Dr. Richard Montgomery – British High Commissioner to Nigeria The UK has confirmed that Nigeria will continue to enjoy duty-free access on 99% of total goods exported to the UK market under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). The DCTS is part of the UK’s strategy to support growing economies like Nigeria by reducing tariffs on thousands of goods, simplifying export rules for Nigerian businesses and making it easier to qualify for trade benefits. The scheme lowers import cost for UK businesses and offers consumers a wider range of affordable products. Since its launch in June 2023, the Developing Countries…
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Nigerian fintech startup Carrot has secured $4.2 million in seed funding to scale its asset-backed lending platform across Africa. The round was led by MaC Venture Capital, with support from Partech Africa and Authentic Ventures. Founded in 2023 by Boluwatife (Bolu) Aiki‑Raji, Carrot empowers users to access credit without selling their investments. By linking directly to users’ digital portfolios—including stocks, ETFs, bonds, and crypto—Carrot allows borrowers to unlock liquidity based on the type of asset: up to 70% of fixed-income assets, 40% of stable stocks, and 10% of high-volatility holdings. Carrot places a lien on the assets using API-based integration,…
(L-R) LemFi’ co-Founders – Ridwan Olalere (CEO), Rian Cochran London/ Lagos, 17 June 2025 – LemFi, the fast-growing financial platform for immigrants, has announced the acquisition of Pillar, a UK-based fintech startup that enables newly arrived immigrants to access credit cards by porting their credit histories across borders. This move comes after LemFi’s $53M Series B raise in January to transform financial services for immigrants. While neither company has shared deal specifics publicly, industry sources say this marks a strategic step in LemFi’s ambition to launch credit products tailored to immigrant communities, beginning in the UK. (L-R): Pillar co‑founders Adam…
📸Chukwuwezam Obanor Chukwuwezam Obanor, widely recognised for co-founding and scaling the Nigerian edtech company PrepClass, is now setting his sights on a new venture: FicientAI, an AI startup aimed at revitalising dormant sales leads through personalised, one-to-one conversational engagement. Obanor, a Mandela Washington Fellow and Forbes Africa rising entrepreneur, famously helped grow PrepClass from a two-person operation into a 60‑plus employee company, connecting tens of thousands of students with tutors across Africa. With FicientAI, he plans to bring a similarly transformative edge to sales and marketing functions. Obanor gives an insight into the expected origins and capabilities of FicientAI: So…
📸 Nelly Agbogu The appointment of Nelly Agbogu (aka NaijaBrandChick) as the Director of Entrepreneurship & New Media for the Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) can have a significantly positive impact on the trajectory of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. Here’s a breakdown of the potential benefits: 1. Enhanced Digital Marketing and Online Visibility: Expert Guidance: Nelly Agbogu is renowned for her expertise in leveraging social media for business growth. Her platform, NaijaBrandChick, specifically focuses on empowering Nigerian SMEs to effectively use social media for promotion and sales. Her appointment means NASSI members will have direct…
Brother-Founders at Terminal Africa Inc. (L-R) Udi Okoh, Nnamdi Okoh In the rapidly evolving world of logistics, a quiet revolution is taking place in Africa — and at its heart is Terminal Africa Inc., a tech-forward company founded by brothers Udi Okoh and Nnamdi Okoh. Their impact on how Nigerian businesses ship globally is nothing short of transformational. Terminal Africa stands out in the logistics field, particularly in Africa, through several clever and innovative approaches: Logistics Aggregator and Digital Platform: One-Stop Shop: Instead of businesses having to navigate multiple courier services, Terminal Africa features various local and international couriers (like…
Chioma Ifeanyi-Eze – Founder, Fresh Eggs Market [📸Chioma Ifeany-Eze] In a compelling blend of agriculture and technology, Chioma Ifeanyi-Eze, renowned for her ventures AccountingHub and Data Entry Academy (DEA), has introduced FreshEggsMarket.ng—a digital platform revolutionizing egg distribution in Nigeria. This initiative offers both wholesale and retail customers the convenience of ordering fresh, open-crate eggs directly from farms, with options ranging from 5 to 1,000 crates. The platform’s user-friendly interface has garnered attention, with Ifeanyi-Eze herself expressing admiration for its design. This move signifies a strategic expansion from her previous focus on digital skills training and accounting services to addressing tangible…
The Lagos State Government has officially launched Lagos Agrithon 2025, a transformative initiative aimed at fostering innovation and sustainability within the state’s agriculture and food systems. Announced by Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, the program offers a ₦150 million grant pool to support at least 35 promising agrifood startups and youth-led ventures across Lagos State. Ms. Olusanya stated during the press briefing: Lagos Agrithon is more than a contest. It is a movement—a platform for bold ideas, youth-led innovation, and scalable solutions that tackle the food challenges of today and anticipate those of tomorrow Application details…
Meekam K. Mgbenwelu Numeris Media are delighted to announce the appointment of Meekam K. Mgbenwelu as Editor-at-Large. Anne Agbakoba (Founder & CEO, Numeris Media) gives an insight into Meekam’s pedigree: With a distinguished background spanning technology, innovation, policy, and development, Meekam brings 20+ years of deep expertise and a unique lens to the entrepreneurial stories shaping Africa’s future. His career has bridged the worlds of inclusion, public policy, digital transformation, and knowledge economies—making him an ideal voice in our mission to spotlight African founders and the ecosystems that support them. In his new role, Meekam will contribute thought-provoking and solution-driven…
Backed by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, GITEX is making history by expanding its global footprint to Nigeria — spotlighting the country’s dynamic innovation scene and rapidly growing digital economy. For the first time ever, GITEX Nigeria 2025 will take place across two powerhouse cities — Abuja and Lagos — from 1 to 4 September.This landmark dual-city edition marks a major leap for West Africa’s tech ecosystem, connecting Nigeria’s policy capital, Abuja, with its commercial and startup heart, Lagos. What to expect: 1–2 September: Government Leadership & AI…