Category: Business Day

Nigeria’s drive toward digital transformation received a fresh boost as telecommunications company, Globacom, pledged its full support for the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) business roundtable on Broadband Investment and Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure, which opened today at the NCC Headquarters in Abuja.

The two-day event, themed ‘Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure – The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity,’ brings together stakeholders from government, regulatory bodies, and the private sector to develop practical strategies for expanding broadband access and enhancing infrastructure protection.

Globacom’s sponsorship and active participation reaffirm its leadership role in advancing Nigeria’s digital agenda. The company is providing logistical and technical support for the event, underscoring its commitment to a secure, inclusive, and connected digital future.

Industry observers note that the forum provides a crucial platform for harmonising policies between public and private sectors, fostering investment, and bridging the nation’s digital divide-particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Globacom’s engagement also positions it strategically to contribute to policy discussions on Right of Way (RoW), infrastructure investment incentives, and regulatory frameworks that can drive broadband growth nationwide. By participating in these deliberations, the company aims to fast-track the deployment of high-speed internet and reinforce protection for critical communication assets.

The telecoms firm views the roundtable as a step towards strengthening collaboration between government and industry players, while promoting innovative funding models and equitable access to digital resources. This aligns with Globacom’s enduring mission to empower Nigerians through affordable and dependable connectivity.

‘We believe that digital transformation must be inclusive and secure. Our participation in this roundtable is a continuation of our mission to support national development through technology. A resilient broadband infrastructure is critical to Nigeria’s economic growth and global competitiveness,’ Globacom stated.

The company’s ongoing contributions to the Critical National Information Infrastructure Protection Plan (CNIIPP) are expected to further shape Nigeria’s national telecom security framework, enhancing defences against cyber threats and infrastructure vandalism.

As the roundtable progresses, Globacom reaffirms its position not just as a telecommunications provider, but as a trusted national partner committed to building a digitally empowered and secure Nigeria.

When Nigerian student Oluwapelumi Dada spotted Sam Parr, an entrepreneur and My First Million podcast host, jogging through San Francisco last year, he jumped on his bike, chased Parr down, and pitched him his idea.

This idea is an app that allows students to apply for multiple jobs at once. The pitch, which caught Parr’s attention and later went viral on social media, has been accepted into Y Combinator, one of the world’s most prestigious startup accelerators.

On account of the journey from Lagos to Silicon Valley, Dada’s story is one of grit and belief in possibility. After moving to the United States for university two years ago, he spent much of his time building apps and sharing his progress online.

Last year, he turned down internship offers from Tesla and Dell -two of the world’s top tech firms – to focus full-time on developing his idea, then called One Click Apply.

The app aimed to simplify how students navigated job applications, offering a single platform to apply to multiple opportunities with just one click.

While being unable to afford the summer without a job, Dada took a leap of faith and joined The Residency, a hacker house in San Francisco where young founders live and build startups together.

While there, he convinced fellow Nigerians, David Aladee and Damilola Ajayi, to leave their own pursuits and join him in building what would later become Sorce, described as the ‘Tinder for jobs.’

Their early hustle caught the attention of tech investor Hugo Thieblot and startup collective Founders Inc., who provided the first funding to grow the project. Dada later returned to school, continued refining the app, and officially launched it after graduation.

After missing Y Combinator’s application deadline, the team decided to apply anyway – a decision that would change their lives. Weeks later, Dada received a call from YC’s David Lieb confirming that Sorce had been accepted.

‘We got a call that we got in,’ Dada wrote on X (formerly Twitter). ‘Dreams do come true.’

This marks a new chapter for African Innovation as with its acceptance into Y Combinator, Sorce joins the ranks of a growing number of African-founded startups making their mark in Silicon Valley.

The app aims to help students and young professionals streamline job applications, which is a pain point for millions worldwide.

For many in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, Dada’s story represents the bold, self-starting attitude driving the next wave of African founders who are competing globally.

The One Click Apply is a website that allows students/job applicants to apply to jobs in one click, with the hope of making the job application process easier for students. One Click Apply helps job applicants not worry about all the repetitive parts of applying for a job.

