Globacom and Eutelsat Communication signed a multi-year, multi-Gbps wholesale capacity contract that enables Globacom to leverage the Eutelsat Konnect satellite to deliver high-speed satellite connectivity to businesses and communities in unconnected and underserved communities in Nigeria. This agreement is the mobile network operator’s first step to extending its coverage beyond the reach of its terrestrial infrastructure.
The service will be used to deliver high-speed broadband via satellite to businesses and communities in unconnected and underserved areas throughout Nigeria.
Globacom, trading under the name Glo, is a multinational telecommunications company and the second-largest operator in Nigeria, with a market share of circa 28% and over 51 million subscribers.
In service since early 2021, EUTELSAT KONNECT is a new-generation High Throughput Satellite offering unprecedented operational flexibility. Delivering significant resources for broadband services with quasi-complete coverage of Sub-Saharan Africa, it addresses direct-to-user consumer and enterprise broadband services, with a comprehensive range of packages from bite-sized “pay as you go” vouchers through to monthly and annual contracts.
Commenting on the agreement, Rodolphe Belmer, Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat, said: “We are honoured to have been selected by Globacom, one of the leading telecommunications operators in Africa’s most populous market, to extend the reach of its services.
Globacom Partners Eutelsat To Bring Satellite Broadband To Underserved Nigerian Communities
“This agreement illustrates the unparalleled resources of our powerful EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite to satisfy the strong demand for connectivity in underserved regions throughout the African continent.”
Dr Mike Adenuga Jr., Chairman of Globacom Limited, added: “We are delighted to add satellite services to our portfolio, leveraging the state-of-the-art EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite to extend connectivity to even far-flung areas in Nigeria, in line with our mission to build Africa’s biggest and best telecommunications network. The infrastructure will complement our Glo 1 submarine cable and extensive fibre optic layout across the country.”
A total of 18 presidential candidates contested the election which was held across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Saturday.
The election was postponed till Sunday in some polling units in different states due to violence, logistical problems, theft of BVAS and other issues.
But the election has been largely concluded across the 36 states and 774 local government areas in the country.
Some states where the election has been concluded have finished collating the results at wards, local government and state levels.
INEC collation officers across the states are expected to present their final tallies at the National Collation Centre in Abuja from 6 p.m. Sunday.
State collation officers are expected to take turns presenting their results.
The INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, who presides over the proceedings at the National Collation Centre, is the Chief Returning Officer of the presidential election. He will make the announcement of the final results and declare the winner of the election after taking the results of the elections from the polling units across the country.
INEC had announced earlier that the final collation would commence at about noon but was later adjourned to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.
This year’s general election is the seventh since the restoration of democracy in the country. The previous elections were held in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019 respectively.
Described as the most keenly contested poll in Nigeria’s contemporary political history, this year’s ballots had 18 registered parties to be voted for.
However, four are considered major contenders. They are Atiku Abubakar of PDP, Bola Tinubu of APC, Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of NNPP.
To be declared the winner, a candidate must score the highest number of votes and at least 25 per cent of votes in 25 states (two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states and the federal capital, Abuja).
On a globe, America is a landmass, a country. In an immigrant’s heart it is a belief that future is almost always better. It may not be perfect and it is certainly not equal, but it still is one of a kind — the only place where an absolute stranger with a funny name and a funny accent with no friends or contacts can show up, work hard and actually get to do what he was destined to do. […]
In most places in the world, outsiders like me don’t have that chance. That simple truth is what makes America so special. A chance – to be somebody even if you are nobody. America is a state of mind and I have opted-in!
I feel lucky to have been born here, and if I hadn’t been, I think I would have gotten here as fast as I could. I’m grateful to the public schools that educated me, the teachers who pushed me, the internet that freed my mind, and the culture of risk and innovation in technology that gave a 21-year-old dropout kid a million dollars to try and build a company around (but not replacing) an Open Source project.
London, United Kingdom – July, 2026: Access Holdings Plc and Coronation Group hosted a private reception at Tate Modern, London, to celebrate the enduring legacy of Nigerian Modernism, one of the most significant presentations of African art in the gallery’s recent programme.
