Author: Gift Ifeanyi

As the global trade landscape grows increasingly unpredictable, Africa’s economic powerhouses are being reminded of a harsh truth — potential alone no longer pays the bills. For Nigeria and its continental peers, the path to prosperity depends on transforming ambition into action, accelerating industrialisation, and building resilient economies that can thrive amid turbulence. A new report by the Pan-African Freescale Trade and Research Advisory Council (PAFTRAC) paints a sobering picture of the continent’s position in the evolving global order. The 2025 Africa CEO Trade Survey Report, Leveraging the AfCFTA in an Era of Global Trade Uncertainty, reveals that while policymakers…

Africa is fast becoming the new battleground for the global soft drink empire — and Coca-Cola has just made its biggest move yet. In a deal that reshapes the company’s African strategy, Swiss-based Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (Coca-Cola HBC) has struck a $2.6 billion agreement to take control of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), buying out a majority 75% stake. The acquisition — one of the largest ever in Africa’s consumer goods sector — brings together two major players under one umbrella, propelling Coca-Cola HBC into the position of the world’s second-largest Coca-Cola bottling partner by drink volume, trailing only Mexico’s…

Behind Nigeria’s glowing reputation as Africa’s digital frontier lies a quieter, grittier truth — one built not on apps and investment headlines, but on sweat, survival, and endless improvisation.It’s the world of Murtala, a university graduate who earns a living charging phones beneath a torn tarpaulin. It’s Mary, whose soy milk business costs nearly as much to produce as it earns. It’s Yiteovie, a fisherwoman saving coins that disappear before they can multiply. They are the unsung backbone of the nation — millions of informal entrepreneurs who make up about 65% of Nigeria’s GDP and generate over 80% of its…

In a bold move to energize Nigeria’s youth-driven economy, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) have unveiled a groundbreaking ₦6 billion initiative designed to formalize and accelerate 250,000 youth-led businesses nationwide. The joint program—hailed as one of the largest youth enterprise interventions in recent years—offers free business name registration to young entrepreneurs, particularly those in creative and emerging digital sectors. Beyond paperwork, the scheme is expected to create thousands of new jobs and inject a new wave of innovation into Nigeria’s MSME landscape. During a courtesy visit by the Association…

Across Africa’s digital map, Nigeria is emerging not just as a marketplace but as the machine room of the continent’s future economy. While online shopping platforms and fintech apps often steal the spotlight, the real transformation is happening behind the scenes — in warehouses, data networks, and credit systems that make trade possible. A new report by TechCabal Insights, The Future of Commerce 2025, paints a revealing picture of this evolution. It argues that the next phase of Africa’s growth won’t come from more consumer-facing apps but from founders solving deep infrastructure problems — logistics, compliance, finance, and insurance —…

In celebration of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, the Alice Wanny Development Foundation (AWDF) has trained more than 500 young girls across Nigeria in hands-on vocational and entrepreneurial skills — a bold step toward creating a future where girls can build, lead, and innovate on their own terms. The two-day empowerment event, held in Abuja, marked the second phase of AWDF’s national training initiative and focused on tiling, flooring, construction safety, and entrepreneurship — areas often dominated by men. At the event, Ms. Owan Alice Ada, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AWDF, unveiled two major projects:…

For over two decades, Adegbe Ogbeh has been quietly shaping Nigeria’s hositality and business innovation scene — not through fanfare, but through consistency, resilience, and a clear sense of purpose. A lawyer by training, Ogbeh has built a career that bridges the public and private sectors with remarkable dexterity. His ventures, from the premium Lounge One and Paper Hospitality to the social-impact tech platform Blessmi, reveal a man deeply invested in both profit and purpose. “Our journey has always been about building systems — and learning equally from our wins and our mistakes,” he reflects. From Courtrooms to Lounges: A…

Professor Anthony Olusegun Adegbulugbe stands as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished technocrats and entrepreneurs — a rare blend of intellectual brilliance, visionary leadership, and enterprise. Known for his unmatched drive and discipline, he has carved a distinct niche in both academia and the energy industry, setting standards that continue to inspire generations. Recently, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) achieved another historic milestone with the commissioning of the $400 million Otakikpo Crude Oil Export Terminal in Ikuru Town, Andoni LGA, Rivers State — the first of its kind since the Forcados Terminal was launched…

Seventeen young entrepreneurs across Nigeria have turned their innovative dreams into funded realities, thanks to the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) — a government-backed platform redefining how the nation invests in youth potential. Rather than focusing on speeches and ceremonies, this year’s NiYA Startup Pitch spotlighted a new kind of celebration — one where creative young Nigerians walked away with ₦1 million each to grow their ventures. Dr. Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development, explained that NiYA isn’t just another government scheme — it’s a structured ecosystem built to help young Nigerians learn, earn, and lead. “NiYA connects learning with opportunity,”…

At the 5th WenA SME Conference in Abuja, Aisha Babangida, founder of the Women Entrepreneurs Association (WenA), issued a passionate call for governments across Nigeria to adopt gender-inclusive procurement reforms similar to those implemented in Kaduna State — describing them as a proven blueprint for women’s economic advancement and national growth. Themed “Policy Reforms and Resilience Strategies for SMEs in a New Economy,” the conference brought together entrepreneurs, policymakers, and development partners to explore how targeted reforms can strengthen women’s role in the formal economy. Babangida commended the Affirmative Action Procurement Reform Initiative, led by UN Women with backing from…

