Women-powered palm oil production takes off in Oku, boosting output, income and shared prosperity

Akwa Ibom State has reinforced its commitment to women-driven economic growth with the commissioning of a modern palm fruit processing mill in Oku, Abak Local Government Area. The facility, inaugurated by Governor Umo Eno under the Nigeria for Women Project, represents a deliberate effort to move women from small-scale activity into organised, high-value agro-processing while boosting local palm oil output.

The processing mill is designed to cater to women across the 11 wards of Abak Local Government Area and has already delivered measurable gains in productivity. With the introduction of mechanised processing, daily output has risen sharply from a single drum of palm oil to about eight drums, improving efficiency, consistency and market readiness. The expansion has not only reduced processing time but has also improved oil quality, positioning producers to compete more effectively within the wider palm oil market.

Speaking at the event, the governor’s Delivery Adviser on the Nigeria for Women Project, Ini Adiakpan, described the initiative as a comprehensive empowerment programme rather than a stand-alone infrastructure project. She noted that participating women are equipped with skills in financial management, leadership and cooperative governance, alongside training in water, sanitation and hygiene practices and awareness around gender-based violence. Adiakpan praised the state government for driving the programme locally and acknowledged the World Bank for providing the financial backing that enabled its execution.

Providing insight into the broader impact of the project, the State Coordinator of the Nigeria for Women Project, Ofonime Etuknwa, explained that the Federal Government-supported initiative was structured to help women transition from informal trading into commercial-scale palm oil production. She said the project has significantly improved the economic fortunes of beneficiaries, revealing that many women who previously saved as little as ₦100 weekly now save between ₦3,000 and ₦5,000. This shift, she added, has strengthened their financial independence and improved access to capital for business growth.

Etuknwa further disclosed that the palm processing facility is jointly owned by about 200 women operating as a cooperative. Through this collective ownership model, members are able to share resources, reduce operating costs and benefit from economies of scale. With improved output and market access, the cooperative is expected to generate meaningful dividends for its members by the end of the year, reinforcing the long-term sustainability of the enterprise.

At the heart of the initiative is the palm fruit processing mill itself, a mechanised facility that converts freshly harvested palm fruit bunches into crude palm oil through a series of integrated operations. These include sterilisation, fruit separation, digestion, pressing and clarification, processes that significantly increase yield while minimising waste. By replacing labour-intensive traditional methods, the mill enhances productivity and ensures better quality control.

Beyond its economic value, the mill stands as a catalyst for wider community development as it creates employment opportunities along the palm oil value chain, strengthens cooperative structures and positions women as key contributors to local industrial growth. Through the Nigeria for Women Project, the Oku palm fruit processing mill illustrates how targeted investment, skills development and inclusive ownership can translate into sustainable economic empowerment for women and lasting benefits for their communities.

Orondaam Otto: The Man Building Schools Where Opportunity Is Missing

Orondaam Otto does not talk about education as charity, he speaks of it as infrastructure, the quiet architecture that determines whether nations rise or fracture. To him, classrooms are as critical as roads, teachers as vital as power grids, and access to learning as consequential as access to water. It is a belief forged not in theory or privilege, but in close contact with places where the absence of education is visible, measurable, and devastating. From that understanding, Orondaam has built a life’s work focused not on sympathy, but on systems, fixing what fails, and designing what should have existed all along.

Born on 8 August 1987 at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria and rooted in Ellelem World Town, Port Harcourt, Orondaam was raised in a household where public service was not an abstract value but a daily ethic. The influence of his late father, Major Dr. E.O.C. Otto, and his mother, Mrs. Marianne Otto, instilled discipline, empathy, and a deep sense of responsibility long before leadership titles followed.

By the time he reached secondary school at the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Borikiri, leadership had already found him. He served as health prefect and led the school’s editorial board, learning early that responsibility is less about authority and more about care for the collective. These experiences quietly shaped his understanding of systems, accountability, and impact.

Orondaam's academic path initially pointed toward medicine. He studied Human Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt, drawn by a desire to understand life at its most fundamental level but outside the lecture halls, his worldview was expanding. Through youth development work across Nigeria and West Africa, including stints in Ghana, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire, he encountered communities rich in talent but starved of opportunity.

That realisation hardened into resolve during his National Youth Service in Lagos State where in waterfront and border communities such as Makoko and Iwaya, Orondaam encountered children locked out of the education system, not by lack of ability, but by neglect. In Makoko, hundreds of children spent their days on the lagoon, invisible to policy and untouched by planning and for Orondaam, it was a moment of moral clarity.

Though officially posted to a bank, he made a decision that would define his life’s direction. He resigned from his NYSC placement and committed himself fully to enrolling out-of-school children and with volunteers, community support, and little institutional backing, he renovated a public primary school and enrolled 114 children, many entering a classroom for the first time. Today, several of those children are studying in universities across Nigeria, living evidence of what timely intervention can achieve.

Recognition followed, including state and presidential honours for national service, but Orondaam's focus shifted immediately to scale. In 2012, he founded Slum to School Africa, not as a short-term charity, but as a long-term human capital movement designed to confront Africa’s educational gaps at its roots.

Over the next decade, the organisation expanded across hundreds of Nigerian communities, supporting nearly one million children and young people through scholarships, mentoring, digital learning, and psychosocial care. A global volunteer network spanning more than 60 countries powered its growth, while strategic partnerships unlocked millions of dollars in funding.

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut classrooms across the world, Orondaam once again responded with urgency. He led the creation of Africa’s first virtual learning classroom tailored for underserved children. What began as a modest pilot quickly scaled, in partnership with UNICEF, to reach over half a million learners across northern Nigeria, earning continental and global recognition for innovation in education access.

Orondaam's work has also redefined what education infrastructure can look like. Through the Slum to School Green Academy, he championed an eco-friendly, solar-powered school model built with bamboo architecture, rainwater harvesting systems, and waste-to-energy biodigesters. The project sent a clear message: Africa can build learning spaces that are sustainable, intelligent, and locally grounded.

Behind the fieldwork is a formidable intellectual foundation that has seen Orondaam pursue advanced studies in leadership, development finance, social entrepreneurship, and public policy across Europe, Africa, and North America, including a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where he was an Edward Mason Fellow. His academic focus mirrors his practical work - education reform, institutional design, and human capital development.

Beyond education delivery, Orondaam has contributed to governance and policy at the highest levels. He served as a founding board member of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, helping shape youth employability and innovation initiatives, and has advised national platforms focused on economic growth and human capital development.

Global recognition has followed, including multiple Future Awards Africa wins, UN recognition among the most influential people of African descent, the Eisenhower Global Fellowship, and selection as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum; yet accolades remain secondary to purpose.

At the heart of Orondaam Otto’s work is a conviction that Nigeria’s future will be determined by how well it prepares its young people , not just to earn certificates, but to build systems, shape narratives, and lead transformation. For him, education is not an act of charity, it is liberation.

From waterfront communities to global policy rooms, Orondaam's journey is a study in purposeful leadership, proof that when systems fail, individuals can design better ones, and in doing so, help a nation secure its future.

Gombe Records Historic IGR Breakthrough, Hits ₦40.8bn in 2025

Gombe State has achieved a major fiscal milestone, posting its strongest Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) performance on record with ₦40.8 billion collected in 2025. The figure represents a dramatic turnaround from ₦6.8 billion in 2019, underscoring the scale of the state’s revenue transformation over the last six years.

The latest performance not only reflects nearly a 500 per cent growth since Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya assumed office, it also marks a sharp leap from ₦20.7 billion recorded in 2024. In addition, the state comfortably outperformed its 2025 IGR projection of ₦25.7 billion, signalling improved planning accuracy and stronger execution within the revenue system.

According to the Chairman of the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service (GIRS), Aisha Adamu, the surge is the product of sustained reforms rather than a one-off windfall. Speaking while unveiling the figures, she explained that the state deliberately restructured its revenue framework to make collection more efficient, transparent and inclusive.

Over the past few years, Gombe has steadily built momentum. Revenue climbed to ₦15.18 billion in 2023, rose further to ₦20.72 billion in 2024, and then surged past the ₦40 billion mark in 2025. Adamu described the progression as evidence of a system that has matured, supported by stronger enforcement, expanded taxpayer coverage, and improved compliance culture.

Central to the gains, she noted, is the political will demonstrated by Governor Yahaya, particularly his insistence on fiscal discipline, institutional accountability and the modernisation of revenue administration. Reforms introduced at GIRS have focused on tightening collection processes, deploying technology, eliminating leakages and strengthening collaboration across government agencies.