The Nigerian Modernism exhibition, in partnership with Tate Modern from October 10, 2025, to May 8, 2026, brought together nearly 300 works by more than 50 artists spanning five decades of Nigerian artistic production. Through painting, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, and works on paper, it traced the evolution of modern Nigerian art from the 1940s through the post-independence era, offering fresh perspectives on the political, social, and cultural forces that shaped modern African expression.
During its run, the exhibition attracted more than 180,000 visitors, while its reach extended far beyond the gallery through international media coverage, digital engagement, educational programming, and scholarly discourse that connected hundreds of millions of people worldwide with the story of Nigerian modern art.
Beyond its critical acclaim, Nigerian Modernism succeeded in democratising access to African art, creating opportunities for young people and members of the African diaspora to engage directly with African creativity, history and artistic expression at one of the world’s leading cultural institutions.
The evening convened leading figures from business, culture, diplomacy, academia and the arts in recognition of the exhibition’s international impact and cultural significance
In his remarks, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings and Coronation Group, reflected on what he described as one of the exhibition’s most enduring achievements: its impact on young people.
“One of the aspects of this exhibition that stands out most for me is the opportunity we created for nearly 2,800 students, many of them of African heritage, to experience Tate Modern. While their encounters with the artworks could not be formally documented, the feedback we received spoke volumes. For many of these young people, the exhibition inspired a deeper appreciation of their heritage, reinforcing their sense of identity and pride in their African roots.”
Aig-Imoukhuede further underscored the exhibition’s broader diplomatic importance.
“I have long believed that great nations are built at the intersection of financial, knowledge and cultural capital. Of these, cultural capital is often the force that brings everything else together. We saw a powerful example of that when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu chose to include a private tour of Nigerian Modernism during his historic visit to London, alongside the thousands of Nigerians in the diaspora who came out to welcome him. It was a remarkable moment that demonstrated the unique role culture can play in strengthening national identity, global engagement and diplomacy.”
Karin Hinsbo, Interim Director of Tate Modern, emphasised the significance of the exhibition and the strength of the partnership behind it.
“Nigerian Modernism captivated hundreds of thousands of visitors. It was a story that had never been told in a UK gallery, an international network of 50 artists across 50 years, combining African and European traditions to create a powerful artistic legacy through 250 glorious works made up of painting, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, and works on paper. None of this would have been possible without the partnership, generosity, and commitment of Access Holdings and Coronation Group.”
The exhibition was widely recognised for challenging established art historical narratives by positioning Nigerian artists firmly within the global story of twentieth-century modernism. It also delivered extensive public programming, including lectures, tours and educational initiatives designed to deepen engagement with African art and identity.
A defining highlight of the exhibition was the inclusion of seven historic wooden sculptures by Ben Enwonwu, originally commissioned in 1960 for the Daily Mirror in London and now part of the Access Holdings Art Collection, underscoring the importance of cultural stewardship and cross-institutional collaboration.
Attendees reflected on the exhibition’s enduring legacy as a cultural milestone that expanded scholarship on African modernism, strengthened international partnerships and introduced Nigerian art to new global audiences.
Although the exhibition has concluded, its influence continues to shape conversations around African creativity, heritage, modern identity and cultural diplomacy, reinforcing its position as a landmark moment in contemporary museum practice.
It’s quite surreal to type that WPBeginner turns 17 years old today!
I’m incredibly grateful to have the support of such an amazing community of website owners, small businesses, and web professionals. YOU are the best part of WPBeginner!
Like every year, I will take a few minutes to share all the major things that are happening in the business as well as my personal life.
But more importantly, to celebrate this big milestone, we’re doing a HUGE birthday giveaway with over $10,000+ in prizes!
If you’re new here, you might not know that I have been using WordPress since I was 16 years old, and I started WPBeginner in 2009 when I was in college at age 19.
Ever since then, WordPress community has played a huge role both in my life as well as my family’s life.
My son, Solomon is now 9 years old, and our baby girl, Aliyah, was born 6 months ago. Parenting is one of the wonderful gifts of life. We recently restarted our travels and took a trip to Mexico as well as Italy. I’ll be sharing more about these trips later in the year when I do my annual year end reviews.
