Author: Gift Ifeanyi

Nigeria’s sweeping tax reforms, encapsulated in the newly enacted Nigeria Tax Act 2025, are intended to be a game-changer—yet, the ambitious plan has stalled business activity across the nation. Despite assurances from the Federal Government that the reforms will simplify taxation and exempt micro and low-income earners, a critical lack of clarity on implementation has plunged millions of SMEs into a costly holding pattern. The reforms, hailed by the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee Chairman Taiwo Oyedele as pro-poor and designed to eliminate multiple taxation, have failed to translate into market confidence. Instead, businesses across Lagos, Kano, Port…

The Lithuanian web-hosting powerhouse, Hostinger, is making a strategic entry into Nigeria, positioning itself not as a traditional infrastructure provider, but as a leader in AI-driven productivity. Having consistently ranked among Europe’s fastest-growing companies, Hostinger is wagering that deep automation, rather than just raw speed or low price, will be the decisive factor in accelerating Africa’s digital expansion. This move coincides with Nigeria’s digital economy surging faster than its wider GDP, generating approximately ₦7 trillion in the first half of 2025. Yet, this momentum contrasts sharply with the challenges faced by the country’s 41 million SMEs who struggle with technical…

The Central African Republic (CAR) is set to launch a critical financial mechanism designed to unlock credit for its local economy: the National Guarantee Fund. Announced by Finance Minister Herve Ndoba during a meeting with the World Bank resident representative Guido Rurangwa, the fund is a strategic intervention aimed at tackling the nation’s severe constraints on access to finance. The fund will operate with a substantial share capital of 10 billion CFA francs (approximately $17.7 million), with 3 billion CFA francs provided by the World Bank. Bridging the Collateral Gap The core mandate of the National Guarantee Fund is to…

Ibadan, long recognized for its historical and academic gravitas, is quietly undergoing a profound economic metamorphosis. At the center of this transformation is the Ibadan Entrepreneurs Network (IEN), an organization that, over the past decade, has transitioned from an informal peer support group to a regionally recognized engine for structured business growth. IEN’s mission has consistently been to create a supportive, high-structure ecosystem where the city’s inherent entrepreneurial talent can do more than merely survive—it can thrive. This work is underpinned by three foundational pillars: Community, Capacity-Building, and Access. The Organic Evolution: From Kitchen Table to Policy Table IEN’s journey…

As entrepreneurs, nonprofit executives, and business owners prepare to navigate an increasingly competitive funding environment, a new strategic platform is stepping forward to offer clarity, direction, and practical advantage. The 2026 Capital Clarity Masterclass has been officially announced—an intensive year-end session designed to help leaders enter 2026 with a sharp, confident, and actionable funding plan. With capital tightening globally and investor expectations growing more rigorous, the need for founders to understand precisely how to position themselves for funding success has never been more urgent. This masterclass provides a clear roadmap for doing just that. The program goes beyond generic fundraising…

The Federal Government has decisively signaled a shift in Nigeria’s educational paradigm with the launch of the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG). This groundbreaking national initiative, driven by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is positioned as a bold entry into venture capitalism by the public sector, aiming to fundamentally re-engineer tertiary institutions into engines of innovation and enterprise. Held in Abuja, the launch ceremony was hailed as a decisive move to transition Nigeria from an inherited, colonial education structure to a model actively driving national development and industrialization. The Dual Mandate: Capital and Capacity The S-VCG is far…

The recent Silver Jubilee Celebration and Annual Awards in Lagos was more than an anniversary for FATE Foundation—it was a powerful validation of the enduring partnership between Nigeria’s private sector and its mission to cultivate entrepreneurship. At the forefront of this sustained collaboration is SO&U, the communications giant whose support embodies a deep, personal commitment to fostering enterprise. SO&U’s relationship with FATE is a model of corporate synergy, focusing on collaborative projects and strategic communication to amplify the Foundation’s programs, document success stories, and demonstrate their significant contribution to national development. Leadership by Example: The Personal Connection The partnership is…