“The consistency of these results shows that the reforms are working,” Adamu said, adding that the administration’s support created the enabling environment for revenue officers to perform effectively while maintaining fairness to taxpayers.

Beyond boosting state finances, the improved IGR position is expected to translate into tangible benefits for residents. With more resources generated locally, the state is better placed to invest in roads, healthcare, education and other critical social infrastructure, while reducing overdependence on external allocations.

Looking ahead, GIRS says it is determined to build on the 2025 achievement rather than rest on it. Adamu expressed confidence that ongoing reforms, combined with public cooperation, will sustain the upward trend into 2026 and beyond.

“Our objective is long-term,” she said. “We are laying the foundation for a financially resilient Gombe State, powered by efficient governance and a revenue system that supports inclusive development.”

The 2025 figures, analysts say, position Gombe as a growing example of how subnational governments can strengthen their finances through policy consistency, institutional reform and disciplined leadership.

Kaduna launches 5,000-vehicle mega inter-state bus terminal

Kaduna State is making a decisive statement about its future with the launch of an ambitious transport project that blends scale, technology and economic vision into a single development.

At the heart of the initiative is a proposed inter-state bus terminal designed to handle more than 5,000 vehicles, positioning Kaduna as a major mobility hub in Northern Nigeria. The project, unveiled by Governor Uba Sani, is expected to reshape how people and goods move in and out of the state while raising new standards for safety and efficiency.

Rather than functioning as a conventional motor park, the terminal is being developed as a large, integrated transport district. Spread across 20 hectares along the Eastern Bypass in Chikun Local Government Area, the complex will feature intelligent traffic systems, modern surveillance infrastructure and purpose-built facilities that prioritise order, security and commuter comfort. Accessibility is central to the design, with elevators and escalators included to ensure seamless use by the elderly and persons with disabilities.

The development also signals Kaduna’s growing embrace of cleaner and smarter transport solutions. Fuel stations for petrol, diesel and compressed natural gas will operate within the terminal, while a three-star hotel is planned to support travellers, drivers and visitors. Together, these elements are intended to transform the space into a self-sustaining transport and commercial ecosystem rather than a standalone transit point.

Beyond infrastructure, the project is expected to unlock wide-ranging economic opportunities. Thousands of direct and indirect jobs are projected across transport services, technical trades, commerce and hospitality, offering new income streams for artisans, traders, technicians and young entrepreneurs. The terminal’s location is also designed to ease congestion in the city centre while improving surveillance and security along the revitalised Eastern Bypass.

The initiative builds on a series of transport reforms already underway in the state. Kaduna has deployed 100 free CNG-powered buses since mid-2025, a move that has carried more than 1.4 million passengers, significantly reduced commuting costs and lowered carbon emissions. Supporting infrastructure such as modern bus stops, the near-complete Kakuri terminal and the ongoing redevelopment of Sobawa Motor Park form part of the same broader mobility strategy.

Looking further ahead, the state is preparing to begin construction of the Kaduna Light Rail Project by March 2026. The plan includes two rail lines and a dedicated Bus Rapid Transit corridor, aimed at creating a more connected and efficient urban transport network.

These sustained investments have already drawn national attention. At the National Urban Mobility Conference held in Abuja earlier this year, Kaduna ranked second nationwide for sustainable urban mobility, recognition that underscores the state’s evolving reputation as a leader in modern transport planning.

With the new mega bus terminal, Kaduna is not merely expanding infrastructure, it is laying the groundwork for safer travel, stronger economic activity and a more organised urban future, redefining mobility as a driver of development rather than just movement.

Service Without Borders: Dr. Festus Babarinde Wins 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award

Dr. Festus Oluseye Babarinde carries himself with the quiet assurance of someone who has always known why he chose medicine. For him, healthcare has never been just a profession; it is a calling shaped by service, community, and an unyielding belief that access to care should never be a privilege reserved for a few.

That philosophy has now earned the Nigerian doctor the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award, one of the United States’ most meaningful recognitions for civic and humanitarian impact. 

The award was presented during the 44th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Ceremony at the Chevy Chase Auditorium of Johns Hopkins Hospital in East Baltimore, an event dedicated to honouring individuals whose lives reflect Dr. King’s enduring ideals of equity, compassion, and justice.

A Commitment Forged Long Before the Spotlight

Dr. Babarinde’s journey to this moment did not begin in the United States, nor did it emerge from a single defining achievement. It was built gradually, through years of volunteer work and community engagement in Nigeria. 

Early in his career, he served as a volunteer camp doctor, providing medical care to vulnerable populations with limited access to healthcare services. These experiences, often far removed from modern hospital infrastructure, shaped his understanding of medicine as a tool for social change.

One of his most impactful early contributions was his involvement in the rehabilitation of the Igboore Primary Health Centre in Abeokuta. The effort helped restore basic healthcare delivery in the community, improving access to essential services for residents who had long been underserved.

Education as a Pathway to Impact

While community health formed the foundation of his service, Dr. Babarinde soon recognised that sustainable impact also required strengthening the medical workforce itself. This belief led to the creation of The Concept Academy, an initiative focused on mentoring Nigerian doctors and medical students preparing for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).

Through a combination of free tutoring sessions and structured subscription-based programmes, the academy has provided academic support and career guidance to aspiring physicians in Nigeria and across the diaspora. For many participants, the platform represents more than exam preparation; it offers confidence, direction, and a sense of possibility in an increasingly competitive global medical landscape.

Beyond the Clinic

Dr. Babarinde’s work extends well beyond education and clinical practice. He has consistently lent his time and expertise to health-focused organisations, including the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria, advocating for improved care and support for individuals living with spinal injuries.

He also co-founded the BAARD-Concept Programme at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, an initiative designed to enhance doctors’ professional competence while addressing the often-overlooked challenges of personal wellbeing within the medical profession. By creating spaces for growth, mentorship, and emotional support, the programme reflects his holistic view of healthcare, one that recognises the caregiver as central to the quality of care delivered.

A Global Stage, Local Roots

Today, Dr. Babarinde is an intern at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center and a Master of Public Health candidate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He was honoured alongside senior professors and research fellows from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, a testament to the breadth of his contributions across continents.

Yet, despite his global reach, his identity remains firmly grounded in his roots. A native of Okeho in Oyo State, he is a 2017 graduate of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Ibadan. His commitment to service has long been recognised; during his national service, he received the NYSC Presidential Award for the 2019/2020 service year for outstanding community development efforts.

Carrying the Dream Forward

According to organisers of the MLK Commemoration, recipients of the Community Service Award are selected for delivering measurable and sustained social impact. In Dr. Babarinde’s case, the recognition speaks not only to what he has achieved, but to how he has chosen to achieve it through consistency, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to people.

His story also reflects a broader narrative: the rising global influence of Nigerian-trained medical professionals who continue to shape healthcare delivery, education, and humanitarian service worldwide. 

For Dr. Festus Oluseye Babarinde, the honour is not a culmination, but a continuation, another chapter in a life defined by service without borders.

Hilda Baci and the Art of Doing It Again: Inside a Third Guinness World Record

Some achievements announce themselves loudly. Others arrive quietly, almost shyly, revealing their weight only after the moment has passed. Hilda Effiong Bassey’s third Guinness World Record belongs firmly to the latter.

As 2026 dawned, Nigeria’s most recognisable chef woke up to an email that would subtly but decisively expand her place in global culinary history. Without fanfare or anticipation, Hilda Baci discovered she had become a three-time Guinness World Record holder, a distinction few chefs anywhere in the world can claim.

Her latest honour traces back to September 2025, when she set out to achieve what would become her second Guinness World Record: preparing the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice. The feat was ambitious in scale, demanding in logistics, and culturally resonant. Jollof rice is not just a dish in Nigeria; it is identity, pride, and shared memory served on a plate. By choosing it, Hilda once again placed Nigerian culture at the centre of a global conversation.

At the time, the achievement stood on its own but months later, Guinness World Records reviewed the guidelines across categories and realised something extraordinary: the same jollof rice feat had also surpassed the benchmark for the largest serving of rice ever made, regardless of style or origin. One attempt, two categories. One vision, two records.

The confirmation came from Andrew Fanning, Head of Client Partnering at Guinness World Records’ Records Creative Team, who informed Hilda that her team’s effort had inadvertently crossed into another historic territory.

