprint (2021–2026) Over the past five years, Nigerian…

Experts and industry veterans are identifying 2026 as a pivotal year that will separate “speculators” from “builders” in the African market. At a high-level reunion hosted by the London Business School (LBS) alumni community in Nigeria in September 2025, a clear consensus emerged: the current economic cycle rewards those who prioritize tangible execution and long-term value over short-term trends. This shift marks a departure from the “startup hype” era, moving toward a results-driven approach where progress is measured by resilience and market impact. 1. The DNA of a 2026 Success Story In his keynote address, Bolaji Balogun, CEO of Chapel…

Nigeria has officially shifted into high gear with the launch of its 2025 Petroleum Licensing Round, offering a sprawling portfolio of 50 oil and gas blocks. This move is the cornerstone of the government’s ambitious “2.7 by 27” strategy—targeting an oil production leap to 2.7 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2027. Under the leadership of the newly appointed NUPRC head, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, the regulator is sending a clear message to the world: Nigeria is lowering its barriers and digitizing its process to remain competitive in a mobile global capital market. 1. The 50-Block Portfolio at a Glance The 2025…

The bribery trial of Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, officially commenced at the Southwark Crown Court in London on January 26, 2026. Prosecutors have painted a vivid picture of a “lavish lifestyle” allegedly bankrolled by industry insiders seeking lucrative government contracts between 2011 and 2015. The trial, expected to last 10 to 12 weeks, follows a decade-long international investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and other global partners. The Prosecution’s Case: Luxury as a Currency Lead prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC argued that Alison-Madueke received “vast quantities of luxury goods” and financial advantages in exchange for…

As the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) moves from policy papers to a daily reality in 2026, Ghanaian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are facing a critical branding crossroads. In a massive market of 1.3 billion consumers, the temptation to “neutralize” local branding to appeal to a wider audience—removing Kente patterns or Twi names—is being revealed as a strategic error. Instead, a new philosophy is emerging: “Ghanaiantude.” This approach argues that being “resolutely Ghanaian” is not a barrier to trade, but a premium value proposition that cannot be easily copied by mass-market competitors. The “Rooted Pan-Africanism” Strategy The most…

In a bold move to redirect Nigeria’s youthful energy from migration toward local industrialization, GleanForte Academy Limited has unveiled GENSPARK 2026. This weeklong intensive summit is set to transform Ibadan into a hub of production and innovation, specifically targeting the healthcare and industrial sectors to secure Nigeria’s economic future. Scheduled for March 17–21, 2026, at the Liberty Stadium in Ibadan, the event is designed as a direct countermeasure to the “Japa Syndrome”—the mass exodus of skilled talent—by proving that Nigeria’s industrial landscape offers a viable, profitable path for the next generation. A Roadmap to Industrial Self-Reliance The summit is structured…

At the landmark 30th-anniversary celebration of the Business Club Ikeja (BCI), industry leaders converged to send a clear message to fiscal and monetary authorities: sustained stability in the foreign exchange (FX) market is the non-negotiable prerequisite for Nigeria’s economic recovery. The event, themed “New Year, New Heights,” served as both a gala for three decades of corporate resilience and a strategic forum on navigating the complexities of the 2026 business landscape. The “Predictability” Mandate Dr. Adesola Falaiye, President of BCI, emphasized that while businesses are resilient, they cannot thrive in a vacuum of uncertainty. Investor Confidence: Stable FX rates are…

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) have officially renewed their strategic partnership to tackle youth unemployment through high-impact agribusiness. On January 22, 2026, both organizations signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja, extending the successful Farmers for the Future (F4F) project for another three-year cycle. First established in 2019, the F4F project has evolved into a premier launchpad for young graduates, moving agriculture away from its “subsistence” image toward a sophisticated, tech-driven enterprise model. The ₦10 Million Grant Structure The renewed agreement features a competitive funding pool of ₦10 million…

In 2026, the Nigerian fintech space continues to be a global beacon for financial inclusion, led by visionaries who prioritize impact over mere profit. Today, the ecosystem celebrates the birthday of Ibrahim Oladele Babatunde, a tech leader whose career has been dedicated to dismantling the barriers that have historically kept millions of Africans in “credit shadows.” As the CEO of Maxim Credit Card and the founder of Vesicard, Babatunde’s journey reflects the rise of the “Social Fintech”—businesses engineered to solve trust and access gaps in the emerging digital economy. 1. The Visionary Behind Maxim Credit Card Under Babatunde’s leadership, Maxim…

The three-year Research and Innovation for Systems Advancement (RISA) project has reached its successful conclusion, marking a watershed moment for Nigeria’s agricultural mechanization. Funded by UK International Development (UKAid) and implemented by Adam Smith International, the project has transitioned from a research exercise into a robust, self-sustaining industrial network. At the “Strengthening Systems” close-out event in early 2026, stakeholders celebrated the shift from “siloed research” to a demand-driven commercialization model that bridges the gap between the lab and the farm. 1. Breaking the Silos: The “Connection” Strategy RISA’s primary achievement was the creation of a unified ecosystem where researchers, fabricators…