If you didn’t get a chance to read my 2025 recap, I highly recommend checking it because I shared lessons learned from last year.
WPBeginner Updates
This year, Google’s algorithm updates and the rapidly changing A.I. landscape continued to impact our traffic.
The good news is that we’re fortunate to have an incredible community of readers and subscribers, and that’s what matters MOST.
Since starting WPBeginner, my focus has always been on creating helpful tutorials and resources for WordPress beginners, and that will never change. We’re already adapting how we create and share content for this new era, and we’re excited about what’s ahead.
I’m truly grateful for everything we’ve accomplished together this year.
As always, none of this would be possible without your continued support and trust. THANK YOU for being part of our journey!
Here are some of the big updates that happened on WPBeginner in the last 12 months:
1. New Product Launches
This past year, our team put their energy into building. Here are the new products we launched to help you get more done on WordPress:
We launched WPVibe, a WordPress MCP server that lets your favorite AI tool, like Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor, manage your WordPress site directly. Our announcement video went viral on X and got over 440k views.
We released ActiveLayer, an AI-powered spam protection tool that stops form, comment, and registration spam server-side in milliseconds without CAPTCHAs or puzzles. Here’s the full background story.
We launched Universally, an AI website translation tool that automatically translates your site into 110+ languages in minutes without hiring professional translators. Here’s the full background story.
My team at Uncanny Automator released Uncanny Agent, the first true AI assistant built natively for WordPress. You can ask any questions about your site or tell it what you need done…and it takes care of it for you. Here’s the full background story.
We launched WPChat, a live-chat widget that lets you convert your visitors into paying customers by connecting them on WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Telegram. Here’s the full background story.
My team at WPForms released the Quiz Addon. It lets you build interactive quizzes and graded assessments right inside the form builder you’re already familiar with. Here’s the full background story.
My team at Duplicator released WP Media Cleanup, which enables you to reclaim disk space by identifying unused media files and removing them quickly and easily. Here’s the full background story.
We released WPFilters, which helps you easily add Amazon-style search filters to your site and make your content easily discoverable. Here’s the full background story.
I’m really proud of what our team has built this year, and it’s amazing to see the impact these products are making across the WordPress ecosystem and the larger open web.
Our WPBeginner Workshop is going strong, and this year, we hosted workshops every month covering WordPress fundamentals, AI tips, privacy compliance, and much more.
Every workshop is led by our own team at WPBeginner, sharing the real-world lessons we learn every day. At the end of each session, we also hold a live Q&A where attendees get their WordPress questions answered in real time.
WPBeginner is funded 100% through the support of our readers like you.
My various companies develop premium WordPress plugins to help you grow your website. These plugins are built with the same beginner-friendly approach you know and love from WPBeginner, and a large number of our product & feature ideas come from your feedback & suggestions.
When you buy a license for any of my premium plugins, you’re not only helping make your website better, but you’re also helping support WPBeginner and our mission.
My company, Awesome Motive, has over 300+ team members across the world, and all of us are committed to help you build a better website!
Here’s a list of our plugins that you should check out. Collectively, they’re being used on over 30 million websites. Your support means a lot to us whether you use the free version or purchase a premium license – we are here to serve.
OptinMonster: Powerful conversion optimization software that helps convert abandoning visitors into subscribers & customers. Download for free
WPForms: Drag & drop + AI form builder for WordPress. Create any type form with ease. Trusted by 5 million+ sites. Download for free
Duplicator: Leading WordPress Backup and migration plugin. Protect your website with reliable backups. Download for free
AIOSEO: The original and most powerful WordPress SEO plugin used by 3 million+ sites (now with AI). Download for free
I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported us in this journey. I really do appreciate all of your retweets, personal emails, content suggestions, and the interactions at the events.
I also want to say special thank you to everyone who’s using our plugins because that enables us to keep bringing more free tutorials to WPBeginner.
You all are AMAZING and without you, there is no WPBeginner.
