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When the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) unveiled a N28 billion bailout for electricity distribution companies last month, the announcement landed with both optimism and fatigue.

The funds are earmarked to procure and install meters for customers in tariff Bands A and B, at no cost to consumers.

The move is part of the broader Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), which aims to close a metering gap affecting an estimated seven million customers.

For government officials, it was a fresh attempt to close the country’s yawning metering gap, one that leaves millions of households billed on estimated consumption. For the public, it sounded like déjà vu.

BusinessDay’s finding showed the fresh injection is being watched warily by critics and power-sector observers who recall that nearly N1.5 trillion has already been pumped into metering programmes over the past years with little meaningful progress.

Though the government and multilateral partners have claimed to have spent that sum across various metering interventions, more than half of electricity customers, still remain unmetered, relying on estimated bills.

Data sourced from NERC showed as of 30 June 2025, only 6,422,933 out of the 11,821,194 active registered electricity customers (54.3 percent) across the twelve (12) DisCos were metered.

This implies about 5.3 million electricity customers are still unmetered.

The N28 billion Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) tranche, announced in October 15, aims to finance the procurement and free distribution of meters to customers in the most critical supply categories, those on Bands A and B, who are supposed to enjoy the most reliable power supply.

Under the arrangement, the funds, pooled from market revenues, are being distributed among the 12 Distribution Companies (DisCos) according to their customer base and technical needs.

Ikeja Electric, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company are among the biggest beneficiaries, expected to receive billions of naira each to procure and install new meters before the end of the year.

According to NERC, this latest bailout represents ‘a decisive measure to eliminate estimated billing and deepen efficiency in electricity distribution.’ But across the industry, skepticism runs deep.

‘The challenge isn’t about money anymore, it’s about delivery and honesty,’ said one senior executive at a Lagos-based meter manufacturing firm, who requested anonymity for fear of regulatory backlash. ‘We’ve seen this movie before: money released, meters promised, and very little to show for it.’

That skepticism is well-earned.

Since 2020, the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other agencies, has launched multiple programmes, each touted as the one that would finally end estimated billing. Yet, each has foundered on a combination of corruption, weak oversight, and bureaucratic inertia.

The National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) was the first of these grand interventions. Introduced in 2020, it came with a ?200 billion seed fund from the CBN and an ambitious plan to deliver one million meters in its pilot phase, at a cost of N59.28 billion. The meters were to be supplied by local manufacturers registered as Meter Asset Providers (MAPs).

By 2022, the project had run into scandal. The CBN approached a High Court in Lokoja, seeking to freeze 157 bank accounts belonging to 10 companies that allegedly diverted NMMP funds. The apex bank accused the beneficiaries of channeling money into unrelated ventures.

Industry insiders told BusinessDay that the programme’s collapse owed much to collusion between suppliers and officials in the supervising agencies. ‘Most of the meters were not supplied,’ one source said, ‘because of the connivance between the companies and government officials in the last administration. The money was simply diverted.’

Of the one million meters planned, fewer than 940,000 were delivered, and even fewer installed. Billions of naira remain unaccounted for.

The Promise of ‘Free Meters’

Following the NMMP debacle, NERC introduced the Meter Acquisition Fund, which earmarked ?21 billion to distribute free meters to select customers. But progress under the first phase has been anemic.

A NERC document seen by Businessday showed as of June 2025, DisCos have metered about 107,000 Band A customers through the MAF scheme.

Analyst said DisCos, struggling under debt and poor cash flow, have little incentive to prioritise metering, since unmetered customers can be billed arbitrarily.

For many consumers, that system remains a source of frustration and mistrust.

The Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), launched later, was billed as the game-changer. The Federal and State Governments jointly allocated ?700 billion with the goal to deploy over 10 million meters nationwide, eliminate arbitrary billing, restore public trust in the power sector, and empower consumers through accurate, transparent, and fair electricity pricing.

By mid-2025, Olu Verheijen, special adviser to the President on Energy said, in Abuja as part of events to commemorate the second anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration said the federal government plans to deploy seven million smart electricity meters nationwide through the PMI.

But two major DisCos told BusinessDay that none of those meters had reached their warehouses.

‘The press statements are always ahead of reality,’ one senior DisCo official said. ‘We read that the meters were on the way, but we never received a single one.’