The end goal is to build the standard for applying to jobs on the internet, so that anyone, anywhere, won’t have to put in the same information on 10 different websites several times.

He hails from Oyo State, in Nigeria. Dada attended Rehoboth Peace Academy, Abuja, for his primary education; Middle School (JSS 1-3) at Salem Academy, Abuja, and the Government Science Secondary School, Abuja (SS1-3).

A student at Huston-Tillotson University from Austin, Texas, representing the Huston-Tillotson University class of 2025, Dada’s tech journey began at the tender age of 11.

He got a full tuition scholarship studying Computer Science at the Huston-Tillotson University and worked as a resident assistant (which gives him free housing).

He said that he got to know about tech at a young age. Temitayo Dada, his mum, brought in a computer when he was young, hence he naturally got an aptitude for computers because he could do a lot of things on it.

Kehinde Dada, his dad, was a graphic designer, whom he learned some graphic designs from. Dada also did some graphic design with Photoshop and CorelDRAW when he was younger.

He started coding late, according to him. However, he learned Java when he was 11, but only for that summer. ‘I stopped coding when I started secondary (high) school. When I got into SS 2 (11th grade), I started making websites with Wix, and learning HTML until I graduated (from secondary school),’ he said in an interview with Africa Interviews.

General Board of Higher Education and Ministry(GBHEM) said in a release that Oluwapelumi Dada is on a mission to bridge the gap between technology and community service.

‘With the help of General Board of Higher Education and Ministries Scholarships, Dada is pursuing a degree in computer science while actively giving back to the community that shaped him,’ it noted.

GBHEM Scholarships offers financial aid to United Methodist students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. Every year, an average of $4 million is awarded to help students in the United States and abroad to pursue their dreams through higher education.

‘I am deeply honored to receive this scholarship. Your generous support has lightened my financial burden, allowing me to focus more on my studies and professional development,’ Dada said.

‘Attending college is crucial for me to gain the advanced knowledge in computer science that will allow me to innovate and solve complex problems,’ Dada added. ‘Seminary education is also important to deepen my theological understanding and serve my community with informed spiritual leadership.’

He noted that his goal in the next five to 10 years is to completely reinvent what recruiting looks like. ‘Recruiting today is broken and is desperately begging to be fixed. In terms of recruitment, finding applicants is hard for companies and employers.

‘So, there’s a lot of work to be done in making the experience easier on both the employers and applicants. For my life goals, I want to build really cool stuff and create a lot of value for the world.’

The federal government has unveiled a Forest Guards Initiative, aimed at flushing out bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements operating from Nigeria’s forests.

The initiative, formally launched by Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA), during the opening of the Federal and States Security Administrators’ Meeting (FSSAM) at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Abuja on Thursday, is expected to deploy a massive force of over 130,000 armed forest guards across Nigeria’s 1,129 forest and game reserves.

Ribadu said the initiative, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a decisive step towards reclaiming ungoverned forest areas that have become strongholds for violent groups responsible for widespread insecurity, kidnappings, and rural violence.

‘We are taking the fight to where the criminals hide. The Forest Guards Initiative is a bold step to secure our forests, restore peace to rural communities, and deny bandits and kidnappers freedom of action’, Ribadu declared.

According to the NSA, the first phase of the operation will begin in seven frontline states, Adamawa, Borno, Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, Sokoto, and Yobe before expanding to other parts of the country.

He described the initiative as a key component of the Tinubu administration’s broader national security agenda, which prioritizes rural safety, environmental protection, and the restoration of peace in communities most affected by violent crime.

Ribadu noted that the forest guards will be specially trained, well-equipped, and coordinated through a joint command structure to ensure intelligence sharing, rapid response, and effective territorial coverage. ‘The forests have long provided sanctuary for criminal networks. We are changing that narrative by establishing a strong, permanent security presence in these areas’, Ribadu said.

In his remarks, Muhammed Danjuma, Permanent Secretary of the Special Services Office, described the Forest Guards Initiative as a ‘security game-changer’ that reflects unprecedented collaboration between the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Federal Ministry of Environment, and state governments.

Danjuma explained that the programme would not only target criminal activities but also help safeguard environmental assets and protect vulnerable rural populations who have borne the brunt of insecurity in recent years.