Airtel Kenya has named seasoned Senegalese telecommunications executive Djibril Tobe as its new Managing Director, marking a significant leadership transition as the operator seeks to strengthen its position in Kenya’s highly competitive mobile communications market.
Tobe replaces Ashish Malhotra, who is stepping down after four years at the helm to take up the role of Chief Executive Officer at Indus Towers Africa. The appointment comes as Airtel Kenya continues to expand its customer base through investments in mobile services, broadband connectivity and digital financial solutions, intensifying competition with market leader Safaricom.
According to Brandspur Brand News, Tobe joins the Kenyan business after serving as Managing Director of Airtel Congo B since May 2023. His leadership experience within the Airtel Group also includes previous appointments as Managing Director of Airtel Chad and Commercial Director at Airtel Burkina Faso, giving him extensive operational experience across several African markets.
Before joining Airtel, Tobe held senior positions at Expresso Guinea, Ernst & Young and Coca-Cola, building a career that spans telecommunications, consulting and consumer goods. His appointment reflects Airtel Africa’s continued focus on strengthening leadership across its operating companies as competition in key markets continues to increase.
Airtel Kenya has made notable progress in recent years by expanding its network infrastructure, improving mobile money services and growing its home internet business, helping the company gain market share in Kenya’s telecom sector.
Industry observers expect Tobe’s regional experience and track record of leading telecom operations across multiple African countries to support Airtel Kenya’s next stage of expansion as the operator works to deepen customer acquisition, improve service delivery and reinforce its position as a leading challenger in East Africa’s largest telecommunications market.
A growing number of households and businesses in South Africa are turning to battery rental services instead of purchasing costly generators, inverters or rooftop solar systems, signalling a shift towards subscription-based access to reliable electricity.
The model allows customers to pay recurring fees to use battery storage systems during power outages rather than making large upfront investments in energy equipment. The trend has gathered momentum as electricity tariffs continue to climb, power supply remains unstable and consumers look for more affordable ways to keep homes and businesses running.
According to Brandspur Brand News, companies including South African startup bPOWERd are positioning battery rentals as an alternative to equipment ownership, offering energy resilience as an ongoing service rather than a one-time purchase. The approach is designed to reduce entry costs for consumers while providing backup electricity during periods of grid disruption.
South Africa’s prolonged experience with load shedding has accelerated demand for alternative energy solutions, creating a favourable environment for businesses offering battery subscriptions. Industry players believe the concept could also gain traction in other African markets facing similar electricity challenges.
Nigeria is increasingly viewed as one of the next major markets for the model, given the country’s heavy dependence on petrol and diesel generators for residential and commercial power. Rising fuel prices and persistent electricity shortages have fuelled interest in alternative backup energy options that require lower initial capital.
Supporters argue that subscription-based energy services make reliable electricity more accessible to households and small businesses that may not be able to afford outright ownership of battery systems. However, the concept has also attracted criticism from some industry observers who believe renting essential energy infrastructure could increase long-term costs and reduce consumer independence compared with owning the equipment outright.
As Africa’s energy transition continues, battery-as-a-service models are emerging as one of several business approaches seeking to bridge the continent’s persistent electricity access and reliability challenges while reducing the financial burden of adopting cleaner energy technologies.
Approval in Principle marks a major regulatory milestone for Luno Nigeria and strengthens the company’s position to support the country’s growing digital asset ecosystem
Lagos, Nigeria – July, 2026 – Luno Nigeria, the local entity of the global cryptocurrency platform founded in Africa in 2013, has received Approval in Principle from Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) through admission into the Commission’s Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme (ARIP), becoming the first global cryptocurrency exchange to achieve this milestone.
The approval represents a significant step in Luno Nigeria’s regulatory
journey, following an extensive engagement process with the SEC, and
reflects the company’s commitment to building within Nigeria’s evolving
digital asset regulatory framework.
Admission into ARIP means Luno has satisfied the SEC’s requirements to
participate in the programme and is authorised to operate within its
defined scope, subject to the Commission’s ongoing compliance
obligations and regulatory conditions.
