Author: Gift Ifeanyi

In Nigeria, the life of an entrepreneur is often a paradox—overflowing with opportunity yet plagued by systemic hurdles. This contradiction is playing out in the case of Sijibomi Ogundele, widely known as Sujimoto, founder and CEO of Sujimoto Group. Celebrated for reshaping luxury real estate in Lagos, Sujimoto is now at the center of controversy over a ₦5.7 billion contract in Enugu State. Critics accuse him of failing to deliver, but supporters argue that he is being unfairly vilified in a system that punishes ambition more than it supports it. From Tall Towers to Schools Originally, the contract was meant…

Two global leaders from very different worlds—African business mogul Tony Elumelu and American cleric Cardinal Timothy Dolan—will share the spotlight at the Appeal of Conscience Foundation’s 60th Annual Gala on September 29, 2025, at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The foundation announced the dual recognition on September 4, noting that the award celebrates leaders who embody moral courage, ethical leadership, and interfaith cooperation. Since its creation in 1965, the honor has gone to prominent figures who reinforce the belief that “a crime committed in the name of religion is the gravest offense against religion itself.” Elumelu: Driving Africa’s…

Nigeria’s women entrepreneurs are set to take center stage globally as the Aurora Tech Award, in partnership with The Nest Innovation Technology Park, introduces the Foundry for HER Bootcamp—a three-day virtual accelerator designed for women-led, early-stage tech startups. The program goes beyond mentorship; it’s a deliberate effort to close long-standing gaps in funding, visibility, and access to international networks that have historically limited women in technology. By preparing participants for the Aurora Tech Award Open Call 2026, the bootcamp positions Nigerian founders to not only compete but also lead on the global innovation stage. “Nigeria has already proven itself, producing…

Kayode Odukoya, CEO of First Nation Airways, has called out the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for failing to update its official website with his acquittal, nearly two years after the court cleared him of fraud, forgery, and theft charges. In December 2023, the Special Offences Court in Lagos dismissed all charges against Odukoya, ruling that the EFCC’s case “collapsed like a pack of cards” due to unreliable and inadmissible evidence. The judgment was seen as a decisive vindication for the airline chief after a lengthy legal battle. Yet, according to Odukoya, the EFCC’s continued failure to reflect the…

The recently concluded Lagos Mainland Trade Fair has positioned export readiness at the heart of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial growth, training over 100 vendors on how to take their businesses beyond local borders. The two-day event, held on September 6 and 7, went beyond exhibitions. It served as a training ground where Senior Trade Officers Nancy Okpa and Olamide Olatunde of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) guided entrepreneurs through international trade procedures, compliance requirements, and the critical steps to successful exportation. Curated by Monalisa Abimbola Aze, lawyer-turned-entrepreneur and founder of Mona Matthews, the fair was designed to empower local businesses with…

The inaugural Lagos Business Owners Seminar 0.1, spearheaded by Dr. Chichi Nwajei, has set a new tone for how young entrepreneurs connect, learn, and thrive in today’s competitive marketplace. Far from being just another business event, the seminar became a hub of collaboration, where emerging entrepreneurs rubbed shoulders with seasoned professionals, exchanging insights that blended business strategy, personal growth, and financial wisdom. Building a Community of Entrepreneurs Dr. Nwajei’s vision was clear—create a platform where business owners could share knowledge, build networks, and spark partnerships that outlive the seminar. Participants walked away not only with lessons but with new alliances,…

Global recognition has once again turned toward Nigeria’s creative scene as Yinka Ash, Founder & CEO of Ashcorp Group, secures a spot on the prestigious Vogue Business 100 Innovators list for 2025. The annual list celebrates entrepreneurs, leaders, and disruptors who are reshaping the worlds of fashion, beauty, and luxury. Ash joins a select group of visionaries, including Nina Briance of Cult Mia, Jess Hunt and Jenna Meek of Refy, Johan Bello of UNCUT, and Caio Amato of Oakley. Redefining African Luxury Yinka Ash’s recognition comes through his groundbreaking work with Ashluxe and Ashluxury, two brands that have not only…

In Abeokuta this week, a powerful narrative emerged: Nigerian women are no longer waiting on the sidelines of national development—they are being positioned as its architects. During a visit to the Safe Centre and Women Development Centre, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, emphasized that women hold the key to Nigeria’s transformation. But the spotlight wasn’t just on lofty economic targets—it was on women as builders, creators, and protectors of the nation’s future. Healing and Empowerment Under One Roof At the heart of her visit were the Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), designed not only to treat survivors of…

Africa’s bustling street markets and neighborhood kiosks have long been the lifeblood of trade, yet they’ve often been excluded from modern supply chains. Now, a new wave of startups is bringing digital efficiency to this vast informal economy—transforming how goods move from factory floors to roadside stalls. In Nigeria, companies like OmniRetail and TradeDepot are redefining the business of retail. By linking manufacturers directly with shop owners through mobile platforms, they’re giving small traders the same access to inventory, payments, and logistics once reserved for big supermarkets. The Scale of Opportunity The International Labour Organisation estimates that 86% of Africa’s…

When Dadiowei Kingsley Akpeti left Nigeria in 2019, he was searching for new horizons. Six years later, he isn’t just leading one of Texas’ fastest-growing facility management companies—he’s channeling his success into life-changing projects for vulnerable communities across Nigeria. From weekly medical outreaches and scholarship programs to food relief for displaced families, Akpeti’s philanthropy is quietly reshaping lives thousands of miles away from his Houston office. From Engineering to Entrepreneurship Trained as a chemical engineer, Akpeti’s true calling revealed itself in construction and facility management. Today, his company, Spotless In Minutes, has expanded across U.S. cities with a workforce that…