Paying Twice, Waiting Forever

Even customers who have tried to take metering into their own hands have met obstacles. Under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme introduced in 2018, consumers were allowed to pay for meters directly, with the understanding that they would be refunded through energy-use credits over time.

‘Out of the 225,631 end-use customers metered in first half of 2025 , 147,823 (65.52%) of customers were metered under the MAP framework,’ NERC said in its latest report.

But electricity customers surveyed by BusinessDay said the result is widespread resentment. ‘It feels like we’re being punished for doing the right thing,’ said Chidinma Eze, a small-business owner in Isolo who paid ?88,000 for a meter in 2022 and has yet to receive a refund. ‘Every new initiative just becomes another excuse to collect money.’

The World Bank’s Distribution Sector Recovery Programme, meant to provide structure and international oversight, has fared little better. The Bank approved a $500 million loan to Nigeria, with $155 million (about ?100 billion) allocated for 3.2 million meters. But that effort has stalled amid disputes between local manufacturers and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which manages the fund.

Local firms accuse TCN of awarding contracts primarily to foreign suppliers, particularly two Chinese companies that together secured deals worth about ?100 million for 1.25 million meters. The controversy has left hundreds of thousands of planned installations in limbo.

The cumulative spending across these programmes, CBN loans, federal budget allocations, donor funds, and state contributions, now exceeds ?1.5 trillion, according to estimates compiled from NERC, CBN, and Power Ministry records.

Yet, despite this massive outlay, Nigeria still has more than seven million customers without meters, according to the most recent regulator’s data.

Analysts say the implications extend beyond consumer billing. ‘Metering is the foundation of a viable power market,’ said Ayodele Olawande, an independent energy economist based in Abuja. ‘Without accurate measurement, you can’t price electricity properly, you can’t attract investors, and you can’t enforce accountability.’

The persistence of estimated billing undermines both revenue collection and trust. It allows DisCos to over-bill customers during supply shortfalls while depriving the electricity market of real consumption data essential for planning and investment.

‘This is not a problem of regulations-it’s a problem of political will,’ said an industry consultant who has worked on two of the previous programmes. ‘Every new scheme uses old templates, old players, and the same opaque accounting.’

Many manufacturers, particularly indigenous firms, argue that the government’s approach favors middlemen rather than producers. Some firms that participated in earlier rounds of metering claim they are still owed payments running into billions of naira.

Nigerian entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders are set to play a central role as the GUBA Awards hosts its first-ever Caribbean edition in Barbados this November.

Organized in partnership with the Office of the Prime Minister of Barbados, the event has already seen Nigerians make up a significant majority of early registrations for the three-day summit.

President and Founder of GUBA, Lady Dentaa Amoateng in a statement said that the event was scheduled to take place from November 10 to 12, 2025, adding that the Barbados summit marks the 16th edition of the GUBA Awards and represents a pivotal opportunity for Nigerian businesses to enter Caribbean markets.

She further added that the summit aimed to foster new partnerships and position Nigeria at the forefront of an emerging Africa Caribbean trade corridor estimated to be worth billions of dollars.

The summit under the theme, ‘Reclaiming Our Atlantic Destiny Build Connect Renew,’ the GUBA Barbados 2025 summit will convene heads of state, CEOs, investors, and policymakers.

She said, ‘The shared goal is to establish concrete trade relationships between Africa’s largest economy and the 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM), strengthening South-South economic ties.

‘Nigerian businesses have conquered African markets and established themselves globally, but the Caribbean represents an underutilised gateway, 44 million people with strong purchasing power, cultural affinity, and a business environment that speaks English and understands our entrepreneurial drive,

‘The timing is strategic. With Nigeria’s economy diversifying beyond oil and the Caribbean seeking alternatives to traditional trade partners, business leaders from both regions see complementary opportunities in fintech, entertainment, agriculture, fashion, renewable energy, and professional services’.

This collaboration is expected to open new trade and investment channels between the two regions.

Recall that recent diplomatic developments including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s knighthood from St. Lucia and strengthened ties with St. Kitts and Nevis was a pointer to Nigeria’s growing presence in the Caribbean region.

Those attending include the King of Ashanti Kingdom Otumfuo Osei Tutu, Nigeria’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; and prominent businessman and philanthropist, Femi Otedola.

International Workplace Group (IWG) says it is committed to providing Nigerian small and medium-scale enterprises and young professionals with a cost-effective network of workspaces and co-working spaces to help stimulate business and economic growth.