Luno has operated in Nigeria since 2015 and was one of the first
cryptocurrency exchanges to serve the market. The company has since
built a strong local presence, combining global expertise with deep
local market experience, and continues to view Nigeria as one of its
most important markets globally.
Speaking on the approval, Luno Nigeria CEO Ayotunde Alabi said, “This
is an important milestone for Luno Nigeria and a strong validation of
our commitment to building responsibly in one of Africa’s most important
cryptocurrency markets. Admission into ARIP gives us a clearer
regulatory pathway, strengthens trust with customers and partners, and
provides a stronger foundation for the next phase of our growth,
particularly as we expand our focus on institutional and B2B
opportunities. We are grateful to the SEC for its continued engagement
and to everyone across Luno whose hard work, resilience, and commitment
helped us get to this point.”
As Luno continues to expand its operations across B2B operations,
engaging banks, fintechs, payment providers, asset managers and
corporate institutions exploring digital asset solutions, regulatory
clarity is increasingly becoming a prerequisite. Admission into ARIP
strengthens Luno’s ability to engage these organisations as demand grows
for compliant digital asset infrastructure, including stablecoin
applications, treasury solutions, crypto-as-a-service offerings and
secure access to digital assets.
ARIP is an innovative regulatory environment designed to fast-track the
on-boarding of digital asset and other investment service providers
(like Virtual Asset Service Providers and tokenised product platforms)
through a controlled regulatory sandbox. It allows the Commission to
assess novel business models and technologies in a controlled regulatory
environment to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to
protect investors and preserve market integrity.
Building on the initial licensing rollout in 2024, Luno’s inclusion in
the programme’s second batch reflects Nigeria’s commitment to creating a
structured, transparent environment for the sector to grow. The
development strengthens trust among customers, institutional partners,
regulators and the wider market.
Instagram Teen Accounts come with built-in protections that limit who can contact them and the content that they see. This experience is designed to better support parents, providing more protection for teens and peace of mind for parents.
We’ll automatically place teens into Teen Accounts, and teens under 16 will need a parent’s permission to change any of these settings to be less strict. If you are a parent and want to further help your teen manage their new safety settings, work with them to set up supervision.
Content filtering: Instagram Teen Accounts are inspired by 13+ plus content ratings, and teens under 18 will need their parent’s permission to change this setting to be less strict. There’s also a Limited Content option for parents who prefer extra controls.
Private accounts: Requires teens to accept new followers, and people who don’t follow them can’t see their content or interact with them.
Messaging restrictions: Teen Accounts default to our strictest messaging settings, so teens can only be messaged by people they follow or are already connected to.
Limited interactions: Teens can only be tagged or mentioned by people they follow. We’ll also automatically turn on the most restrictive version of our anti-bullying feature, Hidden words, so that offensive words and phrases will be filtered out of teens’ comments and direct message requests.
Time limit reminders: Teens will get notifications telling them to leave the app after 60 minutes each day.
Sleep mode enabled: Sleep mode will be turned on between 22:00 and 07:00, which will mute notifications overnight and send auto-replies to direct messages.
Restrictions on going live: Teens will be automatically restricted from using the Instagram Live feature.
Limits on unwanted images in DMs: Teens will be automatically placed into our nudity protection feature, which blurs suspected nude images in DMs and warns teens of the risks in sending them.
Lagos, NIGERIA – 3rd July 2026: Google Play today launched its first Indie Games Fund, committing $1 million to support rising, innovative game studios from across 32 countries in Africa to scale their games and reach a global audience. The fund provides equity-free capital, technical support, and expert mentorship empowering African game developers with the skills and resources they need to thrive.
While the African region is rich in creative talent and home to some of
the world’s most compelling storytelling, limited access to capital
has too often held back promising game studios. This programme addresses
that barrier, delivering the critical financial and technical resources
required for African indie developers to refine their creative visions,
optimise their games, and share uniquely African stories with a global
audience.