Nigeria is set to become the epicenter of African medical innovation as the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) prepares to host the 2026 SPARK Africa Translational Research Bootcamp and Scientific Conference. Scheduled for February 2–7, 2026, in Abuja, the event marks a high-profile collaboration with Stanford University’s SPARK Global program. The summit aims to dismantle the traditional barriers between academic laboratories and clinical practice, ensuring that Nigerian and African scientific breakthroughs reach the patients who need them most. From Lab Bench to Bedside: A Global Standard The SPARK framework—pioneered two decades ago by Stanford’s Professor Daria Mochly…

The Nigerian Presidency has issued a firm rebuttal to social media speculation regarding President Bola Tinubu’s health, following a widely circulated video of the President losing his footing during his official reception in Türkiye. Official spokespersons clarified that the President is in “excellent spirits” and maintains a rigorous schedule during his state visit to Ankara. The Incident: Logistics, Not Health The brief stumble occurred on Tuesday as President Tinubu arrived for a formal welcome ceremony. According to the Presidency, the slip was the result of a technical oversight in the venue’s setup—specifically a poorly laid blue carpet—rather than any underlying…

In a move that fundamentally rewrites Nigeria’s digital trade narrative, global payments giant PayPal has officially reactivated inbound payments for Nigerian users. Rather than a solo entry, the Silicon Valley veteran has integrated directly with Paga, Nigeria’s fintech pioneer, effectively ending two decades of “send-only” restrictions that had long frustrated the nation’s digital workforce. Announced in January 2026, the partnership allows Nigerians to link PayPal accounts to Paga wallets, enabling them to receive global funds and withdraw them instantly into Naira—a first in the platform’s history in the country. The Paga Bridge: Turning Global Gains into Local Liquidity The “PayPal-through-Paga”…

As of January 1, 2026, a sweeping overhaul of Nigeria’s fiscal landscape has officially commenced. The Nigeria Tax Administration Act of 2025 represents one of the most significant shifts in the country’s economic policy, specifically engineered to shield low-income earners and ignite the engines of small-scale enterprise. Moving away from aggressive collection, the new framework prioritizes “welfare-centric” taxation. Here is how the 2026 reforms transform your finances: 1. Paycheck Protection: Personal Income Tax (PAYE) The new law effectively creates a “tax-free zone” for the nation’s most vulnerable workers. Zero Tax for Minimum Wage: Anyone earning the national minimum wage or…

In a volatile economic climate where “efficiency” is the survival word for Nigerian enterprises, TajomBG is emerging as a critical architect of business stability. By fusing Information Technology with Human Resources, the firm is tackling the two most volatile variables in any organization: systems and people. TajomBG isn’t just a service provider; it’s a growth partner for the full spectrum of the economy, from agile startups and mid-market SMEs to sprawling corporations. The Dual-Engine Strategy Most firms specialize in either the “machine” or the “mind.” TajomBG’s edge lies in its integrated model, which treats IT and HR as a single,…

Bankfields ICL Consulting & Management Services is solidifying its role as a vital architect for Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. By leveraging its official accreditation as a Business Development Service Provider (BDSP) for the Bank of Industry (BOI), the firm is now directly connecting SMEs with the institutional capital required for scale. Beyond traditional advisory, the firm recently unveiled a trio of digital platforms at its “Unwrapping Innovation” summit in Lagos, signaling a bold transition into the consumer-tech space for 2026. 1. The Gateway to Growth: BOI Partnership For many Nigerian entrepreneurs, the path to low-interest government funding is blocked by complex…

For a decade, Nigeria’s “engine of growth” has been running on an empty tank. A startling analysis of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data from 2014 to 2023 reveals that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) secured a mere 0.51% of total private sector credit. While the private sector received a staggering ₦199.63 trillion in total loans over the ten-year period, the nation’s 41 million small businesses were left to fight over a relatively tiny ₦1.01 trillion. A Decade of Marginalization The credit flow to SMEs has not only been low but highly volatile, reflecting a banking system that remains deeply…

As 2026 unfolds, Nigeria is witnessing a quiet but profound industrial shift. No longer just a buzzword for big tech, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become the “Swiss Army knife” for the Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprise (SME). Driven by the harsh realities of infrastructure gaps and economic headwinds, local businesses are adopting AI with a level of pragmatism that rivals global tech hubs. This isn’t about prestige; it’s about resilience. Here is how AI is being “localized” to solve Nigerian problems in real-time. 1. “Vibe Coding”: The Death of the Developer Bottleneck The era where a small business needed a…

Junior Chamber International (JCI) Nigeria has issued a clarion call to the Federal Government, advocating for a robust overhaul of national policies to better support the burgeoning ecosystem of young entrepreneurs. Speaking at a media parley in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, JCIN Amb. Fatimat O. Usman, the 2026 Chairperson of the Creative Young Entrepreneur (CYE) Awards, emphasized that without deliberate intervention in power supply, taxation, and administrative accountability, the potential of Nigeria’s youth-led startups will remain stifled. The CYE Mission: Scaling Ideas into Impact The CYE Awards is not merely a competition but a strategic launchpad designed to transition raw innovation…