“Congratulations, you are Officially Amazing (again)!” the email read, confirming that her Nigerian-style jollof rice record also qualified as the largest serving of rice overall.

For Hilda, the news landed not on a grand stage but in the quiet rhythm of daily life.

“I was just doing my usual routine, casually scrolling through my emails,” she later explained. “I was shocked and happy at the same time.”

Five months after the initial announcement, she was only just discovering that there was more.

That sense of more has followed Hilda throughout her career. In May 2023, she first captured global attention by completing a 93-hour, 11-minute cooking marathon, setting her first Guinness World Record and becoming Nigeria’s first chef to hold multiple Guinness World Records. What began as an endurance challenge quickly evolved into something larger, a cultural moment that brought Nigerian food, resilience, and creativity into international focus.

Yet what separates Hilda Baci from many viral success stories is her refusal to remain frozen in that momen and rather than letting the spotlight define her peak, she treated it as a foundation. The records that followed were not about repeating the same trick, but about scaling vision, deepening impact, and proving consistency.

Behind the scenes of her latest achievement lies a story of collaboration and trust. Hilda was quick to acknowledge the role of her team, singling out @oreoluwa_atinmo as instrumental to the journey.

“From idea to execution, side by side, fully aligned,” she wrote. “This record would not have been possible without her.”

Her gratitude extended beyond individuals to a collective effort, long days, precise coordination, and belief sustained even when public attention moved elsewhere. In that sense, the third record feels fitting: a quiet reward for discipline rather than spectacle.

Spiritually, Hilda framed the moment as a reminder that growth often continues beyond visible milestones.

“Honestly, God is faithful,” she reflected. “The kind of faithful that still surprises you. Even when you think you’ve seen the full picture, God can still say, ‘There’s more.’”

Today, with three Guinness World Records to her name, Hilda Baci occupies a rare space. She is no longer simply a record-breaker or a viral sensation, she is a case study in sustained excellence - a chef who turned endurance into influence, culture into global currency, and one bold idea into a growing legacy.

Her story mirrors a larger truth about Nigeria itself: that brilliance here is not accidental, that world-class achievement can be deliberate, repeatable, and quietly historic. Sometimes, you only realise how big it is when you look back and see that you’ve done it again, and then some.

Ogun’s Coastal Economy Gets a Major Boost as Approval Is Secured for Oil Drilling and Seaport Revival

Ogun State is set to undergo a major economic transformation following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for commercial oil drilling and the revival of the long-awaited Olokola Deep Seaport project. The dual decisions position the state as an emerging player in Nigeria’s energy, maritime, and blue economy landscape.

Governor Dapo Abiodun confirmed the approvals in Abeokuta during an engagement with senior officers of the Nigerian Navy, led by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha. The governor described the developments as the outcome of renewed federal commitment to unlocking Ogun’s coastal and offshore potential.

At the centre of the energy push is Tongeji Island, a coastal community in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, where commercial oil drilling is expected to begin. Abiodun said activities in the area would soon intensify, opening up new economic opportunities for residents who have long remained on the margins of Nigeria’s oil economy.

Beyond oil exploration, the federal government has also cleared the Olokola Deep Seaport for immediate implementation after years of delays. Once operational, the port is expected to reduce pressure on the overstretched Lagos ports while serving as a strategic maritime gateway for the South-West and beyond.

The governor noted that discussions around Olokola have gained momentum in recent weeks, with President Tinubu personally driving the process. He revealed that the President has directed that visible progress should be achieved on the project within the next year, underscoring the urgency attached to its delivery.

In a move to reflect its broader ambition, the Olokola project has been rebranded as the Blue Marine Economic Zone. According to Governor Abiodun, the initiative is designed to catalyse large-scale investments across shipping, logistics, manufacturing, energy services, and coastal trade, supported by the proposed coastal highway that will enhance connectivity.

Security considerations also featured prominently in the state’s preparations. The Governor praised the Nigerian Navy for establishing a Forward Operations Base at Tongeji Island, describing it as critical to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime borders and protecting strategic assets as economic activities expand in the area.

He added that his administration is working to improve infrastructure and social services in host communities to ensure that residents benefit directly from the new investments, rather than merely bearing the environmental and social burden of development.

Rear Admiral Mustapha, in his remarks, described Ogun State as strategically vital to national security, particularly given its proximity to international borders and growing economic significance. He confirmed that the naval presence in Tongeji would be strengthened to match the area’s oil potential and rising commercial profile.

The naval chief said the visit was part of ongoing efforts to deepen cooperation between the Nigerian Navy and the Ogun State Government, especially in preventing cross-border crimes and securing emerging economic corridors.

With federal backing now firmly in place, Ogun State stands at the threshold of a new phase, one that could redefine its role within Nigeria’s energy sector, maritime trade network, and coastal economy, while extending the benefits of growth to previously underserved communities.

Nigeria targets urea exports by 2028, signalling a shift to value-added gas production

For decades, Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves have powered homes, flared into the atmosphere, or been exported in raw form with limited domestic transformation. What has lagged behind is the systematic conversion of that gas into industrial products that deepen the economy and generate sustainable export earnings. That gap, regulators now argue, is beginning to close and fertiliser, particularly urea, is emerging as a test case for Nigeria’s midstream ambitions.

By 2028, Nigeria is expected to join the small but influential group of countries exporting urea at scale. The projection, made by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), reflects growing confidence that recent investments in gas-based manufacturing are shifting the country away from its long-standing dependence on imported fertiliser inputs.

At the centre of this transition is the midstream segment of the oil and gas industry, the often-overlooked link between upstream production and downstream consumption. In Nigeria’s case, this segment is increasingly viewed as the engine room for industrialisation. Processing natural gas into fertiliser, petrochemicals and other secondary derivatives not only adds value locally but also anchors broader manufacturing and agricultural growth.

According to NMDPRA chief executive Saidu Mohammed, Nigeria’s continued importation of products like urea no longer makes economic sense. The country has the feedstock, the market and, increasingly, the infrastructure to meet domestic demand and look outward. Large-scale private investments, particularly in fertiliser production, are already redefining the landscape and laying the groundwork for export capacity.

Facilities such as Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited in Rivers State illustrate this shift. Once seen as isolated industrial successes, these plants are now part of a growing ecosystem of gas-based manufacturing that includes new and expanding complexes across the country. As these projects scale up, regulators believe Nigeria could achieve surplus production within the next two years, placing urea exports firmly within reach before the end of the decade.

However, ambition alone will not deliver this outcome. Mohammed estimates that between $30 billion and $50 billion in fresh investment is required to fully reposition Nigeria as a hub for oil, gas and value-added derivatives. This capital is needed not only for new plants, but also for pipelines, processing infrastructure, logistics and supporting industrial ecosystems that allow products to move efficiently from factory gates to global markets.

Rivers State, where the regulator recently inspected several midstream and downstream facilities, offers a microcosm of both the opportunity and the challenge. The state hosts some of Nigeria’s most critical energy assets such as refineries, gas processing plants and manufacturing facilities, making it an ideal vantage point for assessing how policy translates into industrial output. For the NMDPRA, these inspections are as much about listening as they are about oversight.

The regulator’s approach, Mohammed emphasised, is to act as an enabler rather than a bottleneck. Creating a stable, predictable regulatory environment is seen as essential to encouraging existing operators to expand and new investors to commit capital. Fertiliser plants, petrochemical complexes and other gas-based industries, he argued, are exactly the kind of projects Nigeria must multiply if it is to move beyond crude oil dependence.

Industry leaders share that view but caution that regulation must evolve alongside the sector. Indorama Eleme’s chief executive, Munish Jindal, noted that while regulatory understanding of midstream manufacturing has improved significantly over the past two decades, some rules were designed with upstream oil production in mind and no longer reflect the operational realities of large industrial plants. He said targeted exemptions and updates could help unlock further efficiency without undermining oversight.

Beyond industrial policy, the implications of urea exports extend into agriculture, trade and foreign exchange. Fertiliser availability remains a critical constraint on farm productivity across Nigeria and much of West Africa. A domestic industry capable of meeting local demand while exporting surplus could stabilise supply, reduce price volatility and position Nigeria as a regional supplier to neighbouring markets.

The road to 2028 is not without risk though, as global fertiliser markets are volatile, capital costs are high, and infrastructure gaps persist. Yet the direction of travel is clear especially with gas-based manufacturing gaining momentum and regulatory attention increasingly focused on value addition, urea is fast becoming a symbol of a broader recalibration of Nigeria’s energy economy.

