Author: Gift Ifeanyi

Nigeria stands at a pivotal moment in its drive to boost business growth and attract investment. For startups, early-stage funding is often the difference between struggling to survive and scaling to success. While commercial banks demand hefty collateral and venture capital typically enters at later stages, angel investors are stepping in to bridge this critical funding gap. What Is Angel Investing?Angel financing, or angel investing, involves wealthy individuals providing early-stage capital to startups, usually in exchange for equity or convertible debt. Unlike venture capitalists, angels invest their personal funds and frequently bring mentorship, guidance, and valuable networks along with money.…

On August 2, 2025, entrepreneur and Director of The HOW Foundation, Tochi Wigwe, hosted the grand finale of the Town Hall Series under the TW Entrepreneurship 2030 Agenda (#TWEAGENDA) — a five-year initiative aiming to empower over 5,000 micro and small business owners in Nigeria with practical, innovative, and non-financial growth solutions. Originally designed for 100 MSME founders per session, the finale exceeded expectations with 150 participants joining the discussion. The sessions drew from over 4,000 applications, with 350 entrepreneurs carefully selected to represent sectors including beauty, creative arts, agriculture, fashion, and hospitality. These town halls created a platform for…

The government’s strategy for artificial intelligence (AI) emphasizes data classification, determining what must remain within the country and what can be safely hosted on public cloud platforms. National AI InitiativesKachifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of NITDA, highlighted that Nigeria has developed the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and the Standard for AI Adoption, while also testing an Ethical Standard for AI Deployment. He noted that the forthcoming Online Harm Protection Bill will align regulations for both online and offline spaces, ensuring a harmonized legal framework. Abdullahi stressed that AI systems must be retrained to reflect Nigeria’s cultural, societal, and economic realities. Without…

Nigeria’s business environment showed slight improvement in August 2025, even as longstanding structural hurdles continue to constrain growth, according to the NESG-Stanbic IBTC Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) report titled “Mixed Signals: Strong Sectoral Growth Versus Structural Hurdles.” The report shows the Current Business Performance Index rising to 107.3 points, up 1.9 points from July, signaling modest optimism among firms. The growth was largely driven by technology, finance, manufacturing, energy, and logistics, underpinned by targeted investments and ongoing reforms. Sectoral Performance Highlights Trade led the rebound, climbing to 114.1 points, bouncing back from July’s decline. Manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors recorded 106.2…

In a major fiscal development, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced that the Federal Government has stopped borrowing from local banks, following a breakthrough in non-oil revenue generation. The announcement came during a meeting with members of the Buhari Organisation, led by former Nasarawa State Governor Senator Tanko Al-Makura, at the Presidential Villa. “By August, we had already met our annual revenue targets. Non-oil revenue is performing strongly, and this allows Nigeria to operate without drawing from domestic banks,” Tinubu stated. He added that a stronger non-oil economy shields the country from external uncertainties, noting, “If non-oil revenue is healthy, global…

African businesses are grappling with technology expenses significantly higher than the global norm, with costs reportedly up to 35% above international averages, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has revealed. Speaking at GITEX Nigeria 2025 in Lagos, Dahlia Khalifa, IFC’s Regional Director for Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa, stressed that the continent’s digital potential remains underutilized. While most firms have access to mobile networks and the internet, adoption of advanced digital tools is limited by inadequate infrastructure, skill gaps, and funding constraints. IFC research highlights a striking opportunity: over 600,000 formal enterprises and 40 million micro-businesses stand to benefit from…

The ninth edition of the Ikoyi Baptist Church Business and Career Fair, held on August 30–31, 2025, attracted thousands of participants from across Lagos and beyond, solidifying its reputation as a premier platform for professional growth and entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Originally a local initiative, the fair has evolved into a national hub where faith intersects with career development, offering opportunities in a country where formal professional pathways remain limited. This year’s theme, “Maximise Your Ground”, drawn from Luke 12:16, encouraged attendees to leverage their God-given talents, skills, and resources to achieve their full potential. Workshops, masterclasses, and mentorship sessions catered…

When Emmanuel Onah reflects on his childhood in Kaduna, Nigeria, he remembers elders gathering under the shade of baobab trees to share wisdom, tell stories, and settle disputes. Decades later and thousands of kilometres away, that same spirit of knowledge-sharing is being revived in Edmonton through the launch of the Timbuktu Innovation Hub. The centre officially opened on Alberta Avenue with a vibrant ribbon-cutting ceremony filled with African dance, drumming, fashion, and food. The hub, an initiative of the African Canadian Civic Engagement Council (ACCEC), will provide space for programs focused on business growth, youth empowerment, civic engagement, access to…

The Plateau State Government is stepping up efforts to combat unemployment by proposing a supplementary budget of ₦2 billion to expand its flagship Plateau Youth Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition (PLAYESA) for Wealth initiative. Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Musa Achom, announced the plan during the launch of a new training cycle at the National Youth Centre, Shere Hills, Jos. The programme, delivered in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, is equipping young people with practical skills in ICT, fashion design, and leatherworks. Achom explained that once the budget is approved by the State House of Assembly,…

Nigeria’s cocoa industry will take center stage this September when Homto Dokpesi, a leading entrepreneur and exporter, represents the country at the International Africa Trade Fair (IATF) 2025 in Algiers, Algeria. Backed by full sponsorship from the Lagos State Government, Dokpesi will present an impressive range of cocoa-based products—spanning beans, roasted nibs, cocoa butter, cake, and powder—to a global audience of more than 35,000 buyers. Her participation signals a growing push to reposition Nigeria as a global player in agricultural exports. Beyond showcasing products, Dokpesi will join Afreximbank’s industry-focused events, where she will engage with experts and explore opportunities in…