He, however, cautioned that the initiative’s success would hinge on political will, adequate funding, and consistent cooperation between the federal and state governments.

‘This is a long-term investment in peace and stability. If properly sustained, it will change the security landscape of Nigeria’s rural communities’, Danjuma added.

The Bauchi State Police Command on Friday handed over 387 blocks of dried leaves, suspected to be cannabis sativa, to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Bauchi.

Aliyu Sani-Omolori, the State Commissioner of Police, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Yandoka Police Headquarters, explaining that the suspected cannabis was discovered following a motor vehicle accident involving two Toyota Corolla cars in Vom village, Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Sani-Omolori explained that investigations revealed the first vehicle, a white Toyota Corolla with registration number ABC-459LF, was driven by Ali Muhammad, a 45-year-old resident of Nabardo Village.

He stated that the vehicle was conveying the District Head of Nabardo, Suleiman Bala Suleiman, 65, and his family members on their way from Bauchi metropolis to Nabardo Village.

The second white Toyota Corolla, bearing registration number GWA-155GW, was driven by an unidentified individual travelling from Jos, Plateau State, to Bauchi. Reports indicated that the driver, while attempting to overtake other vehicles recklessly, collided head-on with the first car.

He explained that all occupants of the two vehicles sustained varying degrees of injuries and were immediately taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi for medical attention.

According to the police commissioner, the District Head suffered a fracture in his left leg and is currently receiving treatment, while other victims are also being attended to, with some already discharged. During a search of the wrecked Toyota Corolla with registration number Abuja GWA-155GW after the accident, detectives recovered several items from the vehicle.

Items recovered from the wrecked vehicle included 387 blocks of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa, a black travel bag containing personal belongings, two polythene bags with personal items, a black Tecno phone without a SIM card, the damaged Toyota Corolla (Abuja GWA-155GW) without keys, a national driver’s license, and motor vehicle documents.

According to the Commissioner of Police, ‘These items have been forwarded to the State Investigation Department (S.I.D.) of the Bauchi State Command for further discreet investigation and forensic analysis. Upon completion, the case will be handed over to the NDLEA for continuation of the investigation.’ Sani-Omolori urged anyone with useful information that could help identify the driver to come forward and assist the police, assuring that the command remains committed to uncovering the identity of the main suspect.

In his remarks, Hussaini Umaru, the Deputy State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Bauchi State, commended the police for their efforts and pledged that the agency would do everything possible to trace the owner of the recovered items.

Olusegun Alebiosu, managing director and chief executive officer of First Bank Group, says the bank’s latest investment in new digital banking technology, currently being deployed across Nigeria, will simplify transaction and enhance accessibility of the bank’s operations.

Alebiosu noted that the new digital banking centres was conceived as a strategic initiative, adopted to deliver robust, and streamless banking experience to the bank`s growing customers.

Speaking during the official launch of the -state-of- the-art digital experience facility at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), northwest Nigeria on Thursday, he disclosed that the facility will be rendering 24/7 automated banking services in the school.

He disclosed that the automated centre, the second established by the bank in Northern Nigeria, was a revolutionise initiative designed to expand, and boost the efficiency of its operations in the country.

Alebiosu said the automated center is also intended to scale access to financial services, and provide seamless, secure, and round-the-clock access to the growing customers of the in the university community, and environs.

He emphasised that the bank’s transformation agenda is anchored on leveraging technology to simplify transactions and enhance accessibility, noting that the future of banking is digital.

In her address, earlier, Abimbola Kunle Ajayi, group head of branch operations and services, explained that the official commissioning of the center, in Kano, will give a big boost to the operations of the bank, generally in the state.

Ajayi noted that the center wired to provide customised banking services, such as cash deposits, withdrawals, and payment transactions through the deployment of advanced ATMs device that does not require human assistance.

She stated that the branch is offering platform for customers to independently perform transactions in a friendly environment.

Ajayi said the center’s efficiency was demonstrated during the commissioning when the Deputy Vice-Chancellor successfully carried out a transfer and the Students’ Union President created an ATM card.

Speaking on behalf of the host university, Haruna Musa, vice-chancellor, BUK, represented by Amina Mustapha, commended the bank’s management for the initiative, and urged the university community to utilise and take care of the facility.