If the current pace of investment is sustained and policy keeps step with industrial realities, Nigeria’s first major urea exports may ultimately be remembered not just as a commercial milestone, but as evidence that the country is finally beginning to capture more value from the resources beneath its soil.

How Anambra is making junior secondary education skills-driven

In classrooms across Anambra State, a quiet transformation is taking place as junior secondary students who once moved from one theory-heavy lesson to another are now being exposed to learning that looks and feels different. Some are handling basic electrical components, others are learning how everyday technology works, while a growing number are being introduced to creative and technical crafts that have clear economic value. Education in the state is being reimagined, not as a pathway that ends with certificates alone, but as one that begins early with practical capability.

This shift follows the state government’s decision to integrate a broad range of entrepreneurial and vocational learning areas into the Junior Secondary School curriculum. Announced in Awka by the Post-Primary Schools Service Commission, the reform introduces hands-on skill development into mainstream schooling, ensuring that students begin to understand how knowledge translates into work, income and innovation while they are still in school.

Rather than isolating skill acquisition as an optional or post-school activity, the new curriculum blends practical learning into everyday instruction. Students are now exposed to how renewable energy systems are installed and maintained, how mobile phones are repaired, how clothing is designed and produced, and how digital tools can be used to solve real problems. Creative fields sit alongside technical ones, while emerging areas such as robotics and information technology reflect the realities of a fast-evolving global economy.

At the heart of the reform is a deliberate shift away from an education model that prioritises examinations over usefulness. Speaking at the programme’s launch, the Chairperson of the Post-Primary Schools Service Commission, Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu, described the initiative as an effort to raise young people who are equipped to create value for themselves and for society. The emphasis, she noted, is not simply on preparing students to search for jobs, but on giving them the foundation to generate opportunities.

Education specialists in attendance, including voices from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, agreed that the demands of today’s economy require more than traditional classroom instruction especially with technology reshaping how work is done and how businesses are built. They argued that early exposure to practical problem-solving and technical thinking is no longer optional but essential.

Anambra’s move also reflects a broader national shift in how basic education is being reconsidered in Nigeria. Recent changes to the national curriculum have placed greater importance on vocational and trade-based learning at the junior secondary level. What distinguishes Anambra’s approach is how deliberately the state has aligned these reforms with local realities, focusing on skills that respond directly to energy needs, digital expansion and everyday services that drive the informal and formal economy.

The initiative builds on earlier investments by the Soludo administration aimed at strengthening the education sector. With expanded access to free education, large-scale teacher recruitment, upgraded science laboratories and increased funding for schools have laid the groundwork for a curriculum that is not only ambitious but increasingly practical.

As with any major reform, challenges remain such as ensuring adequate equipment, trained instructors and consistent delivery across schools will test the system in the months ahead but yet among educators and policymakers, there is a shared belief that the direction is right.

By introducing practical skill development at the junior secondary level, Anambra is redefining what foundational education can achieve. The classroom is no longer just a place for abstract learning, it is becoming a space where students begin to discover how knowledge connects to real life, real work and real opportunity.

Nigeria Moves to Formalise Traditional Medicine with Nationwide Practitioner Database

In a decisive step toward bringing structure and credibility to Nigeria’s vast traditional medicine landscape, the Federal Government has begun the systematic documentation of traditional medicine practitioners across the country.

The initiative, led by the Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), aims to establish a comprehensive digital registry that captures practitioners, their locations, areas of practice and the products they offer. The move is widely seen as a foundational reform designed to professionalise a sector that a good percentage of Nigerians rely on daily.

Speaking in Abuja, the Director-General of the NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, described the project as long overdue, noting that traditional medicine remains an alternative form of healthcare in Nigeria despite operating largely outside formal regulatory systems.

“About 80 per cent of Nigerians depend on traditional medicine, particularly in rural communities where access to conventional healthcare is limited,” Emeje said. “Yet, the ecosystem has lacked basic organisation, visibility and verification.”

From Informal Practice to Verified Records

According to Emeje, the agency began building the digital database roughly eight months ago. The process goes beyond simple registration, incorporating physical verification of practitioners’ clinics, services and products. Once verified, practitioners will be issued unique identification numbers, similar to licence numbers used by professionals in orthodox healthcare.

“This is how credibility is built,” he explained. “In pharmacy, a licence number instantly tells you who I am, where I practise and whether I am certified. Traditional medicine in Nigeria has lacked that clarity, and we are now addressing it.”

The documentation exercise is designed to cover all 774 local government areas nationwide. A pilot phase has already been completed in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State, serving as the model for nationwide rollout.

Standardisation as the First Pillar

Emeje emphasised that documentation is the cornerstone of standardisation, which in turn will enable regulation, research, education and integration into the broader healthcare system.

“Once we know how many practitioners there are, where they operate and what services they provide, we can plan better, regulate better and support the sector more effectively,” he said.

The pilot project is expected to be presented to the National Assembly for consideration, with full implementation dependent on funding approval.

Aligning Nigeria with Global Best Practice

The reform drive comes on the heels of Emeje’s appointment in December 2025 as Co-Chair of the World Health Organisation’s Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine. He said the Nigerian initiative aligns closely with WHO’s global push for member states to develop credible databases for traditional medicine practitioners.

Nigeria, he added, is already benefiting from its active role in shaping international policy discussions on traditional medicine, positioning the country as a key African voice in the sector.

Research, Education and Integration

Beyond documentation, Emeje highlighted chronic underinvestment in traditional medicine research, noting that global funding remains below one per cent despite the sector serving the majority of healthcare users worldwide.

“Research funding in traditional medicine does not reflect its real-world importance,” he said, adding that Nigeria intends to leverage WHO’s renewed focus to attract funding, generate scientific evidence and validate the safety and efficacy of natural medicines.

Education and standard-setting are also central to the strategy and that is why the NNMDA School of Traditional Medicine is working toward accreditation and quality assurance for training programmes, with the goal of preserving indigenous knowledge while strengthening it through research and formal learning.

“Our objective is not to replace traditional knowledge, but to recognise it, document it and help it thrive within a structured system,” Emeje said.

He pointed to countries like China and India as examples of how traditional medicine can be successfully integrated into national healthcare systems through deliberate policy, education and research support.

As Nigeria advances this agenda, Emeje said his role at the WHO would help ensure that both Nigeria and Africa play a more influential role in global collaborations, policy formulation and capacity building in traditional medicine.

“Traditional medicine has always been part of who we are,” he said. “What we are doing now is giving it the structure it needs to grow, gain trust and contribute even more meaningfully to national and global health.”

$60m Recycling Project Signals New Era for Nigeria’s Plastics Industry

Nigeria is set to host one of Africa’s most advanced plastic recycling facilities as Polysmart Packaging Limited rolls out a $60 million investment aimed at reshaping how plastic waste is managed and reused across the country.

The project, described as one of the largest private-sector investments in recycling infrastructure in Nigeria, is expected to come on stream in phases, beginning in the first quarter of 2026 and reaching full operational capacity by mid-year. When completed, the plant will significantly expand local recycling capacity and position Nigeria as a key player in sustainable materials production in West Africa.

At full scale, the facility will be able to process up to 100,000 metric tonnes of mixed plastic waste annually. This includes polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles as well as other commonly used plastics such as HDPE, LDPE, and polypropylene. In practical terms, this means billions of used plastic bottles and containers that would otherwise end up in landfills, waterways, or open dumps will be recovered and converted into valuable industrial inputs.

A major focus of the investment is the production of food-grade recycled PET, also known as rPET. This material is widely used in beverage bottles and food packaging and must meet strict international safety standards. By producing certified rPET locally, Polysmart is addressing a long-standing gap in Nigeria’s manufacturing ecosystem, where food and beverage companies have relied heavily on imported raw materials.

Industry analysts note that Nigeria consumes several hundred thousand tonnes of PET annually, driven largely by the fast-moving consumer goods and beverage sectors. Local production of high-quality recycled resin could reduce foreign exchange pressure, shorten supply chains, and improve price stability for manufacturers.

The new plant will be powered by advanced sorting and recycling systems designed to separate plastics accurately and process them efficiently. These technologies allow different types of plastic to be recycled simultaneously, improving output quality and reducing waste during processing. The result is recycled material that can compete with virgin plastic in both performance and safety.

