Business Report

 By John Koma Joint plan builds on 24,000 AI-interpreted rapid diagnostic tests, more than 7 million individual patient responses, and 4.5 billion pharmaceutical traceability records already in operation across Nigeria’s PPMV and community pharmacy network LAGOS, Nigeria, Nigeria’s National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and Sproxil have agreed a joint plan to scale artificial intelligence tools across the country’s private sector malaria response, building on a workflow already operational at thousands of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor (PPMV) and community pharmacy sites. The agreement was reached at a strategic meeting in Lagos days before World Malaria Day 2026. Nigeria carries close to a third of the world’s malaria mortality burden, and the private sector handles most first-contact care for febrile illness. Building accurate visibility into what happens at that point of care has been a long-standing gap in the national response. That visibility is taking shape at...

 By Godfrey Abey Subtext: BoredHippo's founder David Munam makes the business case for content strategy as a core growth asset, not a marketing afterthought In the competitive sector of FinTech and Web3, product quality is rarely the deciding factor in whether a startup succeeds or fails in its early growth phases.  According to David Munam, founder of BoredHippo — a content agency serving FinTech, AI, Web3, and blockchain brands, the more common deciding factor is far simpler: how clearly a company communicates what it does. "I have worked with technically exceptional products that were struggling with single-digit onboarding completion rates," Munam says. "In most of those cases, the product wasn't the issue. The copy on the website was written for engineers, whitepaper was structured like a technical specification document, and the email onboarding sequence talked about features rather than outcomes. Users and investors arrived, couldn't immediately grasp ...

 African entertainment platform Loud In Africa has officially unveiled South African media personality and singer, Unathi Nkayi, as the face of its new season, signaling a strategic expansion of its influence across Africa’s music and entertainment industry. The announcement, made via an official press release, places Unathi Nkayi at the center of Loud In Africa’s upcoming campaigns and creative direction. The move reinforces the platform’s commitment to promoting African music, culture, and influential entertainment figures shaping the continent’s creative landscape. As part of the rollout, Unathi Nkayi is set to release a highly anticipated new music project on May 1. The project will be distributed by Prime Music Partners, highlighting a key collaboration aimed at boosting African music distribution on global streaming platforms and increasing international visibility for African artists. Founder of Loud In Africa, Akeju Abass Mubarak, described the partnership as a major milest...

By Jide Bode In today’s evolving business landscape, where innovation and social responsibility increasingly define sustainable success, few leaders exemplify this balance as effectively as Vivian Emaido Moffat-Oyeyemi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Vidavil Concept. A distinguished entrepreneur, Rotarian, and humanitarian, Vivian has built a reputation anchored on strategic insight, creativity, and purposeful leadership. Through Vidavil Concept, she has consistently delivered value across real estate, event management, and brand consultancy, positioning the company as a dynamic enterprise known for innovation, professionalism, and client-focused solutions. Her leadership philosophy reflects a deeper understanding of business—not merely as a vehicle for profit, but as a platform for impact, transformation, and long-term value creation. Under her stewardship, Vidavil Concept has grown into a brand that blends operational excellence with a strong commitment to integrity...

The Lagos entrepreneur behind a fast-growing ecosystem of creative businesses is not just building companies. He is building a worldview. And it is beginning to shape an entire generation. Spend a few minutes listening to Oluseyi Magic speak, and you quickly realise he is less interested in telling you about his businesses than he is in telling you how he thinks. The ventures matter, of course. But for him, they are outcomes, not origins. The origin is the worldview. The philosophy. The mental model he has spent years refining about what it actually takes to build something real in Nigeria's creative industry. "Everything I have built comes from one belief," he says. "Talent is not the problem in this country. Thinking is the problem. We think small. We think short-term. We think like freelancers when we should be thinking like founders. Until that changes, the industry cannot grow." It is a striking way to begin a conversation with a Nigerian entrepreneur. Most...

Residency has kicked off Following the official kickoff of the residency, Day 2 of the iHatch Cohort 5 Hub Managers Programme in Abuja moved beyond foundational learning into practical learning, collaboration, and real-world execution. While Day 1 established the core principles of running effective innovation hubs, Day 2 focused on how those principles are applied in real-world contexts. The sessions were designed to bridge the gap between theory and execution, exposing Hub Managers to practical models of building and sustaining impactful ecosystems. The day began with presentations from Ilorin Innovation Hub and CcHub Namibia, both offering grounded insights into the realities of operating innovation hubs within different environments, all within Africa. These sessions highlighted not just successes, but the operational challenges, strategic decisions, and long-term thinking required to build resilient hubs. One of the key moments was the fireside chat titled “Zero to One – Lessons f...