According to the company, through its network of workspace brands like Regus, HQ and Spaces, it hopes to help professionals, business owners avoid set-up costs, capital investment, and eliminate the burden of property management.

Speaking at the opening of one of its newest location in Lagos, Ayo Akinmade, country manager, IWG, says through its 3rd operating brand, Spaces, it plans to help Nigerians achieve productivity each working day by creating a fantastic working environment, providing a platform that unlocks productivity and enabling connection to a valuable business community.

Akinmade said that the concept of Spaces is designed to cater for the unique needs of businesses and well-known organisations, and as individuals and industry leaders of the next generation.

He said that locating the Spaces within the Lekki area is strategic because the location attracts dynamic interaction between people.

According to him, the idea of Spaces, just like other IWG brands, is to provide a space for clients, business owners with an operational base for meetings, flexibility payment plan, workspace and access to high-speed internet to aid business growth.

Akinmade further said that despite the economic situation in the country, the brand continues to create workspace solutions for Nigerian business owners. ‘From its inception in 2008, the company has continued to create a fantastic working environment, providing a platform that unlocks productivity and enabling connection to a valuable business community,’ he said.

Helen Oshinusi, Partners, MHQ said that the SPACES brand aligned perfectly with the vision of her company to redefine the future of corporate culture with a commitment to creating environments where businesses and professionals can thrive.

Oshinusi stated that sustainability is at the forefront of every decision made by MHQ. ‘Sustainability is not only about how a building is formed, but how it continues to serve. It’s about crafting spaces that are adaptable, resilient, and capable of evolving as companies and communities grow. These are spaces that are designed to last,’ she said.

She said that her company focuses on crafting environments that combine simplicity with bold expression, where change makers, creatives, and corporate leaders can build cultures of excellence.

She said that partnering with a global leader like IWG’s SPACES amplifies this mission, adding that together, the companies aims to champion a new generation of workspaces that empower people, support enterprise growth, and shape the future of work in a responsible, sustainable and enduring way.

On Friday, President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of new chiefs of staff to replace the already existing ones. Here are things you need to know about the new service chiefs.

Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff He succeeds Christopher Musa and will now oversee the coordination of all military operations across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Born in 1968 in Ikere, Ekiti State, Oluyede is a seasoned infantry officer with more than three decades of active military service.

He is an alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy, where he was admitted as part of the 39th Regular Course and commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1992.

His career saw him serve as platoon commander and adjutant at the 65 Battalion, and later as company commander at the 177 Guards Battalion.

Oluyede has held several operational and strategic appointments that have shaped his leadership profile.

He served as Commandant of the Amphibious Training School, Calabar, and later as Commander of the 27 Task Force Brigade in Borno State, under Operation Hadin Kai, the Nigerian military’s flagship counterinsurgency operation.

He also took part in international peacekeeping missions, including the ECOMOG operations in Liberia and Operation Harmony IV in the Bakassi Peninsula.

Before his elevation to Chief of Defence Staff, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the Infantry Corps, Jaji, Kaduna, and later as Chief of Army Staff, a role he assumed in an acting capacity in October 2024 before being confirmed by the Senate in December of the same year.

Over the years, Oluyede has received numerous military decorations, including the Grand Service Star, Field Command Medal, and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award. Waidi Shuaibu, Nigeria’s New Chief of Army Staff Waidi Shuaibu, one of Nigeria’s most experienced field commanders, was appointed as the new Chief of Army Staff.

His elevation comes after a distinguished military career defined by frontline leadership, operational excellence, and a deep understanding of Nigeria’s complex security landscape.

Until his recent appointment, Shuaibu served as the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the North-East Joint Task Force headquartered in Maiduguri. He assumed that role on January 30, 2024, succeeding Gold Chibuisi (Major General), and quickly established a reputation for pragmatic leadership and strong morale-building among troops engaged in counterinsurgency operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP.

Before taking charge of the North-East theatre, Shuaibu had served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7 Division, Maimalari Cantonment, also in Maiduguri.

His progression through these roles highlights a career steeped in tactical field command, personnel management, and strategic coordination, qualities that have prepared him for his new assignment at the apex of the Nigerian Army.

During his time as Theatre Commander, Shuaibu oversaw intensified military operations.

Notably, under his command, the British Defence Staff in West Africa donated advanced counter-IED equipment to bolster the Army’s capacity to detect and neutralise explosives, which had long posed a deadly threat to troops and civilians in the region.

