Author: Gift Ifeanyi

The story of Greece’s connection to Nigeria is one of entrepreneurship, endurance, and cultural resilience — a narrative that began in the late 19th century and continues to evolve today. What started as a handful of Greek employees in a British trading company eventually blossomed into a vibrant community that helped shape Nigeria’s commercial and industrial landscape. According to historian Antonis A. Chaldeos, author of The Greek Community in Nigeria, the foundation of this relationship was laid when Patterson and Zochonis (PZ) expanded operations from Sierra Leone to Lagos. The company’s decision to recruit Greek workers — who later advanced…

Across Nigeria, young people are rethinking what it means to build a career — and in Oyo State, a quiet revolution is taking shape. It’s no longer about waiting for job openings; it’s about creating them. With government backing and the rise of purpose-driven enterprises like Planet 3R Limited, a new generation of innovators is transforming waste into opportunity. In Ibadan, a group of 100 young graduates recently completed an intensive six-week training on waste recycling and sustainable production. What began as a skills workshop evolved into a powerful lesson on how creativity, when combined with environmental awareness, can spark…

Tourism experts and hoteliers are calling on government bodies and private investors to seize the economic promise within Kwara State’s growing hospitality sector, citing the region’s peace, cultural richness, and strategic location as catalysts for major financial inflows. At a press briefing ahead of the 2025 Hospitality Impact and Tourism Conference (HITC 2.0), the event’s convener, Folashade Folayan, challenged both national and international stakeholders to reshape how Nigeria’s North Central region is perceived — from a zone often overshadowed by insecurity concerns to one brimming with opportunity and stability. “The narrative needs to shift,” Folayan stated. “The North Central region…

Africa’s economic transformation, according to MTN Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer Karl Toriola, will not come from ambition alone but from execution — a deliberate focus on aligning trade, technology, and trust across borders. At the Nigeria–South Africa Economic Diplomacy Roundtable held in Lagos, Toriola challenged policymakers and business leaders from both nations to translate their influence into actionable progress, emphasizing that Africa’s two largest economies hold the keys to the continent’s shared prosperity. “Our collective strength can move the continent forward — if we act with clarity and coordination,” he asserted. Turning Agreements into Action Toriola underscored that the African…

As Nigeria approaches its 65th Independence anniversary, a new generation of thinkers and reformers is gathering to chart a fresh course for the nation’s leadership and governance. The Oxford Global Think Tank (OGTT) is convening some of the country’s most influential voices — from policymakers and business moguls to innovators and scholars — for a strategic dialogue themed “Better Leadership for a Better Nigeria.” The high-level summit, scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, seeks to ignite meaningful discourse on leadership ethics, inclusive governance, and the role of innovation in national renewal. A Convergence of Visionary Minds…

After years of record-breaking earnings, Nigeria’s banking giants are entering a new era—one defined less by explosive growth and more by strategic resilience. Access Holdings Plc, the country’s largest banking group by assets, reported a 23.3% decline in post-tax profit, sliding to ₦215.9 billion ($139.1 million) in the first half of 2025 from ₦281.3 billion ($187.2 million) a year earlier. The dip marks its first profit contraction in five years, underscoring a broader industry recalibration after the foreign exchange windfalls that once inflated earnings began to fade. Margins tighten as the naira steadies While Access Holdings managed to grow net…

In Nigeria’s bustling hospitality scene, where guest expectations evolve faster than ever, a quiet revolution is underway — one powered by intelligent technology. Huawei Nigeria is leading this transformation, reshaping how hotels operate, conserve energy, and connect with their guests through smart, data-driven systems. For years, many hotels across the country have struggled with inconsistent service delivery, high operational costs, and outdated infrastructure. Now, Huawei’s new generation of intelligent hotel solutions is setting a different tone — one that combines efficiency with elegance. From manual management to intelligent ecosystemsRather than relying on fragmented systems, Huawei’s approach integrates every aspect of…

In an era where speed and trust define financial systems, two Nigerian innovators — Damilola Parkinson and Olajide Bakare — are rewriting Africa’s place in global payments. Their company, Lucrestack, has unveiled LupoFi, a cross-border platform built to eliminate the long-standing barriers that limit how Africans send and receive money worldwide. From Problem to Possibility For decades, African entrepreneurs have battled with delayed settlements, restrictive gateways, and opaque compliance systems that stifled cross-border trade. LupoFi steps in as a next-generation financial bridge, connecting users across Africa to major markets in China, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Canada, the United States, and Europe…

Nigeria is charting a new course in youth empowerment and job creation as the Federal Government kicks off a large-scale Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative — a skills revolution designed to turn young Nigerians from job seekers into business owners. The ambitious programme, spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Education, targets nearly one million participants across 2,600 training centres nationwide. Already, 250,000 youths have begun hands-on training in the first phase, according to Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who made the announcement during an inspection tour of AFS Vocational Hub in Garki and Golden Finger Farms…

Nigeria is setting the stage for a new era of industrial transformation through a strategic collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) — a partnership designed to fast-track sustainable growth, ignite innovation, and strengthen the country’s role as Africa’s next major manufacturing hub. Unveiled in Abuja, the Programme for Country Partnership (PCP) 2024–2028 carries a total investment package of $175 million, blending public funding, international development support, and private-sector collaboration. The initiative targets deeper industrial integration, energy transition, and inclusive economic expansion across key sectors. Building Industries That Work for People Unlike traditional development plans, the PCP acts…