Beyond manufacturing, the project is expected to have a strong impact on jobs and small businesses. Thousands of direct and indirect roles are projected across waste collection, aggregation, logistics, equipment operation, maintenance, and quality control. Informal waste pickers and community-based collectors are also likely to benefit from a more structured and reliable demand for recyclable materials.

Environmental impact data highlights the scale of the opportunity. Recycling one tonne of PET can save up to 60 per cent of the energy required to produce virgin plastic and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With the expanded capacity, Polysmart estimates carbon savings running into hundreds of thousands of tonnes over time, alongside reduced pressure on crude oil resources used in plastic production.

Nigeria currently generates millions of tonnes of plastic waste each year, with recycling rates still in the single digits. Large-scale facilities such as this are seen as critical to closing that gap and moving the country closer to a circular economy, where materials are reused rather than discarded after a single life cycle.

The investment also reflects growing confidence in Nigeria’s industrial and environmental reform space. As global brands tighten sustainability requirements across their supply chains, locally available recycled materials are becoming increasingly important. Projects of this scale help ensure that Nigerian manufacturers can meet those standards without sourcing inputs from abroad.

With construction timelines already defined and technology procurement underway, the Polysmart expansion stands out as a concrete example of how private capital, environmental responsibility, and industrial growth can align. 

More than a recycling plant, the project represents a shift toward treating waste as an economic resource and positioning Nigeria at the forefront of sustainable manufacturing in the region.

Nigeria to Tap Domestic Markets for N900bn in January Bond Auction

Nigeria’s Federal Government will return to the domestic fixed-income market in January 2026, seeking to raise N900 billion through a reopening of existing sovereign bonds as part of its ongoing funding and yield-curve management strategy.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) confirmed that the auction will be held on January 26, with settlement scheduled for January 28. The offering spans medium- and long-dated Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) bonds, providing investors with duration options across key benchmark maturities.

The issuance will be drawn from three outstanding instruments: the 18.50 per cent FGN bond maturing in February 2031, the 19.00 per cent FGN bond due in February 2034, and the 22.60 per cent FGN bond maturing in January 2035. The DMO is targeting subscriptions of N300 billion, N400 billion, and N200 billion respectively.

Bonds will be issued in units of N1,000, with a minimum subscription threshold of N50.001 million. While coupon rates are fixed, successful bids will be allotted at yields determined by market clearing levels, inclusive of accrued interest. Coupons are paid semi-annually, with principal repayment structured on a bullet basis at maturity.

The planned auction follows strong sovereign issuance activity in 2025, when total FGN bond allotments exceeded N5 trillion, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as one of Africa’s most liquid local-currency debt markets.

Bond reopenings remain central to Nigeria’s domestic borrowing framework, allowing the government to efficiently raise funds, deepen secondary market liquidity, and strengthen benchmark pricing along the yield curve. For investors, the instruments offer predictable cash flows, sovereign credit backing, and regulatory clarity.

Participation in the auction will be conducted through authorised Primary Dealer Market Makers (PDMMs), including:

Access Bank Plc; Citi Bank Nigeria Ltd.; Coronation Merchant Bank Ltd.; Ecobank Nigeria Ltd.; FBNQuest Merchant Bank Ltd.; First Bank of Nigeria Ltd.; First City Monument Bank Ltd.; FSDH Merchant Bank Ltd.; Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Ltd.; Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd.; Stanbic IBTC Bank Ltd.; Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd.; United Bank For Africa Plc; and Zenith Bank Plc.

FGN bonds benefit from multiple statutory incentives. They qualify under the Trustee Investment Act, are exempt from corporate and personal income taxes, and are listed on both the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange. For deposit money banks, the bonds also count as liquid assets and carry the full faith and credit of the Federal Government.

The January auction underscores Nigeria’s reliance on domestic capital markets to support budgetary needs while offering local and offshore investors access to high-yielding, naira-denominated sovereign assets.

IMF Upgrades Nigeria’s 2026 Growth Outlook to 4.4% as Reforms Gain Traction

Nigeria’s economic prospects for 2026 have improved, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) raising its growth projection to 4.4 percent, up from the 4.2 percent estimate issued in October 2025. The upward revision signals a more favourable assessment of Nigeria’s medium-term outlook, even as global economic conditions remain mixed.

The updated forecast was released in the IMF’s January 2026 World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update, which reviews economic developments across countries and regions. According to the Fund, Nigeria’s stronger outlook is not an isolated case but part of a broader reassessment of economic performance across Sub-Saharan Africa, where growth expectations have also been revised upward.

The IMF explained that Nigeria’s improved projection comes after a period of intense economic adjustment. In its October 2025 report, the Fund had expressed concern over high inflation, fiscal pressures, and deep structural weaknesses weighing on the economy. Since then, Nigerian authorities have continued policy reforms aimed at strengthening fiscal coordination, restoring macroeconomic balance, and improving productivity across key sectors.

These ongoing reforms, the IMF noted, are gradually supporting economic stability and helping to lift growth expectations for the medium term. However, the Fund stressed that structural reforms remain critical for sustaining growth in Nigeria and other emerging and developing economies, particularly reforms that enhance productivity, broaden the revenue base, and reduce economic vulnerabilities.

Nigeria’s upgraded outlook also reflects wider regional trends. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, economic growth for 2025 has been revised upward from 4.0 percent to 4.1 percent, while the 2026 forecast has been increased from 4.3 percent to 4.4 percent. This points to a broadly shared recovery across the region rather than country-specific gains alone.

At the global level, the IMF projects economic growth of 3.3 percent in 2026 and 3.2 percent in 2027, largely consistent with the estimated 3.3 percent expansion recorded in 2025. The Fund said the global outlook reflects a balance between downside risks from shifting trade policies and positive drivers such as technology-led investments, including artificial intelligence, supported by relatively accommodative financial conditions.

The IMF also expects global inflation to continue easing, with headline inflation projected to decline from 4.1 percent in 2025 to 3.8 percent in 2026, before falling further to 3.4 percent in 2027. This downward trend is expected to provide greater policy flexibility for governments and central banks worldwide.

Overall, the IMF’s decision to raise Nigeria’s 2026 growth forecast from 4.2 percent to 4.4 percent underscores growing confidence in the country’s reform path. 

While challenges persist, the revised outlook suggests that consistent policy implementation and sustained structural reforms could strengthen Nigeria’s growth trajectory in the years ahead.

MAX raises $24m to scale electric mobility in Nigeria

Capital is increasingly flowing toward African companies that can pair scale with discipline, and MAX is positioning itself squarely in that category.

The Nigerian mobility financing company has secured $24 million in fresh funding, structured as a mix of equity and asset-backed debt, to accelerate its expansion into electric mobility and supporting infrastructure. For investors, the raise reflects more than growth capital; it underscores confidence in a business model built around predictable demand, improving unit economics, and long-term structural relevance.

MAX operates at the intersection of mobility, technology, and financial inclusion. Its core proposition is simple but powerful: democratize vehicle ownership for Africa’s vast informal transport workforce. Through a technology-driven rent-to-own platform, the company connects drivers to vehicles, increasingly electric, while bundling financing with essential services such as insurance, healthcare access, professional training, maintenance, and emergency response. This integrated approach turns drivers into mobility entrepreneurs rather than short-term users, strengthening retention and lifetime value.

The latest funding round attracted equity backing from Equitane DMCC, Novastar, and Endeavor Catalyst, alongside asset-backed debt from the Energy Entrepreneurs Growth Fund (EEGF) and other development finance partners. The blended structure reflects a maturing operation, where debt finances revenue-generating vehicle assets and equity supports platform expansion, technology, and regional growth.

Operationally, MAX is deploying capital into areas that directly reinforce margins and defensibility. These include scaling its electric two- and three-wheeler fleet, expanding battery-swapping and clean energy infrastructure, and deepening proprietary fleet management and Internet of Things (IoT) systems. These tools allow real-time asset tracking, tighter credit controls, and higher fleet utilization, all critical in asset-heavy mobility businesses.

A central pillar of the investment case is cost economics. As fuel price volatility continues to pressure driver incomes across African cities, electric vehicles offer lower daily operating costs and more predictable earnings. MAX’s early move into clean-energy mobility positions it to benefit from this shift while aligning with growing regulatory and climate-finance tailwinds.

Crucially, the company has confirmed profitability in Nigeria. In a sector where many mobility startups remain dependent on subsidies, MAX’s ability to generate positive returns in a challenging macroeconomic environment sets it apart. Management says this performance validates electric mobility in Africa as commercially viable today, not a future experiment.