Commenting on his experience after using the facility, a member of the university community, Dauda Yusuf, said that the facility was very robust, and expressed satisfaction with the center’s efficiency.

Dauda described the siting of the facility in the university as a welcomed development, noting it would solve the problem of having to travel to town for banking transactions.

The high point of the ceremony was the demonstration of the efficiency of the services of the center, as witnessed when the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and the President of Students` Union Government of the University.

Indications have emerged that Nyesom Wike’s absence from the National Council of State meeting may be linked to the Presidency’s reported decision to suspend his regular monthly media briefings as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

BusinessDay gathered that the meeting, which had in attendance former Nigerian leaders, state governors, and former Chief Justices of the Federation, was represented on behalf of the FCT by Mariya Mahmoud, the Minister of State.

The meeting was also attended by Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state, amongst all the other Governors.

The hybrid meeting had former Military Presidents in attendance, including Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, who joined virtually.

BusinessDay gathered from reliable source at the Presidential Villa, that Wike was stopped from holding the monthly press briefings, due to the growing concerns over the controversies and huge public disaffections, generated by his regular briefings.

The Presidency said the decision was taken after a thorough assessment of the current political situation ahead of the 2027 general election.

‘Some government officials have been expressing unease over Wike’s media sessions and the utterances.

‘Aside from the increasing disaffections, Wike’s confrontational posture is seen as bringing negative publicity to the President, because of the threats and inflammatory statements.

‘Wike is doing very well with infrastructures development in the FCT and the President is pleased with his achievements so far, but this briefings have become a source of negative publicity for him and by extension, for Mr. President too’ our source stated. Our sources who does not want his name in print, however denied any love lost between the FCT Minister of President Tinubu.

‘The FCT Minister himself understands that he cannot fight the President and I can assure you that they remain the best of friends.

‘President Tinubu does not like making enemies, rather, for those close to him, we know that he prefers to bring people together and unite people.’ He however expressed the fear that if not checked, Wike’s outbursts, especially towards the nation’s elders, could further heighten political crises, cause hatred for the President and may lead to further distractions.

Wike is said to be piling pressure on Femi Gbajabiamila, the President’s Chief of Staff, for a review of the ban.

BusinessDay noted that this may have been largely responsible for Wike’s inability to hold the briefing done regularly within the first week of the month, precisly on the 2nd of every month.

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has named a strong starting XI for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday evening.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali retains his place between the sticks as he targets a tenth clean sheet for the national team. In defence, Benjamin Fredrick starts at right-back in the absence of regulars Ola Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel, while Bruno Onyemaechi takes his usual spot on the left. William Troost-Ekong and Calvin Bassey form the central defensive pairing. With Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika sidelined through injury, Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi will anchor the midfield, looking to control possession and dictate play in the middle of the park.

In attack, Victor Osimhen leads the line alongside Tolu Arokodare. Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon provide width and creativity from the flanks.

Nigeria, currently chasing a maximum of three points to keep their 2026 World Cup qualification hopes alive, knows that a victory against Lesotho is vital before their final Group C clash against Benin Republic.

Confirmed Nigeria Starting XI vs Lesotho

Goalkeeper: Stanley Nwabali

With estimates suggesting that Nigeria needs around $100 billion in investments each year for the next decade to help improve its infrastructure, there’s a huge opportunity for positive change and economic growth. Many of us notice the everyday challenges, like power outages, busy health facilities, traffic congestion, and a shortage of affordable homes. These issues can present challenges that sometimes slow down progress, making it more difficult for businesses to thrive and for Nigeria to compete on a global level. However, they also highlight areas where targeted investments and innovative solutions can make a real difference for our communities and our economy.

For years, the government has attempted to bridge this gap through budgetary allocations and borrowing from both domestic and foreign sources. While these efforts are commendable, they have proven insufficient. The reality is apparent: Nigeria cannot rely on public finance alone. Mobilising private capital, especially from institutional investors, is one of the sustainable pathways to financing infrastructure that will power our economic growth.