Nigeria’s logistics and transport professionals gathered in Lagos for the 2025 National Conference and Induction Ceremony of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), where discussions centered on building a sustainable blue economy through innovation and supply chain efficiency. Reimagining the Supply Chain CILT Nigeria’s President, Mrs. Mfon Usoro, reminded participants that the nation’s economic future depends on more than just maritime development. “Our focus extends beyond the blue economy—it encompasses the entire logistics and transport network that fuels industrialisation and drives the Renewed Hope Agenda,” she said. She noted that CILT’s mission is rooted in strengthening every link…

Nigeria has called on industrialized nations to rethink their engagement with Africa, urging them to move beyond a transactional approach driven by resource extraction and adopt a model built on equality, shared growth, and respect for Africa’s development needs. Speaking at the Reuters NEXT Gulf Summit in Abu Dhabi, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar criticized how many Western countries treat Africa as a mere source of raw materials, comparing their behavior to players in the video game Minecraft — constantly mining, collecting, and extracting resources without building genuine value for the continent. “The relationship shouldn’t feel like a game where…

In a powerful statement on the future of Northern Nigeria, Vice President Kashim Shettima has spotlighted Katsina State as a model for economic transformation driven by innovation, youth empowerment, and industrial rebirth. Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the first fellows of the Dikko Social Innovation Academy (DSIA) and the inaugural Katsina MSME Awards, Shettima emphasized that sustainable peace and prosperity in the North depend on rebuilding small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) and converting the region’s natural wealth into productive industries. “The North’s greatest potential lies not beneath its soil, but in the creativity of its people,” Shettima declared. “What…

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is once again stretching the limits of industrial ambition. Barely months after his 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery began operations, the business magnate is now steering the project toward a bold new phase — one that could transform Nigeria into a global refining powerhouse. According to S&P Global Commodity Insights, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) plans to expand its refinery’s capacity to an astonishing 1.4 million barrels per day, potentially overtaking India’s Jamnagar Refinery as the world’s largest. It’s a scale of vision that has long defined Dangote’s empire — but this time, it comes with a global twist.…

The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has begun a nationwide capacity-building workshop to strengthen entrepreneurship centres across Nigeria’s Colleges of Education, urging institutions to make teacher training a cornerstone of national innovation and productivity. Speaking at the Abuja flag-off ceremony on Tuesday, the Executive Secretary of NCCE, Professor Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, said the programme seeks to transform entrepreneurship centres into “vibrant ecosystems of creativity, innovation, and skill-based learning.” “This is a defining moment for our education sector,” Okwelle stated. “We must move beyond teaching theory to building practical solutions that fuel innovation, self-employment, and sustainable development.” He noted…

When South Africa’s retail giant Shoprite first opened its doors in Nigeria in 2005, it symbolized a new era for modern shopping in Africa’s biggest economy. Bright lights, neatly stacked shelves, and air-conditioned aisles promised a break from the chaos of open markets. Within a decade, the brand had expanded to 25 locations across 13 states, supported by a massive distribution hub in Lagos that linked directly to local farmers. At its height, Shoprite processed roughly 34 million transactions annually and provided over 2,000 jobs. To many Nigerians, the red-and-yellow logo represented sophistication and consistency—a dependable alternative to informal trading.…

Nigeria stands at the frontier of Africa’s financial revolution — a nation where youth, innovation, and ambition are fusing to redraw the map of modern finance. With over 238 million people and a median age of just 18, the country is not merely adapting to the digital era; it is shaping it. Across its cities and rural communities alike, phones have become more than communication tools — they are gateways to commerce, opportunity, and independence. The push toward a cash-lite economy is no longer a policy dream but a daily reality. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s drive for modernization, powered…

In a quiet room somewhere in Lagos, a young creative sits behind a laptop — not in a recording studio, but at a workstation that doubles as both an instrument and an enterprise. With digital audio software, cloud plugins, and AI mastering tools, he’s crafting what could become the next global Afrobeats hit. But what’s truly remarkable isn’t just the sound he’s producing — it’s the business he’s building. This new generation of Nigerian music producers is redefining what it means to be an entrepreneur. They’re blending artistry with technology, turning creativity into code, and transforming beats into scalable products.…

In Lagos, a new chapter of women-led innovation is unfolding. The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Alumnae Association (AWEAA) has begun a powerful transition—one that signals not just a change in leadership, but a deepening of purpose. At its Leadership Transition and Growth Forum held at Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, the organization unveiled its 2023–2025 Impact Report—a testament to how collective vision, strategic partnerships, and shared resilience can reshape the entrepreneurial landscape for women across Nigeria. What began as a gathering soon evolved into a movement of minds. The event united entrepreneurs, business leaders, development experts, and policy advocates,…

In Nigeria’s bustling cities and growing towns, the smartphone has become more than a gadget — it’s an economy in itself. What started as a tool for communication has evolved into a lifeline that powers careers, connects markets, and fuels digital dreams across the nation. From mobile payments to online businesses, smartphones are the new frontier of productivity — and behind every screen lighting up across the country are the dealers who keep this massive ecosystem alive. Recent projections show that by the end of 2025, Nigeria will have over 140 million smartphone users — a number that speaks to…