Nigeria’s economic future may well depend on how quickly it embraces emerging technologies. That was the central message as the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), NIM, opened its 2025 Annual National Management Conference in Abuja, challenging leaders to harness innovations like artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology to drive national competitiveness. A Call Beyond Rhetoric Abimbola Ayuba, President and Chairman of the Council of NIM, set the tone in his keynote: “Technology is everything, and every forward-looking nation that wants to go the distance must leverage emerging technologies.” For Ayuba, the conference is not just another gathering of academics and professionals.…

Nigerian companies are rapidly reshaping their digital future, with artificial intelligence (AI) and data privacy now standing at the heart of corporate strategy. A recent study commissioned by Zoho and conducted by Arion Research reveals that 93% of Nigerian firms have already embraced AI, while 84% have reinforced privacy safeguards to match the pace of technological change. Speaking at the 2025 Zoholics Nigeria User Conference in Lagos, Zoho Nigeria’s Country Head, Kehinde Ogundare, noted that the findings mark a turning point: local companies are no longer merely experimenting with AI but are now embedding it across entire organisations. The report…

Nigeria’s ride-hailing industry, long dominated by foreign companies, is witnessing the rise of a bold new challenger—M-Ride, an indigenous platform positioning itself as more than just another transport app. Founded by Gregory Muna Peter Onojasike, M-Ride represents a broader movement in Nigeria’s tech space: the determination to build solutions rooted in local realities rather than imported models. From Imported Apps to Local Innovation For years, Nigerian commuters have relied on global names like Uber and Bolt, but many riders and drivers share the same frustrations—commission-heavy pricing, inconsistent safety features, and surge algorithms that often feel unfair. M-Ride seeks to turn…

Why do some technologies spread like wildfire in certain parts of the world, while others struggle to take off in places like Nigeria? It’s rarely about interest or talent—Nigerians are brimming with innovation and ambition. The real challenge lies in the building blocks that allow technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to thrive. Imagine AI as a brilliant recipe for the future. The instructions are clear, the results are impressive—but if the kitchen lacks a working oven or the ingredients are overpriced, cooking that recipe becomes nearly impossible. That’s exactly Nigeria’s AI story: the knowledge is there, the appetite is strong,…

Nigeria’s managers, policymakers, and business leaders are being urged to move beyond rhetoric and take decisive steps in harnessing emerging technologies to transform the nation’s economy. This was the central message at the 2025 Annual National Management Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), NIM, which opened in Abuja on Monday. The three-day gathering, themed “Leveraging Emerging Technologies to Drive Innovation, Creativity and Productivity,” brought together voices from government, academia, business, and international partners to chart a roadmap for a tech-driven Nigeria. “Technology Is Everything” In his opening remarks, Abimbola Ayuba, President and Council Chairman of NIM, said the…

While much of the global conversation on clean mobility revolves around electric vehicles (EVs), Nigerian logistics startup Renda Africa believes Africa’s near-term solution lies elsewhere: compressed natural gas (CNG). Through its embedded finance platform, SCALE by Renda, the company aims to convert over one million vehicles in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya to run on CNG by 2027—a move it says could slash emissions and ease transport costs for millions. Lowering Barriers for Drivers and Fleet Owners Converting vehicles to CNG has long been hampered by cost. A single conversion typically runs between ₦750,000 ($497) and ₦3 million ($1,991)—a steep price…

In Philadelphia, Nigerian-born chef and food consultant Shola Olunloyo is proving that great cooking can be guided by more than taste and sight—it can be measured in sound. Olunloyo, widely respected in the U.S. restaurant industry as a behind-the-scenes problem solver, has advised top kitchens on everything from oven selection to menu design. Yet despite his reputation as a meticulous technician, his deepest connection lies with a dish from his childhood: Nigerian jollof rice. What makes his method extraordinary is that he cooks it almost entirely by ear. To him, the bubbling and sizzling of rice provide as much information…

Lagos will once again become a hub for innovation in architecture, construction, and design as Ecobank Nigeria prepares to host the second edition of its flagship Design & Build showcase, scheduled for September 24–28, 2025 at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), Victoria Island. With the theme “How We Build, How We Live,” this year’s five-day experience is designed to explore the intersection of creativity, technology, and lifestyle. More than 40 carefully selected exhibitors will present trailblazing ideas in real estate, interiors, and construction—curated to highlight quality over scale and deliver a more engaging and impactful experience for attendees. Speaking…

In Jos, Plateau State, a young Nigerian entrepreneur, Zang Luka, is transforming electronic waste into life-changing products—proving that technology and sustainability can go hand in hand. Through his company, Zang Global, Luka has set up a recycling factory that converts discarded electronics and cables into practical devices like power banks, solar lanterns, phone chargers, and USB cables. But the mission goes beyond gadgets. Luka envisions creating over 15,000 jobs across Africa while reducing environmental pollution caused by the burning of electric cables. “Zang Global is more than a technology company—we are champions of environmental sustainability,” Luka said. By turning waste…

Nigeria’s largest industrial conglomerate, the Dangote Group, is at the centre of escalating tensions with organised labour, raising concerns about the stability of the nation’s energy sector and broader economy. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused Dangote of wage suppression, union-busting, and monopolistic practices, warning that failure to reform could trigger nationwide industrial action. The Bigger Picture: Monopoly Meets National Security Dangote Refinery, positioned as a strategic asset in Nigeria’s energy security plan, is now under scrutiny for practices that labour leaders say threaten both economic fairness and workers’ rights. With fuel supply and pricing already volatile, any disruption…