 Tanbram Benchmark International Limited (TBIL Travels), a Lagos-based travel services company with over a decade of industry experience, has announced the launch of its new online flight booking platform designed to simplify how Nigerians access domestic and international air travel. The newly launched website introduces a streamlined booking experience that allows users to search, compare, and secure flight tickets across multiple airlines in real time. The platform is positioned to address longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s travel sector, including price opacity, limited access to competitive fares, and inefficiencies in the booking process. According to the company, the platform integrates a user-friendly interface with backend aggregation technology, enabling travelers to access a wider range of fare options without relying solely on traditional agency channels. The launch comes at a time when demand for both domestic and outbound travel among Nigerians continues to grow, d...

 Alloy Contracting Services Expands into Residential and Hospitality Development Alloy Contracting Services is entering a new phase of growth with its expansion into residential and hospitality development, positioning itself at the intersection of engineering and real estate. The move reflects a broader shift in market demand, where clients are increasingly seeking developments that combine structural integrity, long-term durability, and modern functionality. Industry experts note that while many real estate projects prioritise aesthetics, fewer maintain the engineering standards required for longevity and performance. Alloy Contracting Services is aiming to close that gap. Drawing from its 11-year experience in infrastructure and technical services, the company is delivering residential homes, hotels, and restaurant spaces built on the same principles of precision, compliance, and execution excellence. Its existing portfolio including projects delivered for organisations such as ...

Prominent Nigerian human rights activist and pro-democracy campaigner, Omoyele Yele Sowore, has called for stronger investment in youth development through education and sports as he attended the 2026 Interhouse Sports of HOMAJ Schools in Ondo State. Sowore, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, presented medals and trophies to winning students and commended the school’s commitment to raising confident, disciplined, and socially responsible young people. The event brought together pupils and students from the nursery, primary, and secondary sections of the school in a colourful celebration of athleticism, culture, and unity. Competition was keen among the four houses—Blue (Mr. Adeyanju), Green (Chief Mr. and Mrs. Akinsemolu), White (Mr. Omowole), and Purple (Madam Alice Ashanu and Prof. Duyile)—with Green House emerging overall winner after outstanding performances across multiple events. A major highlight of the day was the cultural march past, which drew admiration from g...

Recruitment challenges across Nigeria and the broader African market have been attributed not to a lack of talent, but to a growing disconnect between available skills and workplace readiness, according to HRD Solutions. For many organisations, hiring has become a repetitive cycle marked by onboarding difficulties, underperformance, and eventual employee exits. Despite Nigeria’s large and rapidly expanding workforce, companies continue to face prolonged vacancies, declining productivity, and persistent retention issues. Industry observers note that while thousands of graduates enter the labour market annually, many lack the practical competencies, industry exposure, and professional discipline required in today’s evolving business environment. This gap, experts say, is further widened by outdated recruitment practices that prioritise academic credentials over demonstrable capability. Chief Executive Officer of HRD Solutions, Osayande Omo-Osagie, emphasised that the issue goes beyond ta...

    Across Africa, gaming has grown rapidly over the past few years, but structure has not always kept pace. Communities exist, players are active, and interest continues to rise, yet much of the experience still happens in scattered spaces with limited opportunities for consistent competition or growth. This is the gap Kreation Games is trying to address. Founded in 2020 by its CEO, known as “The Kreator,” Kreation Games did not begin as a large-scale platform. It started with a simple idea: bring gamers together in a way that feels organized, engaging, and continuous rather than occasional or fragmented. Over time, that idea has evolved into something broader, a developing ecosystem that goes beyond tournaments. Instead of focusing only on events, Kreation Games is being built as a space where gaming activity can exist in layers. Players can compete, interact, and stay connected within a system that is designed to keep them engaged over time rather than just for single compe...

 Nigerian Founder Sells Dubai Business to Fund Keepaza, a Payment Identity Platform Built for How Nigerians Actually Transact.  Akindele Liasu has committed significant founder capital to Keepaza, the Nigerian payment identity platform he founded under OH Mobility Solution Limited, following the restructuring of his UAE business operations under OH Mobility FZ LLC. The capital commitment marks a defining moment for the platform and signals the beginning of an aggressive growth phase for a product that has quietly been solving one of the most frustrating daily problems in Nigerian commerce. The decision to liquidate overseas business interests and redirect the proceeds into a Nigerian startup is not a common one. Most founders move in the opposite direction. Akindele’s choice says something deliberate about where he believes the most important opportunity sits right now. “Every day in Nigeria, millions of people are pasting their bank account numbers into WhatsApp chats with st...