MAX’s ambitions extend well beyond a single market. The company is targeting support for up to 250,000 drivers by 2027 and aims to exceed $150 million in annual recurring revenue as it expands across West and Central Africa. Its platform also supports enterprise and regulatory technology solutions, enabling compliance and data integration for corporate and institutional partners.

Founded in 2015 by Adetayo Bamiduro and Chinedu Azodoh, MAX has undergone a deliberate strategic reset to reach this point. Originally focused on broad vehicle subscription services, the company streamlined operations about a year ago, exited underperforming verticals, implemented cost controls, and reduced its workforce by roughly 150 employees, around 30 percent of staff, to improve capital efficiency and focus on electric mobility.

That discipline now underpins its physical infrastructure. MAX operates an assembly facility in Ibadan with capacity to produce up to 3,600 electric vehicles per month, spanning both two- and three-wheel models. Local assembly reduces exposure to import volatility, shortens deployment timelines, and improves cost control as the fleet scales.

The company’s journey has been supported by a strong network of global investors over time, including Novastar Ventures, Yamaha, Mastercard, Goodwell Investments, Alitheia Capital, Techstars, and Breakthrough Energy. The latest $24 million raise builds on earlier milestones, including a $31 million Series B round in 2021 and more than $40 million previously secured in institutional debt and bonds.

For business and investment audiences, MAX represents a shift in how African mobility companies are being built. It is not merely financing vehicles or operating fleets; it is constructing a full-stack mobility platform designed around Africa’s economic realities. 

As capital becomes more selective, models that combine technology, asset-backed revenues, financial inclusion, and profitability are likely to define the next phase of the continent’s electric mobility story, with MAX firmly in that conversation.

Nigeria Defeats Egypt on Penalties to Win Bronze at AFCON 2025

The Super Eagles of Nigeria capped off their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating Egypt 4–2 in a dramatic penalty shootout to claim the bronze medal after a tense goalless draw in regulation time.

Played with intensity, composure, and mutual respect between two African giants, the third-place playoff saw both teams cancel each other out over 90 minutes. Clear chances were limited, defenses stood tall, and neither side found the breakthrough, setting the stage for a decisive penalty shootout.

In the shootout, Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, emerged as the undisputed hero. The shot-stopper produced two crucial saves, denying Egypt’s biggest stars, Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, and swinging momentum firmly in Nigeria’s favor. With nerves of steel, Ademola Lookman stepped up to convert the decisive spot kick, sealing a memorable victory for the Super Eagles.

Under the guidance of coach Eric Chelle, Nigeria displayed remarkable calm and belief during the shootout, capitalizing on Egypt’s missed penalties to secure third place. The result underlined the team’s resilience, mental strength, and tactical discipline throughout the tournament.

This victory is historic. It marks Nigeria’s ninth bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations, further cementing the Super Eagles’ reputation as the most consistent team in AFCON history. No other nation has matched Nigeria’s sustained presence at the latter stages of the competition, with repeated semifinal qualifications and an unmatched record of third-place finishes.

Beating Egypt to secure bronze at AFCON 2025 is far more than a consolation prize, it is a concrete reminder of Nigeria’s enduring pedigree, competitive spirit, and ability to rise on the biggest continental stage.

Borno’s digital transformation is driving faster, smarter public healthcare delivery

In Borno State, healthcare reform is no longer being measured only in promises or policy documents, but in data points, digital dashboards, and the steady disappearance of paper files. From patient registration to laboratory diagnostics, a growing number of public health facilities are now operating with Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), signalling a shift toward a more accountable and data-driven healthcare system.

The scale of that shift became evident during a recent high-level assessment of five digitally enabled facilities in Maiduguri. Moving quietly through wards, pharmacies, laboratories, and administrative units, those overseeing the state’s health reforms took stock of how digital systems are functioning in real time. The focus was not ceremonial as operations were scrutinised, drug supply chains were checked for quality and consistency, renovated infrastructure was examined, and frontline staff were observed as they worked within the new digital framework.

Early findings suggest that the investment is beginning to yield measurable gains. Digitised records are reducing duplication, shortening waiting times, and improving continuity of care across departments. In laboratories, EMRs are supporting more accurate diagnostics, while referral processes are becoming easier to track and coordinate. At a system level, the technology is strengthening disease surveillance and enabling faster access to reliable health data, critical in a region where timely response can save lives.

These changes are part of a broader public investment strategy aimed at delivering better healthcare outcomes for a fast-growing population. By prioritising digital infrastructure in public hospitals, the state is laying the groundwork for improved efficiency, transparency, and planning. Health data that once took weeks to compile can now be accessed in near real time, supporting better clinical decisions and policy responses.

The reforms extend beyond technology as a major structural shift is underway through the integration of the formal sector into the contributory healthcare scheme. This move, informed by lessons drawn from other states that have implemented similar models, is expanding the scheme’s financial base and improving its long-term sustainability. It also increases the pool of beneficiaries, making healthcare coverage more inclusive and predictable.

Across the five facilities assessed, the improvements were visible not only in patient-facing services but also in the supply and management of drugs and medical consumables. Strengthening this backbone of the healthcare system is critical, as consistent access to quality medicines remains one of the strongest indicators of effective service delivery.

Within the Borno State Contributory Health Care Management (BOSCHMA), the agency driving the programme, confidence is growing that the EMR platform will deliver long-term value. Beyond easing the workload of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, the system enables remote monitoring of facility performance and standardises data collection at the point of care. For researchers and planners, it opens up access to structured health data, supported by safeguards for confidentiality and accountability.

Utilisation figures are already pointing in a positive direction as more than 60 per cent of enrolled beneficiaries have accessed healthcare services under the scheme, an early indicator of trust and functionality. Enrollment has also become easier, with digital self-registration allowing residents to sign up directly online, reducing administrative barriers and delays.

Taken together, these developments reflect a healthcare system moving steadily from manual processes to measurable outcomes. 

As digital coverage expands to more primary healthcare centres and enrollment continues to grow, Borno’s health reforms are positioning data not just as a tool for record-keeping, but as a foundation for saving lives and delivering quality care at scale.

EU removes Nigeria from high-risk financial list, boosting investor confidence

The European Union has removed Nigeria from its list of high-risk financial jurisdictions, a decision that resets how Nigerian-linked transactions are treated across Europe and signals renewed confidence in the country’s financial safeguards. 

Once the change takes effect on January 29, 2026, banks and businesses within the EU will no longer be required to apply heightened scrutiny to dealings involving Nigeria, easing a long-standing friction point in cross-border finance and trade.

For years, placement on the EU’s high-risk list meant tougher compliance checks, additional documentation, and longer processing times for payments tied to Nigeria. These measures, mandated under EU anti-money laundering laws, often raised costs for exporters, slowed remittances, constrained correspondent banking relationships, and dampened investor appetite. This removal is expected to make financial flows between Nigeria and Europe more efficient, with tangible benefits for businesses, fintechs, and financial institutions operating on both sides.

The decision follows a broader recalibration at the global level. In 2025, the Financial Action Task Force, the international body that sets standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing, removed Nigeria from its grey list after determining that the country had addressed key weaknesses in its AML/CFT framework. That assessment paved the way for the EU’s move, as the bloc’s own high-risk list closely mirrors FATF designations.

According to the European Commission, Nigeria’s delisting reflects progress made across supervision, enforcement, and institutional coordination. Regulators strengthened oversight of financial institutions, improved risk-based monitoring, and enhanced the use and sharing of financial intelligence. These reforms helped resolve concerns that first led to Nigeria being placed under increased monitoring in 2023 and restored confidence in the effectiveness of its financial controls.

Nigeria’s removal was announced alongside that of other African countries, including South Africa, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Mali, and Tanzania, while new jurisdictions were added to the EU list. The changes were informed by decisions taken at the FATF’s June and October 2025 plenary meetings, underscoring the link between global standard-setting and regional regulatory action.

For Nigeria, the timing is significant especially as Africa’s largest economy seeks to attract foreign capital, expand non-oil exports, and deepen integration into global financial markets, the easing of EU compliance barriers offers a practical boost. European partners stand to benefit from lower transaction costs and clearer risk assessments, while Nigerian firms gain smoother access to trade finance, payments infrastructure, and investment channels.

The development has been welcomed by Nigerian officials. The Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, described the delisting as a major win, pointing to its implications for growth, investment, and international perception. While formal government statements are still expected, the move has already been received positively across financial and business circles.