Programme support & funding highlights
Direct capital injection: Selected studios will receive a share of the $1 million fund, with individual allocations ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 to expand and elevate their games
Expert guidance: In addition to financial backing, recipients will benefit from dedicated, hands-on mentorship from industry experts
Technical support: Studios will receive direct guidance to optimize their games, refine their technical frameworks, and boost market discoverability
“Africa’s unique creativity has fuelled a vibrant game development
scene,” said Ben McOwen Wilson, Managing Director, Europe, the Middle
East and Africa for Google Play. “Bringing this fund to the continent
underscores our commitment to unlocking the immense talent of local
studios, providing the resources needed to scale businesses, refine
creative visions, and share uniquely African stories with a global
audience.”
The application process is now open to independent game developers who
meet the following criteria:
Location: Applicants must be officially registered and based within one of the eligible African countries [1]
Studio size & status: Applicants must operate as a private, non-publicly listed independent studio with 50 or fewer employees
Product portfolio & platform commitment: Applicants must have already launched a mobile, PC, or console game. Selected studios must commit to making their game available on Google Play and participating non-exclusively in the Google Play pass subscription programme for two years
How to Apply
Applicants can review the eligibility criteria [2] and submit their
entries through the official program portal at Indie Games Fund 2026 [1]
before the window closes at on 31 July 2026. Final selections and the
announcement of the 10 chosen studios will take place in September.
The Indie Games Fund is open to applicants from Benin, Botswana,
Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo (DRC), Cote d’Ivoire,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia,
South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
About Google
Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it
universally accessible and useful. Through products and platforms like
Search, Maps, Gmail, Android, Google Play, Chrome and YouTube, Google
plays a meaningful role in the daily lives of billions of people and has
become one of the most widely-known companies in the world. Google is a
subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.
For more information, visit the Google Africa Blog [3]. You can also
follow Google’s Africa team on Twitter: @googleafrica
The Bank of Industry (BoI), Nigeria’s foremost Development Finance Institution (DFI), has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Belgian Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), setting the stage for deeper economic cooperation, expanded investment flows, and stronger industrial partnerships between Nigeria and Belgium.
The agreement was signed during a high-level breakfast meeting jointly hosted by BoI and the NBCC under the theme, “Scaling Operations, Expanding Capacity, and Accessing Competitive Finance.” The event convened senior government officials, diplomats, business leaders, development partners, MSMEs, and private sector stakeholders committed to advancing bilateral trade and industrial development.
Speaking on behalf of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Industry, Dr. Olasupo Olusi, the Executive Director, Corporate Finance, Sustainability and Investments, Mr. Rotimi Akinde, described the partnership as a strategic milestone in BoI’s drive to expand global collaborations that accelerate Nigeria’s industrial transformation.
“As Nigeria’s leading Development Finance Institution, the Bank of Industry has consistently recognised that sustainable industrial development is built not only on access to finance but also on enduring strategic partnerships. This collaboration with the Nigerian Belgian Chamber of Commerce reflects our commitment to creating stronger international business corridors that unlock investment, facilitate technology transfer, support MSMEs, and strengthen Nigeria’s industrial competitiveness,” he said.
Akinde noted that Belgium remains one of Europe’s most dynamic trading and investment destinations, making the partnership an important platform for promoting co-investment opportunities, export development, enterprise growth, and knowledge exchange between businesses in both countries.
The two-year renewable MoU establishes a framework for joint business forums, investment roadshows, trade missions, business matchmaking, enterprise capacity development, and increased promotion of BoI’s financing solutions to Belgian investors and businesses operating in Nigeria.
The collaboration is also expected to improve access to foreign direct investment, expand export-oriented industrial projects, and create stronger commercial linkages between BoI-supported enterprises and the Belgian business community.
Delivering the welcome address, His Excellency Pieter Leenknegt, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Nigeria, commended the growing economic relationship between both countries and expressed optimism that the partnership would create new opportunities for businesses on both sides.
The General Manager of the Nigerian Belgian Chamber of Commerce, Marc Eeckhout, described the agreement as a practical platform for translating business interest into measurable economic outcomes.
“This Memorandum of Understanding represents more than an institutional partnership; it creates a structured bridge between Belgian innovation and Nigerian enterprise. By working closely with the Bank of Industry, we are opening new pathways for investment, technology exchange, and business collaboration that will enable companies from both countries to scale with confidence while contributing to sustainable industrial development,” he said.