  In many Nigerian households today, the question is no longer whether families earn income, but whether income arrives at the right time. For millions of urban workers, small business owners, and young professionals, cash-flow gaps between paydays often determine when essential needs can be met. Food and home essentials frequently become casualties of this timing mismatch. This reality is quietly reshaping the meaning of food security in Nigeria’s cities. Traditionally, food insecurity has been linked to lack of income. Today, however, many households face a different challenge: temporary liquidity constraints. Salaries may be delayed, payments tied up in receivables, or unexpected expenses may disrupt carefully planned budgets. The result is not necessarily poverty, but pressure. It is within this context that WeeStore introduces a structured alternative. Positioned as a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platform for essentials, WeeStore bridges the gap between cash insufficiency or unav...

      Afrobeats, one of Africa’s most influential cultural exports, is set to gain further global attention as industry stakeholders converge in New York for the screening of Chronicles of Afrobeats, a project documenting the evolution and international impact of the genre. The event, scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the iconic SOB’s NYC, will feature an exclusive screening followed by a high-level panel discussion involving key figures shaping the Afrobeats movement across continents. Founded by Abisagboola Oluseun John, professionally known as Bankulli, the initiative aims to provide a deeper narrative into the roots, growth, and future trajectory of Afrobeats, which has grown from a regional sound into a dominant force on the global music stage. Speaking ahead of the event, Dr Amanda Ota, a partner at Loud in Africa, emphasized the cultural and economic significance of the genre, stating, “Afrobeats is no longer just a sound; it is a global cultural movement ...

   Nigerian businesses are facing growing challenges in managing fragmented marketing systems, as companies rely on multiple disconnected tools to handle customer acquisition, engagement, and retention. At many mid-sized firms, marketing teams operate across separate platforms for email, SMS, customer relationship management, and analytics. This setup often leads to inefficiencies, with teams spending significant time consolidating data and tracking customer interactions across channels instead of focusing on campaign execution and performance. Industry data highlights the scale of the issue. A Business Day report shows over 60 percent of small and medium-sized enterprises in Nigeria lack a documented marketing strategy linked to revenue. This gap reflects a broader problem where marketing activities are not aligned, resulting in inconsistent customer experiences and limited visibility into performance. Experts say the fragmentation affects the entire customer journey. Lead ge...

   Lagos based real estate developer Gate & Carter has announced a new residential project in Ikate, Lekki, adding to a pipeline that has positioned the company as one of the more technology-focused developers operating in the city's mid-to-upper residential market. Medallion Apartments Lekki will be a multi-floor mid-rise building offering a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom units. The developer has set a November 2026 completion target. Pricing has not been disclosed, though Gate & Carter is marketing pre-completion units at what it describes as early buyer rates. The project sits in Ikate, a district that has attracted growing developer interest as Lekki's commercial and residential footprint expands westward. Gate & Carter is pitching the development at Lagos professionals and families seeking apartments with integrated technology, a segment the company has built its brand around since its founding roughly six years ago. On the technology side, the building i...

 By Tunji Bola Tunji Olaseinde, the founder and chief executive of Lagos based smart-home developer Gate & Carter Limited, has announced the launch of Future Inc., a new company targeting Nigeria's electricity deficit and security challenges through two separate commercial divisions. The announcement marks a significant expansion of Olaseinde's business interests beyond real estate. Gate & Carter, which he founded roughly six years ago, built its reputation developing technology integrated residential properties across Lagos, among them a smart apartment building in Lekki Phase 1, ultra-luxury waterfront homes along Cowrie Creek, and CLAY Beach Resort, a wellness development currently under construction on the private island of Ilashe. Future Inc. is organised into two divisions. The first, Future Energy, will sell solar power systems to households and businesses and finance purchases through instalment payment plans, an arrangement the company says is designed to lower...

Nanoy Homes’ one-year anniversary event was more than a milestone celebration, it was a deep dive into the realities shaping Abuja’s real estate market today. Hosted at Harris Hotel, Wuye and anchored by the ever blazing MC & Compere – Alinonu Chibuzor, who also was the Creative Director and Production Manager of the entire event. The event gathered a diverse audience of staffs, investors, clients, affiliates, and industry professionals, all with one shared interest: understanding where the next opportunities lie. At the center of the event was a powerful idea, Abuja’s growth is not random. It follows a pattern. And those who understand that pattern are often the ones who benefit the most. During the panel session, industry leaders discussed how areas once considered “too far” gradually become prime investment zones. This shift is driven by a combination of infrastructure development, population expansion, and increasing demand for more affordable yet strategic locations. For many ...