Known for his balanced leadership style, Shuaibu also pursued non-kinetic strategies to consolidate peace and strengthen civil-military relations.

One of his most symbolic gestures was a ?2.5 million scholarship award to a student of the University of Maiduguri, a gesture aimed at fostering goodwill and demonstrating the Army’s commitment to the local communities in which it operates.

His appointment as Chief of Army Staff is seen as a strategic decision by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Sunday Kelvin Aneke – Chief of Air Staff Sunday Kelvin Aneke, born on February 20, 1972, in Makurdi, Benue State, is the newly appointed Chief of Air Staff (CAS). He hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State and is the son of Air Warrant Officer Sylvester and Mrs. Ngozi Aneke.

Aneke’s military journey began on September 10, 1988, when he joined the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as part of the 40th Regular Course. He was commissioned as a pilot officer on September 10, 1993, marking the start of a distinguished career in the Nigerian Air Force.

He holds multiple academic qualifications, including a B.Sc. in Physics, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar, a Master’s in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, a Master’s in Political Economy and Developmental Studies from the University of Abuja, and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Air War College, Montgomery, Alabama.

Over his career, Aneke has served in diverse command and staff roles. These include Admin Officer at the Aircraft Overhaul Centre, Ikeja; Commander, 307 Executive Airlift Group, Abuja; Director of Safety, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters; and Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, prior to his appointment.

A seasoned pilot, he is type-rated on several aircraft, including the Dornier 228, Citation 500, Falcon 900, Gulfstream V, Gulfstream 550, and Hawker 4000, with more than 4,300 flying hours and an Advanced Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). His medals and decorations include GSS, DSS, GSM, FCM, Psc, and USAFWC.

Aneke is married to Ngozi Enderline Aneke, and their union is blessed with three sons, Chukwuebuka Kelvin, Ifeanyichukwu Brian, and Uchechukwu Jason. I. Abbas, Chief of Naval Staff I. Abbas, a Rear Admiral, was appointed Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) on October 24, 2025, as part of President Bola Tinubu’s broad reorganisation of the Armed Forces.

Before his elevation, Abbas held several key operational and administrative positions within the Nigerian Navy, including Chief Staff Officer, Central Naval Command, and later, Chief of Naval Safety and Standards.

Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiandeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiandeye, a Major General from Bedia in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, is the current Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) of Nigeria.

He was appointed to the position in June 2023 under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

A member of the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, Undiandeye has held several strategic positions, including Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State.

He was also part of the United Nations Troop Contributing Countries Working Group that produced the second edition of the UN Infantry Battalion Manual in 2020.

As CDI, he oversees the coordination of intelligence activities across the armed services, focusing on improving data sharing, surveillance, and inter-agency cooperation.

He has repeatedly emphasised intelligence-led operations as the foundation of Nigeria’s national security strategy.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a statement by Sunday Dare, his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, announced a major shake-up in Nigeria’s military leadership as part of renewed efforts to strengthen the nation’s security architecture.

The President approved the appointment of new service chiefs to head the country’s defence formations.

Nigeria has been ranked 110th out of 112 countries assessed in the 2025 Global Fraud Index released by Sumsub in collaboration with Statista, positioning it among the world’s least fraud-protected nations.

The report underscores Nigeria’s weak institutional response, low resource accessibility, and high exposure to online and financial crime, as the country joins the global study for the first time.

The report, titled ‘Global Fraud Index 2025,’ revealed that Africa remains the most fraud-exposed region in the world, with an average regional score of 3.84, well above the global average of 2.79.

This year’s edition, which examined 112 countries across key indicators such as anti-fraud policy frameworks, fraudulent activity rates, economic resilience, and resource accessibility, highlights Africa’s continued vulnerability to digital and financial fraud despite accelerating efforts to strengthen fraud defences.

Within the continent, Mauritius emerged as the most fraud-protected country, ranking 22nd globally, followed by Botswana (46), Morocco (50), Tunisia (67), and South Africa (74). At the bottom of the table were Nigeria (110), Tanzania (108), Uganda (107), Rwanda (105), and Ethiopia (102), reflecting deep-rooted structural weaknesses in combating financial crime.