Although the delisting marks an important milestone, it is not an endpoint especially as maintaining the confidence of international regulators will depend on sustained enforcement, continuous supervision, and ongoing coordination among Nigerian institutions. 

For now, however, the EU’s decision represents a clear shift from caution to confidence in how Nigeria is viewed within the global financial system, opening the door to smoother engagement with one of its most important economic partners.

Paystack steps into regulated banking with Ladder Microfinance Bank acquisition

Paystack has taken a decisive step beyond payments with the acquisition of Ladder Microfinance Bank, signalling its entry into regulated banking in Nigeria and a broader shift in its long-term strategy.

The deal grants Paystack a microfinance banking licence, allowing it to directly accept deposits, extend credit, and offer regulated financial services, functions it previously handled through partner banks. The institution will operate as Paystack Microfinance Bank (Paystack MFB), running as a standalone regulated entity within the Paystack group.

The company plans to begin with lending products tailored to businesses, an area where access to financing remains limited despite widespread participation in the digital economy. By drawing on transaction data from merchants already using its platform, Paystack is positioned to design credit products that better reflect real business activity. Consumer lending and additional financial services are expected to follow in later phases.

Beyond lending, Paystack MFB will also serve as an infrastructure provider through banking-as-a-service offerings. These products will enable companies to build financial tools, treasury systems, and embedded banking features without securing their own licences, expanding Paystack’s role in Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem.

The acquisition places Paystack in direct competition with digital lenders, neo-banks, and traditional microfinance institutions that already combine payments, deposits, and loans. However, Paystack enters this space with nearly a decade of experience supporting businesses across Africa, giving it a data-driven advantage as it moves deeper into regulated finance.

Following earlier moves into consumer services with its Zap app, the Ladder Microfinance Bank acquisition underscores Paystack’s evolution from a payments processor into a full-stack financial services company, one aiming to support Nigerian businesses not just at the point of payment, but across growth, liquidity, and long-term financial resilience.

Nigeria moves to pass Africa’s first economy-wide AI law

Nigeria is on the brink of a defining moment in its digital evolution, as lawmakers move to pass a sweeping law that would place the country among the first in Africa to formally regulate artificial intelligence across the entire economy.

The National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, expected to be approved by the National Assembly before the end of March, would shift Nigeria from voluntary AI guidelines to enforceable, economy-wide rules. The legislation is designed to close a regulatory gap that has existed since the release of Nigeria’s draft national AI strategy in 2024, at a time when AI adoption is accelerating across finance, public services and private industry.

If enacted, the law would grant regulators extensive authority over data use, algorithms and digital platforms that increasingly shape decision-making in both the public and private sectors. A core feature of the framework is its risk-based approach: higher-risk AI systems, such as those used in finance, public administration, surveillance and automated decision-making, would be subject to deeper scrutiny than lower-risk applications.

Developers of such systems would be required to submit annual impact assessments detailing potential risks, mitigation strategies and performance metrics. Regulators, in turn, would have the power to demand information, issue compliance directives, and suspend or restrict AI systems deemed unsafe or non-compliant.

For the first time in Nigeria, AI deployments could also carry direct financial consequences. The bill allows authorities to impose penalties of up to ₦10 million or as much as 2% of an AI provider’s annual revenue generated in Nigeria, marking a significant step toward accountability even though enforcement details are still being clarified.

Beyond oversight, the proposed law seeks to balance regulation with innovation. It introduces regulatory sandboxes that would allow startups, research institutions and other organisations to test AI systems under supervised conditions, ensuring that local innovation is not stifled as governance tightens.

According to Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the intent is to regulate AI early rather than react after problems emerge. He argues that clear safeguards and guardrails are essential to ensure AI systems operate within acceptable ethical and societal boundaries, while also enabling authorities to detect and contain misuse.

Nigeria’s approach mirrors emerging frameworks in other parts of the world, emphasising transparency, fairness and accountability throughout the AI lifecycle. While several African countries have published AI strategies, few have moved toward comprehensive, enforceable legislation. That places Nigeria at the forefront of AI governance on the continent.

The implications extend beyond national borders. A clear legal framework could reshape how multinational technology companies, from US-based firms like Google to Asian cloud providers, design and deploy AI products in Africa’s most populous country.

If passed, the bill would signal Nigeria’s ambition not only to harness artificial intelligence for economic growth and improved governance, but also to shape how the technology is built, deployed and trusted, setting a potential benchmark for AI regulation across Africa.

Nigeria’s Carbon Bet: How Climate Policy Is Becoming a New Engine of Growth

Nigeria is making a calculated wager on climate markets, one that blends environmental ambition with hard economic logic. At the centre of this strategy is a newly activated carbon market that the government believes can generate as much as $2.5–$3 billion annually over the next decade, while repositioning Africa’s largest economy as a serious player in global climate finance.

This is not a symbolic climate pledge. It is a structural shift in how Nigeria plans to fund development, modernise energy systems, and monetise its vast natural assets at a time when traditional climate aid is proving inadequate.

From oil giant to carbon trader

Speaking to global investors and policymakers at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu framed Nigeria’s carbon market as a development opportunity rather than a climate constraint. The message was clear: climate action, if properly designed, can unlock capital, spur industrial growth, and create new income streams for communities.

That vision is now underpinned by policy. In October 2025, Nigeria approved its National Carbon Market Framework, followed by the launch of a National Carbon Registry and the operationalisation of a Climate Change Fund. Together, these reforms establish the rules for carbon credit registration, verification, issuance, and trading, areas that have historically undermined trust in carbon markets across the Global South.

The aim is credibility. By strengthening emissions reporting and transparency, Nigeria wants its carbon credits to meet international quality standards and attract buyers in both voluntary and compliance markets.

How the market is expected to work

At its core, a carbon credit represents one metric ton of carbon dioxide avoided, reduced, or removed from the atmosphere. Nigeria plans to generate these credits across a wide range of sectors: forestry, renewable energy, clean cooking, agriculture, waste management, and industry.

The government will initially prioritise participation in voluntary carbon markets and international trading, while laying the groundwork for a domestic emissions trading system and carbon tax in the future. Oversight sits with the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), chaired by the President, supported by a dedicated carbon market office responsible for approvals, registries, and market supervision.

Nigeria is not starting from zero. It already has 57 registered voluntary carbon projects, mostly in household energy, renewables, and forestry, with about 5.8 million tons of credits issued so far. The new framework is designed to rapidly expand that pipeline, this time with clearer incentives and tighter governance.

Incentives designed to crowd in capital

To attract investors wary of past failures in global carbon markets, Nigeria is deploying fiscal carrots alongside regulation. The framework allows for tax exemptions on carbon credit revenues for up to ten years, accelerated capital allowances for low-carbon assets, and deductions for research and development linked to emissions reduction.

Officials argue that these measures remove long-standing structural risks that have discouraged private capital, while signalling that carbon markets are now a core part of Nigeria’s economic strategy, not a side project.

This approach aligns with broader climate financing initiatives already underway. The government has outlined a $500 million climate-resilient infrastructure platform, a $2 billion national climate investment platform, and a $50 billion sub-regional green bond, which was nearly fully subscribed. Multilateral partners are also active: the World Bank is implementing a $750 million programme to expand clean electricity access to more than 17.5 million Nigerians.

Energy transition meets social development

Nigeria’s carbon strategy is closely tied to its energy reforms. The Electricity Act of 2023, which decentralised power generation and distribution, has opened the door for renewable energy solutions in rural communities, off-grid health centres, schools, and markets.

According to President Tinubu, the country’s energy transition plan deliberately integrates climate mitigation, industrial growth, and social development into a single framework, an attempt to avoid the false choice between development and decarbonisation. The long-term target remains net-zero emissions by 2060, alongside universal access to modern energy.

Taking the case global

At COP30 in Brazil, Vice President Kashim Shettima reinforced this narrative, describing Nigeria as a hub for nature-positive investment in the Global South. He said proceeds from carbon markets and the Climate Change Fund would be reinvested into community-led reforestation, blue carbon projects, sustainable agriculture, and coastal ecosystems.

Shettima also used the platform to push for reforms beyond Nigeria’s borders, calling for grant-based finance, debt-for-nature swaps, and expanded use of Article 6 carbon mechanisms under the Paris Agreement. His argument was both moral and economic: countries that contributed least to climate change should not be left to finance global public goods alone.