At this year’s Moonshot by TechCabal conference — an influential gathering that unites Africa’s top innovators, investors, and policymakers — one company took the spotlight for championing a vital cause: empowering Africa’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with affordable, intelligent technology. The event, which explored key forces shaping Africa’s digital evolution — from artificial intelligence (AI) to sustainable innovation — also provided a platform to address persistent barriers slowing SME growth across the continent. Among these are poor access to digital infrastructure, funding limitations, and fragmented business systems. Speaking during the conference, Vincent Edigin, Co-founder and CEO of GreenBii, underscored…

Some people build law firms. Others build companies. But few, like Gbenga Oyebode, have mastered the art of doing both—and doing them at a scale that reshapes entire industries. For more than forty years, Oyebode has stood at the intersection of intellect and enterprise, transforming his mastery of law into a blueprint for business leadership. From Law to Leadership: A Journey of Dual Excellence Long before becoming the face of Nigeria’s palm oil success story, Gbenga Oyebode was shaping the nation’s corporate legal landscape. After earning his law degree from the University of Ife in 1979 and a Master of…

Marking a significant expansion beyond beverages, the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd. has officially stepped into the snack market with the debut of Plazma Biscuit, a well-loved European treat now making its way to Nigerian consumers. This launch signals NBC’s strategic diversification into Nigeria’s thriving fast-moving consumer goods sector, underscoring its confidence in the country’s growing economy and appetite for quality snacks. It also demonstrates the company’s commitment to broadening its product portfolio and deepening its local presence after decades of beverage leadership. The introduction of Plazma was made possible through a partnership involving Bambi, one of Europe’s leading confectionery…

After transforming media intelligence globally with Meltwater and empowering thousands of African entrepreneurs through MEST Africa, Jorn Lyseggen is returning to the frontlines of innovation—this time, with a bold new fintech venture designed to reshape how Africans handle money. His latest creation, BMONI, is an AI-powered financial platform tailored for Africa’s digitally savvy professionals and small business owners who operate seamlessly across borders but still face financial barriers in moving funds freely. Officially launched in Nigeria on October 13, BMONI represents Lyseggen’s most personal mission yet—to revolutionize how Africans spend, save, and transfer money both locally and internationally. “There are…

In a growing economy where innovation and integrity must go hand in hand, QNET is pushing for a redefinition of what it means to be an entrepreneur in Nigeria — one rooted in ethics, empowerment, and community growth. During a recent virtual gathering tagged “Beyond VCON: Media Insights from VCON 2025”, QNET brought together Nigerian journalists and media leaders to reflect on lessons from its global convention held in Penang, Malaysia. The session served as more than a debrief — it became a conversation about reshaping the public’s perception of direct selling and redefining the standards of ethical entrepreneurship across…

In a world where global trade alliances are fracturing and economic blocs are redefining their boundaries, Nigeria is turning this disruption into opportunity. Under the leadership of Professor Jude Osakwe and the NIDO-Africa network, the “Made-in-Nigeria” initiative is emerging as a cornerstone of the continent’s economic transformation — aligning national ambition with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Rather than viewing the global trade divide as a setback, Osakwe sees it as the moment Africa must take control of its own economic narrative. According to him, this is not simply a policy statement;…

Nigeria’s top editors are gearing up for a major national discourse as the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) prepares to host its 2025 All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Abuja this November. The gathering, which unites over 500 leading minds in journalism, governance, and academia, will focus on strengthening democratic values and national unity ahead of the 2027 elections. A highlight of the event will be the participation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who will officially declare the conference open on November 12, 2025, reaffirming his administration’s engagement with the media as a critical pillar of democracy. Themed “Democratic Governance…

In an economy where access to foreign exchange can make or break a business, a new player is rewriting the rules. ZitraPay, a digital FX platform launched in June 2025, is bridging one of Nigeria’s most persistent economic gaps — helping small and mid-sized enterprises access US dollars transparently and legally without resorting to risky black-market routes. The company was founded by Teniola Tayo-Olugbode, a seasoned risk and compliance expert with over 14 years of experience spanning Africa, the United States, and global markets. Known for his fintech contributions at Yala and Float, Tayo-Olugbode is now channeling his expertise into…

Nigeria is preparing to take the spotlight in 2026 as it welcomes the world’s most powerful economic players to Abuja for the World Investment Summit (WIS) — an event expected to unlock up to $5 trillion in foreign direct investment and redefine Africa’s investment landscape. Set for April 27–30, 2026, the four-day summit, themed “Unlocking Capital, Accelerating Development, Driving Prosperity,” is poised to become one of the largest gatherings of investors, policymakers, and innovators ever hosted on African soil. The event will convene over 80 Heads of State and Government, 96 Ministers, 800 global speakers, and more than 8,000 delegates…

In a bold move to expand financing opportunities for small businesses, the Federal Government has launched an ambitious initiative to list at least 1,000 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) on the Nigerian capital market. The goal is to enhance access to long-term funding, stimulate job creation, and fast-track the nation’s $1 trillion economy agenda. The initiative was unveiled following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in Abuja. The partnership seeks to provide innovative financing alternatives for Nigeria’s over 40 million…