Dr. Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, technical adviser to the president on Economic and Financial Inclusion, described Nigeria’s ranking as both a challenge and an opportunity. According to him, the inclusion of Nigeria in the Global Fraud Index presents an opportunity to turn awareness into action, ensuring that digital transformation not only strengthens fraud protection but also fosters confidence and empowers underserved communities for economic and financial inclusion.

He stressed that building a safe, inclusive, and trusted digital economy is vital to achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda and realizing Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

‘The Global Fraud Index results highlight the pressing need for Nigeria to accelerate joint efforts between public, private agencies, and the wider financial industry. Nigeria’s addition to the Index presents an opportunity to turn awareness into action – ensuring that digital transformation not only strengthens fraud protection but also fosters confidence and empowers underserved communities for economic and financial inclusion.

Building a safe, inclusive, and trusted digital economy is essential to achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda and realizing Nigeria’s ambition of a $1 trillion economy by 2030. This demands impact-based approach, collective ownership, sustained innovation, and continuous investment in security, capacity building, and community empowerment,’ Zauro added.

While South Africa recorded the highest unemployment rate in the region, its performance on the Index improved significantly, climbing nine places from 83rd to 72nd position. In contrast, Senegal ranked lowest in Africa for resource accessibility, highlighting the limited technical and human capacity available to combat emerging fraud typologies.

Hannes Bezuidenhout, vice president of sales for Africa at Sumsub, warned that ‘fraud is evolving faster than many national systems can respond.’

He explained that Africa’s digital acceleration presents both immense opportunities and serious risks, adding that ‘structural weaknesses must be addressed through policy harmonisation and enhanced technology-driven defences.’

Globally, Luxembourg, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and the Netherlands emerged as the top five most protected countries, backed by strong regulatory systems, high digital literacy, and mature institutional safeguards. At the lower end, Pakistan (112), Indonesia (111), and Nigeria (110) recorded the weakest resilience, reflecting persistent governance and capacity gaps.

In regional terms, the Middle East recorded stronger protection frameworks, with Israel leading and Lebanon ranking lowest. In the Americas, Canada emerged as the most secure while Brazil was identified as the most vulnerable. Although the United States fell by 36 positions, it maintained global leadership in artificial intelligence readiness, a key factor in automated fraud detection.

In the Asia-Pacific region, New Zealand ranked highest for fraud protection, while Pakistan remained the least protected globally for the second consecutive year. Singapore, the top performer in 2024, dropped from first to tenth place in 2025, while Morocco improved 27 places and Thailand jumped 25 positions due to targeted anti-fraud reforms. Malaysia, however, fell 52 places, signaling declining resilience amid rising digital threats.

Sumsub’s report emphasized that Africa’s weak fraud protection scores do not solely reflect poor performance but highlight an urgent need for investment in digital infrastructure, harmonised regulatory frameworks, and capacity building across public and private sectors.

‘Africa’s digital and financial integration presents both urgency and opportunity. Building resilient systems will require greater collaboration among governments, financial institutions, and technology providers to modernise frameworks, enhance data-sharing, and embed fraud prevention into the continent’s fast-expanding digital economy,’ the report noted.

Timothy Owens, Tech and AI industry expert and senior research lead for technology and telecommunications at Statista, said the findings show that ‘fraud protection isn’t about geography, it’s about governance.’

He cautioned that fraudsters now have access to powerful AI tools that make attacks faster and more sophisticated.

‘For technology leaders, the message is clear: treat fraud exposure like system uptime. Verification systems, information sharing between organisations, and robust incident response aren’t optional anymore, they are fundamental components of operating in today’s digital environment,’ Owens stated.

The 2025 Global Fraud Index was produced in collaboration with Statista, CryptoUK, the Digital Assets Association, Vixio Regulatory Intelligence, and the MENA Fintech Association. It assessed over 100 countries across multiple parameters, marking an expanded coverage of African nations including Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda, and Tanzania.

The report therefore stated that, bridging structural gaps through innovation, collaboration, and policy alignment will be crucial for Nigeria and other African countries to build trust, safeguard innovation, and align with global protection standards.

Experts in the real estate sector will share practical knowledge and experiences on building wealth through real estate at the Mega Housing Summit.

Now in its sixth edition, the Mega Housing Summit continues its tradition of inspiring individuals to make smarter, more profitable real estate decisions that lead to lasting wealth.

This year’s edition promises to be the most impactful yet, bringing together industry thought leaders, investors, homeowners, and aspiring property owners from Nigeria, the UK, and the United States.