Domestically, Nigeria is already scaling nature-based solutions. Initiatives such as the Great Green Wall, which spans 11 frontline states, a Forest Landscape Restoration Plan targeting over two million hectares by 2030, and a Marine and Blue Economy Policy are all being folded into the carbon market ecosystem.

Betting against a fragile global market

Nigeria’s timing is bold and risky. Global carbon markets have shrunk sharply since 2021 amid concerns over project quality and corporate pullback from climate commitments. Yet analysts expect long-term demand to rebound, with global carbon credit supply potentially expanding 20-35 times by 2050 as markets reset around integrity and impact.

Several African countries have moved to tighten control over carbon markets in pursuit of greater national benefit. Nigeria’s approach is more expansive: instead of renegotiating old deals, it is building an institutional architecture designed to scale quickly while meeting international scrutiny.

Whether the bet pays off will depend on execution, especially enforcement, transparency, and community inclusion but the direction is unmistakable. Nigeria is no longer treating climate policy as an external obligation. It is reframing it as a tool of economic statecraft, one that could unlock billions in investment, create green jobs, and anchor the country’s role in the next phase of global climate finance.

If successful, Nigeria’s carbon market could offer a compelling counter-narrative: that climate action, when rooted in local development priorities, can be a source of growth rather than sacrifice.

Nigeria Launches Lagos Gold Refinery, Discloses Imminent Commissioning of $600m Lithium Plant

Nigeria is quietly redrawing its minerals map.

The launch of a high-purity gold refinery in Lagos and the imminent commissioning of a $600 million lithium processing plant in Nasarawa State signal a deliberate shift away from the export of raw minerals toward domestic value creation. For a country long defined by resource extraction with limited industrial payoff, the move represents a structural rethink rather than a routine policy announcement.

The Lagos refinery, now operational, places Nigeria among a group of African countries capable of refining gold to international standards locally. More importantly, it anchors a broader strategy: three additional gold refineries are already at different stages of development, pointing to an emerging national refining network rather than a standalone project.

Lithium adds a different, more strategic dimension. As demand for battery minerals accelerates globally, Nigeria’s decision to process lithium domestically positions it within the clean-energy value chain rather than at its margins. The Nasarawa plant, valued at $600 million, underscores the government’s intent to capture industrial value from minerals that are increasingly central to global economic and geopolitical calculations.

These developments were outlined by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, during engagements with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, ahead of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh. The discussions reflected Nigeria’s evolving posture, from resource holder to investment and technology partner.

Beyond infrastructure, the government is pressing reforms that address longstanding constraints in the sector. Mineral traceability, environmental and social standards, mine-pit remediation and clearer monitoring frameworks are being elevated as core pillars, aimed at boosting investor confidence and curbing illegal mining.

A joint Nigeria-Saudi working group, established after the 2025 Future Minerals Forum, is expected to translate these priorities into actionable agreements, particularly in capacity building, advanced exploration and technology transfer.

Taken together, the gold and lithium projects suggest a broader recalibration of Nigeria’s economic strategy. Rather than chasing export volumes, the focus is shifting toward industrial depth and relevance in global supply chains, especially those tied to the energy transition.

For Nigeria, the refinery floors in Lagos and the lithium facilities in Nasarawa are not just industrial assets but early indicators of a country seeking to turn mineral abundance into sustained economic advantage.

Terra Industries’ $11.75M Raise and Nigeria’s Defence Tech Emergence

For decades, conversations about African security have largely been framed elsewhere in Western capitals, foreign defence firms, and external intelligence networks. Yet in Abuja, a new kind of company is challenging that pattern, quietly and deliberately, from the heart of Nigeria.

Terra Industries, founded by two young Nigerian engineers, has emerged from stealth with an $11.75 million capital raise, signalling not only investor confidence in a startup, but a broader belief that Africa can design, build, and control the technologies required to protect its own future.

At a time when Nigeria is expanding its energy infrastructure, mineral extraction, and industrial capacity, Terra’s story offers a different narrative of national capability: one rooted in engineering, manufacturing, and sovereign intelligence.

A Nigerian Response to a Continental Problem

Africa is industrialising at speed. Across the continent, infrastructure investment now approaches $100 billion annually, while Nigeria remains central to this expansion, powering homes, industries, and regional supply chains, yet this progress has come with mounting risks.

Across land borders, coastlines, and remote interior regions, terrorism, organised crime, sabotage, and illegal extraction have placed critical assets under constant threat and the cost is staggering. Industry estimates suggest Africa loses hundreds of billions of dollars every year to infrastructure disruption and insecurity.

For Nathan Nwachuku, Terra’s co-founder and chief executive, this imbalance between economic ambition and security reality was impossible to ignore.

Nigeria, he believed, did not suffer from a lack of talent or resolve. What it lacked was locally controlled technology, systems designed for African terrain, African infrastructure, and African sovereignty.

Rather than exporting the problem, he chose to build the solution at home.

Building from Abuja, Not Importing from Abroad

Founded in 2024 alongside Maxwell Maduka, a former Nigerian Navy engineer, Terra Industries was conceived as more than a defence contractor. It was designed as a defence technology prime, vertically integrated, software-driven, and manufactured on the continent.

From its base in Abuja, Terra designs and builds autonomous systems that secure infrastructure across air, land, and maritime domains. These include aerial surveillance platforms, unmanned ground vehicles, intelligent sentry towers, and maritime monitoring systems capable of protecting offshore and underwater assets.

What binds these systems together is ArtemisOS, Terra’s proprietary, AI-powered operating system. The platform enables real-time data fusion, threat detection, autonomous mission planning, and coordinated response, even across vast and difficult environments where traditional security models struggle to function.

Crucially, ArtemisOS is built around data sovereignty. Intelligence collected through Terra’s systems remains under the control of African operators, reducing dependence on foreign intelligence pipelines.

This distinction has allowed Terra to compete and win against long-established global defence firms, offering faster deployment, tighter hardware-software integration, and on-the-ground operational support.

From Concept to Critical Infrastructure

Terra’s technology is no longer theoretical. Its systems are already protecting nationally significant assets across Nigeria and beyond, including power generation facilities, mining operations, and industrial sites tied directly to economic stability.

Among its deployments are major energy installations in Nigeria’s south and north, as well as mineral operations spanning West Africa. Collectively, these assets are valued at over $11 billion, a scale that places Terra among the most operationally advanced defence startups on the continent.

The company’s revenue model blends system deployment with recurring income from data processing, analytics, and orchestration, providing long-term sustainability rather than one-off contracts. It has already generated millions of dollars in commercial revenue and secured its first federal-level government engagement.

Global Capital, Nigerian Control

The $11.75 million funding round was led by 8VC, the U.S. venture firm founded by Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, with backing from a mix of global investors spanning Silicon Valley, private equity, and strategic defence capital. Angel investors also participated, alongside African funds that recognised the significance of building such a company locally.

Despite this international backing, Terra’s centre of gravity remains firmly Nigerian.

The company operates a 15,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Abuja, staffed largely by African engineers and technicians. Many members of its technical team have prior service in Nigeria’s armed forces, ensuring that product design reflects operational realities rather than abstract theory.

Maduka himself grew up within Nigerian naval environments before serving as a UAV engineer, while Nwachuku represented Nigeria in international physics competitions before founding a high-growth education platform as a teenager.

Their paths converge in Terra: a company where Nigerian experience is not an afterthought, but the foundation.

Manufacturing Security, Creating Value

Unlike many technology firms that offshore production, Terra manufactures on the continent by design. The company views defence manufacturing not just as a security imperative, but as an industrial opportunity, creating skilled jobs, building advanced capabilities, and retaining intellectual property within Africa.

While Terra plans to expand its software and commercial leadership presence in London and San Francisco, production will continue to scale in Nigeria, with additional facilities planned across the continent.

For Maduka, the objective is clear: Africa should not merely consume security technology; it should produce it.

Reframing Nigeria’s Global Image

Terra Industries’ rise challenges a familiar narrative. Nigeria is often discussed in the context of insecurity, yet here is a Nigerian company confronting that reality with engineering, data, and manufacturing discipline.

It represents a quieter story, one that rarely dominates headlines of Nigerians building systems that protect infrastructure, stabilise economies, and reduce dependency on foreign solutions.

In doing so, Terra is not only securing assets. It is reshaping how Nigeria is perceived: not as a perpetual risk environment, but as a source of strategic capability.

As Africa’s industrial expansion accelerates, the question is no longer whether security will matter, but who will control it.

From Abuja, Terra Industries is offering a distinctly Nigerian answer.