The breakfast dialogue featured presentations on business expansion, industrial financing, and competitiveness, with contributions from industry leaders, including Engr. Vincent Adegbotolu, Managing Director/CEO of DWC Engineering, and Mudiaga Okumagba, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Direct Logistics Plus.
The partnership aligns with BoI’s 2025–2027 Corporate Strategy, which prioritises industrialisation, MSME development, youth and skills, women’s economic empowerment, climate finance, digital transformation, infrastructure, and export promotion. With assets valued at over ₦6.8 trillion, the Bank continues to strengthen strategic international partnerships that support the Federal Government’s industrialisation agenda while creating jobs, enhancing productivity, and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Through the collaboration, BoI expects to attract new investment opportunities from the Belgian business ecosystem, increase financing for high-impact industrial projects, strengthen export value chains, and improve the investment readiness of Nigerian enterprises through joint advisory and capacity-building initiatives.
The Bank reaffirmed its commitment to working with global partners to unlock long-term capital, accelerate industrial growth, and position Nigeria as a competitive investment destination within Africa and beyond.
Katsina, Nigeria; 2026 — Stanbic IBTC, a member of Standard Bank Group, partnered with the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA) for its MSME Day celebration in Katsina, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to supporting the growth and long-term success of micro, small and medium enterprises across Nigeria.
The event, organised by KASEDA as part of activities marking
International MSME Day, brought together entrepreneurs, business owners,
policymakers, development partners, and key stakeholders in the
enterprise ecosystem to recognise the vital contribution of MSMEs to
economic development, job creation, poverty reduction, innovation, and
sustainable growth.
The celebration provided a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their
products and services, engage with relevant stakeholders, and gain
insights into opportunities for business expansion, access to finance,
market access, digital transformation, and capacity development. It also
reinforced the importance of collaboration between the public sector,
private sector, and financial institutions in creating an enabling
environment for enterprise growth.
Speaking on the partnership, Remy Osuagwu, Executive Director, Business
and Commercial Banking, said Stanbic IBTC’s involvement reflects the
organisation’s belief that MSMEs remain central to Nigeria’s
economic transformation.
“At Stanbic IBTC, we recognise that MSMEs are not just small
businesses; they are engines of employment, innovation, community
development, and economic resilience. Our partnership with KASEDA for
the MSME Day celebration in Katsina underscores our commitment to being
a trusted partner to entrepreneurs, providing relevant financial
solutions, advisory support, digital tools, and access to opportunities
that help businesses grow sustainably.”
The partnership aligns with Stanbic IBTC Bank’s broader SME value
proposition, which is designed to support entrepreneurs and growing
businesses with tailored banking solutions, access to finance, digital
banking platforms, trade support, and business advisory services.
According to Dr Babangida Ruma, Director General KASEDA, Stanbic
IBTC’s partnership further strengthens KASEDA’s objective of
promoting enterprise development and building a more vibrant MSME
ecosystem in Katsina State.
“We are pleased to partner with Stanbic IBTC on this important
celebration of enterprise and entrepreneurship. Collaborations like this
are critical to expanding opportunities for MSMEs, improving access to
finance and markets, and helping small businesses become more
competitive.”
Stanbic IBTC noted that the collaboration with KASEDA forms part of its
continued drive to deepen engagement with entrepreneurs across Nigeria
and deliver practical solutions that respond to the realities of small
and medium-sized businesses.
“We understand that SMEs need more than banking solutions. They need
partners who understand their journey, their ambitions, and their
challenges. Through partnerships like this, Stanbic IBTC demonstrates
its role as an SME-focused bank committed to helping Nigerian businesses
move from possibility to progress,” Wole Adeniyi, Chief Executive,
Stanbic IBTC Bank added.
Stanbic IBTC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting MSMEs through
innovative banking products, strategic partnerships, financial literacy,
enterprise development initiatives, and access to solutions that enable
businesses to thrive in today’s competitive environment. The financial
solutions provider continues to offer practical support that help
businesses manage operations efficiently, unlock growth opportunities,
and build resilience in a dynamic economic environment.
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