The 2025 Summit will feature an engaging lineup of sessions and speakers, each sharing practical knowledge and experiences on building wealth through real estate.

According to the organizers, the Mega Housing Summit is not just another webinar but a platform designed to educate, empower, and equip attendees with actionable insights to navigate the evolving real estate landscape and secure their financial future.

Speaking about the vision behind the event, Oladipupo Clement, host of the summit and CEO of LIFEPAGE, said: ‘Our goal with the Mega Housing Summit is to simplify the path to wealth through real estate. We want everyday people – from professionals to entrepreneurs – to understand that owning property is not just about buying land, it’s about building a legacy that outlives you. This year’s summit is about empowering attendees to take informed steps that create real, lasting financial freedom.’

Participants are expected from across Africa and the diaspora, creating a diverse learning environment that bridges knowledge, opportunity, and collaboration.

Key speakers include:

Olumide Emmanuel – Keynote Speaker and bestselling author of The School of Money, will speak on ‘Wealth Architecture 2030: Building Assets That Outlive You.’

Oladipupo Clement – Host and CEO of LIFEPAGE, will discuss ‘Ways to Make Money from Real Estate.’

Opeyemi Oni (OP) – Executive Director, Products and Estate Development at LIFEPAGE, will address ‘Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Property in Nigeria.’

The real estate event is scheduled to hold on Saturday, October 25th, 2025, at 7 PM (WAT), 7 PM (UK), and 2 PM (EST). The virtual summit, which will take place on Zoom, is hosted by Oladipupo Clement and sponsored by LIFEPAGE Property and Investments Limited.

Lagos, the centre of excellence, is playing host to over 100 activations, 20,000 visitors, 250 million media impressions, spanning exhibitions, talks, installations and studio tours at Africa’s leading festival of design, innovation, and culture, Design Week Lagos (DWL).

The week-long event will witness ideas from designers, brands, and thinkers from across Africa and the diaspora to reshape global perceptions of African creativity.

According to the organisers, the programme, which will run till the 28th of October, 2025, will transform Lagos into a city-wide celebration of creativity under the theme ‘Made in Africa: Shaping Industries, Shaping Futures.’

Titi Ogufere, Founder, Design Week Lagos, disclosed that DWL, now in its seventh year, has evolved into a global platform that spotlights African design excellence and connects creativity with commerce.

Ogufere said the festival continues to position Lagos as Africa’s creative capital where design drives industry, tourism, and transformation. DWL has become a platform where innovation meets opportunity, spotlighting design as both a creative and economic force.

‘Design Week Lagos exists to champion the ingenuity and ambition of Africa’s creative community. Each edition reaffirms our belief that design is a powerful language, one that tells our stories, shapes our economies, and connects Lagos to the global conversation on creativity and innovation,’ Ogufere said.

She said that over six days, Lagos will pulse with exhibitions, installations, talks, and creative activations spread across its design districts, adding that from the Made by Design Show and Design Innovation Exhibition to student showcases and partner programmes, the festival will engage professionals, students, and the general public.

She further stated that the programme, anchored by the Lagos State Government and supported by the Federal Ministry of Tourism, underscores the growing momentum of design tourism in West Africa, where creative excellence fuels new industries, education, and global visibility.

Tola Akerele, General Manager/CEO of the Wole Soyinka Centre (formerly the National Theatre), said that the programme improves each year because it continues to showcase resilient Nigerian designers pushing boundaries in terms of creativity, using local raw materials.

She commended the organiser for sustaining the platform that showcases Nigerian architects, interior designers and product designers and their products.

On her part, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture, Lagos State, said that the Design Week event fits into everything that the government of Lagos State is doing to position the state as a global destination for the creative industry

‘Design week is one of the things Nigeria should look at as a nation because it is the celebration of the hard work of young Nigerians doing great things,’ she said.

Commenting further on the programme, Ogufere said that this year’s programme features more than 100 showrooms and partner activations across Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki, and Yaba, including Roots and Resilience (Federal Palace Hotel), Design Intersect 2025 (Soto Gallery), and the Launch of the Institute of Professional Interior Designers and Product Inventors (IPIDPI) at Alliance Française.

‘Among the activities lined up for the week-long programme are Design Innovation Exhibition; Made by Design Show, Nigeria’s largest interiors trade exhibition returns with over 100 premium brands including Woodstyles, Esorae Homes, ACTIU, Mimz Interiors, and IO Furniture, reaffirming Lagos as the continent’s hub for interior innovation’.