Enugu State has earned glowing reviews from participants of the recently concluded Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference, with many lawyers describing the city as one of the cleanest and safest in Nigeria. During their stay from August 22–29, delegates toured major attractions such as the Art Gallery, National Museum, Milliken Hill, and Ngwo Pine Forest, praising the state’s hospitality, infrastructure, and serene environment. For Stephen Medaiyedu of the Abuja Bar, the state’s transformation under Governor Peter Mbah was particularly striking. He noted that within just two years, the administration had delivered significant infrastructure, while successfully relocating and hosting…

On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, the spotlight will turn to Lagos as the first Rural Connectivity Summit (RuralConnect Summit) takes place at the Radisson Blu Hotel. Organised by Business Metrics Limited, the summit carries the theme “Rethinking Digital Connectivity to Unlock Rural Economic Potential” and will convene a cross-section of stakeholders—telecom operators, regulators, policymakers, tech companies, financial institutions, donor agencies, civil society groups, and grassroots representatives. At the heart of discussions are the urgent challenges and opportunities in extending digital access to Nigeria’s rural majority, focusing on themes such as: Innovative infrastructure rollout Policy reforms and financing models Digital literacy…

Excitement reached new heights as Lagos hosted GITEX Nigeria 2025, a four-day convergence of innovators, policymakers, investors, and startups shaping Africa’s digital future. Speaking on day one, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described Lagos as “a launchpad for Africa’s tomorrow”, underscoring the state’s determination to lead Nigeria into a data-driven era where governance, business, and society are powered by technology. The governor stressed that Lagos is not only Nigeria’s commercial capital but also its innovation hub, positioning itself as the heart of Africa’s digital transformation. The event, held under the patronage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, is jointly supported by the…

African nations must work together to develop shared artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure or face being sidelined in the global economy, according to Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. Speaking in Abuja at the opening of the GITEX Nigeria Summit 2025, Tijani warned that without deliberate collaboration, AI could deepen existing productivity divides between developed and developing nations. “If we are not intentional, AI will widen the global productivity gap. Countries that are already ahead will accelerate further, while those still trying to catch up will fall behind,” he cautioned. To underscore the urgency, Tijani compared crop…

As governments across the continent tighten rules on how information is stored and used, Africa is being pushed to decide whether its future digital wealth will remain onshore or flow overseas. That debate takes centre stage in Lagos on September 18, 2025, when more than 300 leaders from business, government, and tech assemble for the Africa Data Sovereignty Conference. The gathering, convened by Olla Systems in collaboration with Africa Hyperscalers, will tackle pressing questions of data localization, infrastructure capacity, and digital trust. For countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, and the DRC, which are already rolling out strict…

Nigeria’s unemployment challenge remains one of its toughest battles. Millions of young people search endlessly for work while the formal economy struggles to absorb them. Yet hidden in plain sight lies an overlooked solution: communities themselves becoming business owners. Across the country, from local wards to sprawling villages, the potential is staggering. With more than 80,000 villages nationwide, even if half of them each launched a single enterprise employing just 200 people, that would mean eight million new jobs. At the current minimum wage of ₦70,000, those jobs could circulate more than ₦6.7 trillion in annual wages — a game-changing…

Nigeria has entered into a new production-sharing contract (PSC) with energy giant TotalEnergies and indigenous firm South Atlantic Petroleum (Sapetro), marking a significant step in its effort to attract fresh investment into its oil sector under the recently introduced petroleum framework. The agreement covers petroleum prospecting licences (PPL) 2000 and 2001, which were allocated during the 2024 licensing round. Together, the blocks span approximately 2,000 square kilometers in the Niger Delta Basin. According to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), TotalEnergies will serve as the lead contractor with an 80% interest, while Sapetro will hold the remaining 20%. NUPRC…

The Federal Government has welcomed a remarkable surge in diaspora remittances, with inflows rising to $600 million per month over the last two months, according to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chair of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), described the increase as a sign of renewed confidence in the Nigerian economy and credited recent monetary reforms for the turnaround. She noted that the new figure represents a 200% jump from the $200 million monthly average previously recorded. In a statement released by NiDCOM spokesperson Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa applauded CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso for introducing initiatives such…

Public discourse around former President Goodluck Jonathan often swings between exaggerated praise and unfair dismissal. In his recent piece, “Jonathan, Don’t Just Run… Please Flee!” Dr. Chidi Amuta leans heavily toward the latter — offering a portrayal that reads more like caricature than critique. His essay, while witty in style, relies on selective recall and sweeping claims that distort Jonathan’s actual record. The Question of Youth Appeal Amuta suggests Jonathan failed to connect with young Nigerians. Yet history shows the opposite. Jonathan was the first Nigerian leader to formally launch his campaign online, using Facebook as a platform to engage…

Amid the pressures of survival and ambition, some stories rise above the noise — like that of Nigerian-born creative, Ramatallahi Abubakar, who is quietly making waves in Bradford, West Yorkshire, as the force behind Ramatporsche Design. For her, success didn’t come from deep pockets but from relentless passion and clever resourcefulness. She learned early that being a designer wasn’t only about sketching gowns or mixing bold African prints with sleek modern styles — it was also about learning how to make every naira, pound, and penny count. Her love for fashion began in unexpected places. While studying Medical Science at…