A new chapter has begun in Abuja’s creative industry as Mrs. Tolulope Oladipupo, Chief Executive Officer of Alveena Events and Victoria O Signature Events, has been elected as the inaugural President of the Association of Creative Event Designers, Abuja (ACEDA). Her emergence, which followed the association’s election held on March 26, 2026, is widely seen as a defining moment for stakeholders within the capital’s event design ecosystem, with expectations high for structural growth and global visibility. Accepting the mandate, Oladipupo pledged to reposition the industry through innovation, sustainability and strategic collaboration, noting that her administration would be guided by a forward-thinking blueprint tagged “Vision to Velocity.” “I am honoured and grateful for the trust placed in me. My focus is on member advocacy and protection, ensuring a balanced relationship between designers and clients, and setting a sustainable global blueprint for our industry. Together, we will upho...

The Route to Market (RTM) West Africa Summit will return in June 2026 as a leading platform for shaping consumer-centric growth and strengthening market resilience across the region’s fast-evolving FMCG landscape. Building on the success of its 2025 edition, the summit will convene industry leaders, manufacturers, distributors, and technology providers in Lagos to address critical challenges and unlock new growth opportunities in West Africa. The 2025 edition, held at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, set a benchmark for industry collaboration, attracting over 1,000 attendees, 25+ expert speakers, and 5+ exhibiting companies. The event delivered over 21 hours of networking and connected stakeholders from more than 200 companies serving over 1.8 million retail outlets across the region. Key sessions in 2025 featured leading voices across finance, FMCG, and technology, addressing macroeconomic pressures, digital transformation, consumer behavior, and supply chain optimization. Industry le...

By Samson Ofiah Blue Seal Energy Group has entered a technical partnership with Geoplex Drillteq Limited to support drilling operations across Africa. L-R: Engr Wole OGUNSANYA - GCEO of Geoplex & Dr. Doyle .R. Edeni - CEO of Blue Seal Under the deal, Blue Seal will manufacture and supply all drilling, completions and stimulation chemicals required by Geoplex for its drilling campaigns. Blue Seal will also provide technical consultancy support services to enhance drilling efficiency. Following the signing of the MOU in Lagos, Dr. Doyle Edeni, CEO of Blue Seal Energy Group, and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya, GCEO of Geoplex Drillteq Limited, issued a joint statement hailing the strategic partnership as a model for deepening collaboration between stakeholder companies to promote local content participation in the oil and gas service industry. “The summary of our approach is alignment of resources by companies with unique skills to improve overall efficiency and maximize outcomes,” the executiv...

Tobiloba Akanni SoniBaze Digital, a full-service digital marketing and media agency based in Abuja, has issued a direct warning to Nigerian businesses that continue to operate without a professional online presence, arguing that in today's search-driven economy, a poor or absent website is not a minor inconvenience it is a daily revenue loss. The agency, which holds a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Sortlist and is listed among Nigeria's leading digital agencies on TechBehemoths, has observed that a significant proportion of businesses across Abuja and the wider FCT still rely primarily on social media or word of mouth as their main customer acquisition channels, with no website, an outdated one, or one that fails to function properly on mobile devices. Nwafor Chinecherem, founder of SoniBaze Digital, said the consequences of this gap are more serious than most business owners realize. "Every day that a business does not appear on the first page of Google for what it sells, it is l...

  How Celevend Is Solving Nigeria's Event Vendor Problem: A Platform Built for Trust and Transparency By Ayodele Oyeniyi  From wedding photography to catering to venue booking one app simplifies event planning across 24 service categories with verified vendors, real portfolios, and secure payments. Planning an event in Nigeria still means navigating fragmented vendor networks, uncertain pricing, and the risk that your hired photographer won't show up or your caterer will deliver subpar work. The friction is real. Without a centralized platform, event planners whether couples planning weddings, families organizing naming ceremonies, or diaspora Nigerians coordinating from abroad rely on referrals, social media profiles, and hope. Vendors operating independently on Instagram and WhatsApp have no way to systematically reach customers or maintain booking accountability. The Celevend Solution Celevend addresses this directly. The mobile marketplace connects customers actively plann...

    Five-time GRAMMY-winning global music icon Angélique Kidjo has returned with a brand new single titled “Aye Kan (Are You Coming Back)”, featuring Nigerian Afropop star Ayra Starr, in what is being described as a powerful cross-generational collaboration. The single, released on March 27, 2026, serves as a precursor to Kidjo’s highly anticipated album HOPE!!, scheduled for release on April 24 under Warner Music Group. The song blends rich African musical heritage with contemporary pop influences, delivering a message that redefines love as true wealth in a world often driven by materialism. Accompanied by a cinematic music video shot at the iconic Power Station Studio in New York, the visuals capture both artistes in an intimate performance setting, illuminated by candlelight and framed by a grand piano, reflecting the song’s central theme of love, connection, and emotional richness. The collaboration also tells a deeper story of inspiration and legacy. Ayra Starr, who has ...