‘Others are DWL Talks and Dialogue in Design and Development, a two event of panels and keynotes bringing together architects, developers, manufacturers, and policymakers. Featured speakers include Bibi Seck, Victoria Adesanmi, Myles Igwebuike, Yew Kee Cheong (President, AIA), and Astrid Hébert (3C Awards)’

‘Student Design Competition, which is organised in partnership with Caverton Marine. This year’s competition challenges young designers to rethink maritime mobility, with renowned designer Kurt Merki Jnr as lead judge,’ she added.

For the most part in the tech business world, customer experience (CX) has been seen as a necessary evil, a cost centre identified by its popular name ‘the support desk’, a ‘nice-to-have’. In a product-led growth model, this reactive approach is a flawed take. It treats CX as a lifeboat after a ship hits an iceberg, rather than a sonar system for navigating safely. This shift in perspective is what separates thriving companies from those with ‘leaky vessels’.

Thriving companies have learnt that strategic CX is not just about fixing problems. It’s about anticipating customer needs, aligning with business goals, and turning every interaction into an opportunity for value creation. The real shift is recognising CX as a revenue lever, not a reactive function.

This article deconstructs how to transform your CX team from being perceived as a cost centre to becoming a growth driver that de-risks renewals, surfaces expansion opportunities, and protects long-term customer value.

De-risking renewals

Reactive CX models often lead to a frantic, last-minute scramble to address long-simmering issues. A strategic CX approach, however, begins on day one of the customer lifecycle.

Value-driven onboarding

The first 90 days are critical. It’s not enough to show customers how to use a product; a strategic CX team focuses on helping clients consistently see why it matters to their business goals. This requires a deep understanding of the customer’s goals, pain points, and success metrics. By mapping your product value to their specific objectives, you make your solution indispensable.

Takeaway: Don’t stop at product tours; facilitate a journey to value. Use clear success metrics and regular check-ins to measure progress against their goals. You should have a vision for where your customer should be in 90 days to 6 months.

Surfacing expansion/upsell opportunities

A well-designed CX workflow is a goldmine of data and insights. Strategic CX teams are trained to read between the lines.

Usage patterns: Is a customer consistently hitting a usage limit? That’s a clear signal for a higher-tier plan. Flag accounts that consistently hit usage caps and automate alerts to proactively reach out.

Feature requests: Tag feature requests by account type (ex., ‘enterprise’, ‘mid-market’) to reveal patterns that can inform upsell conversations. Is a key account repeatedly asking for a critical feature? This indicates that there’s a gap in your product’s value and is a potential upsell opportunity.

Cross-Functional handoffs: When CX uncovers upsell or expansion opportunities, it shouldn’t sit in a silo. A collaborative process should exist where CX, Sales, and Product each play a defined role. CX brings insight and key customer context, such as conversation patterns, usage, and product feedback. Sales brings commercial expertise, structuring expansion opportunities. Product uses these signals to prioritise features, shape the roadmap, and build for scale.

Takeaway: Train your CX team to be scouts. There should be a clear connection between their day-to-day activities and your business’s revenue goals.

Protecting long-term customer value

Retention isn’t a single event. It’s the cumulative result of every interaction a customer has with your company. Strategic CX protects long-term value by building deep relationships and creating a ‘moat’ around the customer.

The power of proactive engagement

Waiting for a customer to raise a flag is a losing strategy. Proactive engagement means reaching out before problems arise.

Health scores: Develop a data-driven customer health score that incorporates usage data, support interactions, and sentiment analysis. When a customer’s health score drops, that should trigger an internal alert for the CX team to intervene proactively. This allows you to address potential churn risks before they become critical.

Customer advocacy: When a customer is successfully using your product to achieve their goals, turn them into an advocate. Power users should be champions and actively involved in case studies, beta feature tests, and community initiatives.

Takeaway: Think of retention as compounding interest. Invest in their success through continuous, proactive engagement. The goal is to make your product so deeply integrated into their business that it’s unthinkable to rip it out.

The new CX mandate

The days of CX as a passive, reactive function are over. In the modern product-led landscape, the customer experience team is a strategic partner in revenue growth. By aligning CX strategy with business outcomes, companies can not only de-risk renewals and increase retention but also unlock a powerful, sustainable engine for revenue growth. The real question isn’t ‘What does CX cost?’ but ‘What is the cost of not having a strategic CX function?’

