Dr. Biodun Adedipe, leading Nigerian economist, states that fintech and financial inclusion are vital for moving Nigeria’s economy from a state of “jobless growth” to a more inclusive and sustainable model that benefits everyone. Adedipe, who is the CEO of B. Adedipe & Associates Limited, highlighted this during his keynote speech at the 2nd Business Journal Fintech & Financial Inclusion Roundtable in Lagos. According to Dr Adedipe, over $2 billion was invested in Nigerian fintech and startups by more than 50 angel and venture capitalists in 2024. He described financial inclusion as a powerful tool for economic development and reducing…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
By Moses Braimah The air in Nigeria is thick, not just with the Harmattan dust, but with a palpable sense of impending rupture. It is a peculiar kind of national anxiety, a feeling that the very threads holding this sprawling, magnificent, and maddening country together are being pulled taut. To take a sober look at Nigeria today is to witness a nation engaged in a form of economic and social self-immolation, a slow-motion unraveling that threatens to consume all in its path. Let us, with the cold eye of an analyst and the fiery heart of a patriot, survey the…
Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited, Nigeria’s leading investment and financial advisory firm, is set to celebrate a dual milestone: 30 years of innovation and leadership in financial services, and unveiling of the 20th edition of its flagship Nigerian Banking Sector Report. The celebration will commemorate Afrinvest’s three-decade journey of driving impact, shaping policy and delivering cutting-edge solutions to the Nigerian economy. It will also feature the unveiling of the 2025 BSR with the theme,’ACT-BOLD: Turbocharging Nigeria to A New Growth Frontier.’ Founded in 1995, Afrinvest has evolved into a trusted voice in Nigeria’s financial landscape, pioneering data-driven insights, structuring landmark deals…
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has temporarily suspended his public activities after feeling unwell. The former Anambra State Governor announced on his X (formerly Twitter) account that he received medical advice to rest for a few days. Obi stated that he began feeling unwell in Enugu and, after visiting a hospital, was advised to take a break. He apologized for the disruption to his scheduled events both in Nigeria and abroad. Before falling ill, Obi had a busy schedule, including attending a tourism event, visiting a hospital in Anambra State where he made a N10 million donation,…
The Nigeria Customs Service has announced a new policy that allows Nigerian travelers and online shoppers to import goods worth $300 or less without paying customs duties. This “de minimis” threshold, which took effect on Monday, September 8, aims to simplify the clearance process for small shipments and personal baggage. According to Abdullahi Maiwada, Customs spokesperson, the policy applies to express shipments, e-commerce purchases, and items brought in by passengers. It allows for instant clearance as long as the items are not prohibited goods. The new rule permits up to four such duty-free importations per person each year. Officials believe…
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has signed a strategic partnership with global cybersecurity leader Kaspersky to strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. The agreement, sealed at the sideline of GITEX Nigeria 2025 event, is a major step toward protecting critical national infrastructure, boosting public awareness, and equipping Nigerians with the skills to combat cyber threats. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, NITDA’s Director General, emphasised that the partnership will focus on building human capacity, as over 95 per cent of cyberattacks are caused by human error. He stated that the goal is not just a symbolic agreement but a commitment to measurable…
Steve Babaeko, Managing Director, X3M Ideas, a leading one-stop-shop marketing communications company based in Lagos, has said he would rather his company take up shares in businesses his agency handles than be paid retainers. Babaeko whose company was rated as one of the top 50 businesses in Africa by Financial Times, spoke on C-Suite Café, a podcast hosted by journalist and brand analyst, Ikem Okuhu, said his journey into entrepreneurship was inspired by the desire to break the myth long held among agencies that those in the creative side of the advertising business could not run their own agencies successfully. “As…
The race for the 2025 Consumers Value Awards (CVA) is heating up as consumers continue to vote in their thousands, with surprising results already emerging from the first month of polling. For the very first time in its four-year history, the CVA has opened its platform to evaluate public sector agencies alongside private sector brands, and the response has been electric. Leading the charge, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has surged ahead with an impressive 98 per cent of votes, earning the badge of Outstanding Federal Agency on Consumer Engagement. Closely following, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration…
At the GITEX Nigeria 2025 conference, top Nigerian officials emphasized the critical need for African nations to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) to boost productivity, create jobs, and remain globally competitive. The speakers warned that without rapid AI integration, the continent risks being left behind in the global digital economy. Why Africa Must Adopt AI: Lessons from Around the World Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, highlighted how countries like Brazil are already reaping significant benefits from AI. He shared an example from Brazil and South Africa, where AI-powered precision agriculture uses drones and sensors to…
Giorgio Armani, the iconic Italian fashion designer whose elegant, understated style redefined modern luxury, has died. He passed away on Thursday at his home in Milan at the age of 91. The Armani Group confirmed his death in a statement, calling him the company’s “tireless driving force” who continued to work until his final days. The cause of death was not disclosed. Worth an estimated $12.1 billion according to Forbes, Armani built a global empire that spanned clothing, fragrances, hotels, and home furnishings. A public memorial will be held in Milan, with a private funeral to follow, as per…