Pension funds and opportunities in infrastructure

Among global private capital pools, pension fund assets are particularly well-suited for investments in infrastructure. As managers of long-term savings, pension fund capital is naturally aligned with the nature of long-term capital infrastructure investment requirements. Moreover, investment in infrastructure assets can deliver steady, inflation-linked cash flows over an extended period. Globally, infrastructure has evolved into a defensive asset class, enhancing yields, diversifying portfolios, and providing essential services.

In Nigeria, despite the modest growth in infrastructure investments, this potential remains somewhat underutilised. According to the Pension Funds Operators Association of Nigeria’s (PenOp) recent flagship Infrastructure report [RA1], pension fund investment in infrastructure is still around 1.3 percent of total assets under management, even though regulations permit allocations of up to 10 percent. Historically, pension fund administrators have been cautious, citing concerns around project bankability, regulatory bottlenecks, and the overarching responsibility to safeguard contributors’ capital.

The inaugural PenOp Infrastructure Report provides valuable insights into how pension fund managers perceive the infrastructure asset class. The findings are instructive. Half of the fund managers surveyed identified the lack of bankable projects as the most significant barrier to investment. At the same time, 55 percent believe that infrastructure is the most attractive alternative asset class, and more than half are actively scouting opportunities. The report makes it clear that while challenges remain, there is a strong appetite within the pension fund industry to channel more capital into infrastructure, provided the right conditions are in place.

Opportunities for growth, challenges to overcome

Infrastructure investment is about enabling growth and improving lives. The PenOp report highlights power and transport sectors as the most attractive destinations for pension fund investment, given their direct impact on industrialisation, trade, and productivity. There is also rising interest in agriculture and healthcare – two sectors critical to Nigeria’s human and food security. Agriculture requires modern storage, logistics and irrigation systems to unlock its potential, while healthcare needs upgraded facilities to meet the demands of a growing population.

Still, unlocking pension fund capital for infrastructure will require deliberate action. The report underscores the importance of credit enhancements to mitigate risks, transparent and consistent project execution to build confidence, and regulatory reforms and tax incentives to encourage investment. Nigeria needs a wider ecosystem of de-risking instruments, policy consistency, and credible pipelines of investable projects to crowd in pension capital.

Stanbic IBTC as a viable infrastructure financing conduit

Stanbic IBTC Infrastructure Fund continues to play a catalytic role in infrastructure investment while advancing dialogue, transparency and knowledge-sharing within the industry. We are convinced that access to credible data on projects is vital for informed decision-making about the broader infrastructure asset class.

At Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, we prioritise curating value-creating and value-enhancing projects underpinned by sustainability and impact themes that deliver on critical outcomes to investors and other stakeholders.

Stanbic IBTC Infrastructure Fund has taken a lead on infrastructure financing in Nigeria, having supported projects with a cumulative value of ?280 billion since inception. Aggregate revenues of the sponsors that Stanbic IBTC Infrastructure Fund has supported since inception are in excess of ?900 billion. The Fund has made cash returns of over 35 percent to its investors, and its unit price has appreciated by 13 percent from ?100 per unit at inception to ?113 per unit as of 30 June 2025. In under four years of operation, the Fund has paid over ?24 billion in cash distributions to investors from a capital base of ?70 billion. Projects financed by the Fund have significantly impacted local communities, generating over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs across various sectors. In addition to boosting employment, investments in road infrastructure under the RITC scheme have enhanced public infrastructure, providing reliable transport solutions to commuters and delivering essential healthcare services to individuals.

In 2025, we launched our ?350 billion Stanbic IBTC Infrastructure Growth Fund (SIIGF) – the core mandate is to provide equity investment into infrastructure projects in Nigeria and Pan Africa. Our pipeline of infrastructure investment remains robust as we continue to mobilise domestic institutional capital as well as foreign capital at scale. With each of our projects, we are supporting the creation of a pathway to sustainable financing of infrastructure projects, reducing reliance on external borrowing, stimulating industrialisation, and improving the quality of life for millions of Nigerians. Achieving this requires coordinated action from government, regulators, development finance institutions (DFIs), and the private sector to create an enabling environment that gives pension funds the confidence to participate in infrastructure investment. This is too important a task to be left to any one stakeholder.