Nigeria’s bustling, largely informal event industry—estimated to be worth $20 billion—is undergoing a critical phase of digital disruption. Addressing the chaotic reality of planning Nigerian events, entrepreneurs Oluwapelumi Adewoyin, Faruq Musodiq-Bishi, and Dr. Mufti Jokomba have co-founded EventPark, an end-to-end platform designed to unify event management for planners and vendors. The startup’s genesis stems from the founder’s personal frustration with juggling multiple spreadsheets, messaging apps, and payment systems, a problem amplified by COVID-19 and Nigeria’s accelerated push toward digital payments. EventPark aims to bring order to an industry defined by massive celebration volumes—from elaborate naming ceremonies to large social gatherings.…

The future of African innovation, centered on climate action and sustainability, was on full display in Abuja, Nigeria, as Junior Achievement (JA) Africa successfully hosted the 15th edition of the JA Africa Company of the Year (COY) Competition. Under the urgent theme, “ACT! Action for Climate Transformation,” the continental finals showcased the brightest young entrepreneurs from across Africa who had triumphed in their respective national competitions. Nigeria’s Smartgenix was crowned the overall Company of the Year 2025, demonstrating a superior blend of innovation, strong execution, and high potential for impact. The Podium of Sustainable Solutions The top three winners underscored…

The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) is taking a bold step to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world economic impact. The Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS), in partnership with key industry stakeholders, has officially launched the FSS Entrepreneurial Challenge, a strategic competition designed to convert student innovation into tangible, scalable solutions. This initiative is a direct response to the global demand for graduates who possess not only theoretical knowledge but also the capacity for creative problem-solving and venture creation. The Mission: Nurturing the Next Generation of African Trailblazers According to FSS Dean, Professor Sunday A. Adedini, the challenge’s core…

Imo State is officially being repositioned as a critical emerging hub in Nigeria’s quest for economic diversification.2 This strategic shift was cemented at the Imo State Economic Summit 2025 in Owerri, where the Federal Government unveiled significant new financing mechanisms designed to empower local businesses, drive agro-industrial capacity, and spur the development of gas-based industries. Vice President Kashim Shettima, addressing the summit, emphasized that unlocking national prosperity hinges on every state realizing its economic potential. The announcement signaled a dedicated commitment to transforming Imo’s economic landscape through structured support and strategic private-sector alliances. Capital Injection: New Lifelines for SMEs The…

Lagos, Nigeria — Sheriff Deputies Limited, a leading private security and safety solutions provider in Nigeria, has been recognised by the Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) for its outstanding support in delivering hope, relief, and vital assistance to vulnerable individuals and communities. The recognition was conferred during Health Emergency Initiative’s 10th Anniversary celebration, a milestone event that brought together partners, stakeholders, and advocates committed to improving health outcomes and supporting underserved communities across Nigeria. According to Health Emergency Initiative, the award acknowledges Sheriff Deputies Limited’s consistent commitment to social responsibility, community safety, and humanitarian impact, particularly its support for interventions aimed…

A leading voice in Nigeria’s financial sector is intensifying the conversation around human capital investment as the definitive pathway to economic resilience. At the recent Jericho Businessmen Club’s third Annual Socio-Economic Summit, The Alternative Bank, a prominent non-interest lender, championed the urgent provision of specialized technology resources and ecosystem support for Nigeria’s young innovators. The summit, which gathered influential figures from the business, policy, and academic spheres, zeroed in on two critical challenges: forging sustainable economic models and rapidly addressing the widening digital skills gap among Nigerian youth. An Equalizer for Global Competitiveness Korede Demola-Adeniyi, Executive Director (South) of The…

Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape is a high-stakes arena—Africa’s largest economy, teeming with youthful ambition, yet defined by relentless systemic friction. The rapid rise of the Nigerian startup ecosystem is fueled by resilience, but survival demands a skillset that transcends conventional Silicon Valley playbooks. For founders operating in this vibrant, volatile market, generic entrepreneurial advice is insufficient. Success is not just about having a great idea; it’s about cultivating nine specific, non-negotiable competencies. This is the definitive founder’s manual for converting Nigeria’s formidable challenges into unprecedented opportunity. The Context: Why Nigeria Demands Specialized Skills The fundamental market realities shape the required skillset:…

The Point-of-Sale (PoS) agency banking sector has solidified its position as Nigeria’s most accessible entrepreneurial gateway, driven by soaring demand for deposits, transfers, and bill payments outside traditional bank branches. With accessibility and digital infrastructure fueling a massive 209% Year-on-Year surge in transaction volume (reaching over 8.36 million registered terminals by March 2025), the opportunity for micro-entrepreneurs is undeniable. However, in a market led by giants like OPay and Moniepoint, and increasingly regulated by the CBN, success now hinges less on effort and more on strategic execution and adherence to new compliance standards. The Five Pillars of Sustainable PoS Success…

In a powerful call to action delivered at the 37th Convocation of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele declared that the era of graduates seeking white-collar jobs is over. The imperative for Nigeria’s 8,000 fresh graduates, and the nation at large, is a radical pivot toward digital entrepreneurship and job creation. Speaking on the theme, “Entrepreneurship Development in the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology for Job Creation and Economic Growth,” the Senator emphasized that the future of the Nigerian economy hinges on citizens—especially the youth—acquiring advanced digital skills to become global economic contributors. The Three-Pronged Strategy for Digital…

Nigeria’s quest to transform its tertiary institutions into dynamic hubs of economic innovation has received a landmark boost. The Federal Ministry of Education, in partnership with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has officially launched the Student Venture Commercialization Grant (S-VCG), a strategic initiative designed to fuel entrepreneurship and accelerate the commercialization of student-led research across the nation. Announced in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the S-VCG offers student innovators up to ₦50 million in equity-free seed funding to scale their most promising ventures. The Engine of Innovation: Why the S-VCG Matters The S-VCG is structured…

Nigeria’s economy sustained its momentum into the final quarter of 2025, marking an impressive eleven consecutive months of business expansion. The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) reported a notable rise in the Current Business Performance Index, climbing to 113.3 points in November (up from 111.3 in October), signaling a robust 16.0 index point jump year-over-year. This enduring streak is overwhelmingly anchored by a massive surge in the Trade Sector, which emerged as the month’s star performer. The sector’s index skyrocketed by 71.1 points, reaching an extraordinary 186.5 points, its highest level for the year. The Drivers: Why Confidence is Soaring…

This article reports on Nigerian President Tinubu’s request for increased French security support to combat rising violence in Northern Nigeria, alongside context regarding US concerns about the In a significant diplomatic move, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has formally requested enhanced support from France to address the severe escalation of violence engulfing Northern Nigeria.2 This appeal comes at a pivotal moment, mere weeks after the United States publicly voiced strong concerns—and suggested possible retaliatory measures—regarding the Nigerian government’s efforts to safeguard its Christian population.3 The region has been plagued by a fresh wave of large-scale insecurity, characterized by recent mass kidnappings…

The narrative of rural agricultural failure, often blamed on poor yields, frequently overlooks the true systemic hurdle: financial exclusion. The success of Lydia, a cassava farmer in Ogun State, Nigeria, serves as a powerful case study demonstrating how targeted financial literacy, paired with accessible microcredit, can fundamentally transform a subsistence operation into a commercial value-added enterprise. Lydia’s trajectory from a struggling smallholder to a farmer-processor embodies the potential of holistic financial inclusion supported by initiatives like the German-funded Global Project Promotion of Agricultural Finance (GP AgFin). The Intervention: Shifting Mindset and Mitigating Risk Before receiving support, Lydia faced common obstacles:…