Investors who placed early bets on the Nigerian Exchange’s ICT stocks have seen some of the strongest returns in 2025, outpacing nearly every other sector as digital infrastructure investment and renewed optimism around tech-driven growth lift valuations across the board.

As of October 8, a N1 million investment made at the start of the year in NCR Nigeria would now be worth N3.2 million, while eTranzact would have grown to N2.46 million, CWG Plc to N2.17 million, and MTN Nigeria to N2.13 million, according to NGX trading data. Chams Holding would have risen to N1.8 million, and Omatek Ventures to N1.64 million, reflecting a powerful rebound in Nigeria’s listed technology ecosystem.

Taken together, these ICT firms have posted an average year-to-date gain of about 139 percent, far outperforming the NGX All-Share Index, which has gained around 40.9 percent so far this year. The sector’s sharp rally underscores how investors are shifting toward growth-oriented counters, betting on Nigeria’s accelerating digital transformation and sustained telecoms expansion.

The NGX ICT Index has been buoyed by a combination of earnings recovery, increased adoption of digital payment systems, and ongoing infrastructure spending by telecoms and fintech. MTN Nigeria, already a telecommunications giant, has benefited from robust data revenue and recent tariff adjustments. At the same time, smaller-cap players such as eTranzact, CWG, and Chams Holding have rallied sharply on speculative inflows and expectations of new digital service contracts.

The year’s standout performer has been NCR Nigeria, whose share price ballooned 220 percent, from N5 in January to N16 by October 8, on the back of strong order books and renewed investor confidence in its systems integration and fintech hardware business. eTranzact’s stock jumped 146 percent to N16, and CWG more than doubled to N17.55. Chams Holding gained 132 percent, while Omatek Ventures advanced 82 percent.

The surge in ICT valuations has stirred debate over how long the rally can last. Analysts note that liquidity from domestic institutional investors, coupled with limited foreign participation, has amplified price movements in thinly traded names. Still, sentiment remains broadly positive, with most brokers highlighting the sector’s resilience and earnings visibility.

With the federal government prioritizing broadband expansion, cashless payments, and artificial intelligence integration in public services, technology remains a central pillar of Nigeria’s medium-term economic strategy. As 2025 enters its final quarter, investors are watching whether ICT stocks can sustain their momentum amid profit-taking pressures and a shifting interest-rate environment.

Regardless of short-term corrections, the ICT sector’s 2025 performance has cemented its status as one of the Nigerian Exchange’s biggest success stories and evidence of how digital growth is reshaping Nigeria’s investment landscape.

At the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31) taking place in Abuja, Oluseye Olusoga, group managing director of Parthian Group, joined leading policymakers and business executives to champion Pan-African capital market, strategic pension fund collaboration during an interactive panel discussion on ‘Future-Proofing Investments: Stability in Volatility.’

The session focused on rebuilding investor confidence in Nigeria through transparent, stable, and credible policymaking amid ongoing reforms in foreign exchange management, fiscal consolidation, and governance.

Olusoga emphasised that while policy inconsistency has historically deterred investment, the greater challenge lies in poor communication of policy intent and weak stakeholder engagement.

‘Cohesive policymaking and effective communication from the government will help create the right environment for businesses to thrive,’ he stated. ‘If an investor sees that we are investing in our own country, and can see the returns, they will follow. The government must not only create the right policies but also communicate them clearly to inspire confidence.’

He further noted that Nigeria stands at a critical reflection point, urging policymakers to optimize existing initiatives before launching new ones. According to him, stability and clarity will form the foundation for sustained capital inflows and economic resilience.

Expanding on regional opportunities, Olusoga spoke on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and its potential to unlock transformative growth through collaboration among African financial institutions:

‘I look forward to a future where we are truly Pan-African. Imagine if pension funds like Parthian Pensions in Nigeria and similar institutions in other countries jointly financed critical infrastructure projects along regional corridors; that kind of cooperation would drive real economic development.’

He highlighted how evolving capital market frameworks can enable cross-border trading of African securities, calling for further reforms to address currency fungibility and other barriers to regional financial integration.

‘Once these challenges are resolved, Africa will become a far more attractive investment destination, with shared prosperity across borders,’ he added.