When Tanzanians head to the polls on October 29, few expect surprises. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the country’s first female leader and head of the long-ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), faces what is shaping up to be a one-sided election.

For the first time, Hassan is standing as a presidential candidate in her own right, four years after she took over from the late John Magufuli in 2021. But the playing field is hardly level. Tanzania’s two biggest opposition parties, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) and the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo), have both been barred from contesting the vote. Their leaders, including Chadema’s Tundu Lissu, are either in detention or disqualified, effectively clearing Hassan’s path to a new five-year term. A one-party legacy

Tanzania operates under a first-past-the-post system, with the president and vice president jointly elected by simple majority. Since independence from Britain in 1961, CCM and its predecessors have dominated national politics. The party traces its roots to Julius Nyerere, the independence hero still revered across the country. For decades, it has cultivated an image of unity, stability and continuity.

From 1977 to 1992, Tanzania was a one-party state. Even after the return to multiparty democracy, CCM has never lost an election. Magufuli’s re-election in 2020 by a disputed 84 percent margin reinforced the party’s unbroken hold on power.

Samia’s quiet consolidation

When Hassan assumed office after Magufuli’s sudden death, she was seen as a bridge figure, cautious, conciliatory and pragmatic. Her early gestures, including lifting bans on opposition rallies and easing restrictions on the media, earned her international praise. Diplomats lauded her as a reformer capable of steering Tanzania away from the hardline politics of the Magufuli years. But the mood has shifted. As the 2025 election nears, critics say Hassan’s reforms have stalled or even reversed. Human rights groups accuse her government of overseeing abductions and harassment of opposition members. Chadema leader Tundu Lissu has been in prison since April, charged with treason after calling for electoral reforms. In October, former diplomat and vocal government critic Humphrey Hesron Polepole went missing, adding to fears of renewed repression. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also faced sharp criticism for disqualifying opposition candidates. Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, once a member of CCM, was barred on procedural grounds after a party member challenged his nomination. ‘This decision is shameful,’ said Ado Shaibu, the party’s secretary general. ‘It raises serious questions about the independence of the electoral commission.’

A vote without suspense

Hassan and her running mate, Emmanuel Nchimbi, were cleared to contest the presidency in early October. The field includes 17 candidates, but none from the country’s main opposition forces leaving Hassan to face only minor challengers. With over 37 million registered voters, the outcome may look democratic on paper, but analysts say the real contest lies in Zanzibar, where opposition support has traditionally been stronger.

‘She will win and build on work from her first term which will enable her to do more’ said Jervin Naidoo, a political analyst at Oxford economic Africa.

Reform or regression?

Hassan insists her government is committed to upholding human rights and democratic values. On social media, she has called on her party to ‘maintain unity to ensure victory’ and to ‘serve citizens with God’s guidance.’ Yet for many Tanzanians, the optimism that greeted her presidency in 2021 has given way to scepticism. Her rule has been marked less by confrontation than by careful control, a style some describe as ‘soft authoritarianism.’ If Magufuli ruled by fear, Samia has relied on pragmatism and quiet discipline to consolidate power.

Tanzania remains East Africa’s most populous nation, with one of the fastest-growing populations globally. Its political direction and the credibility of its electoral institutions, will shape not only its future, but also its standing in a region still balancing democracy, stability and strongman politics.

Philip Mshelbila has emerged as the Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) after an election at the just concluded 27th GECF Ministerial Meeting held in Doha, Qatar.

Alongside him, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Nigeria’s minister of petroleum (gas) was also appointed as the President of the 2026 GECF ministerial meeting.

Congratulating the two leaders, Farouk Ahmed, chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), described both outcome as a testament to Nigeria’s growing leadership, credibility and recognition within the global gas community.

For Ahmed, the dual honours reflect the recognition of Nigeria’s strategic contributions in the energy space.

He commended Mshelbila’s track record in the gas industry and expressed confidence that his wealth of experience will further strengthen the Forum’s role in promoting natural gas as a key driver of global energy security and sustainable development.

Ahmed charged the new Secretary-General to serve with dedication, transparency and renewed commitment to advancing the collective interests of member countries, particularly in addressing global energy transition challenges and ensuring fair value for gas resources.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for the GECF’s mission and emphasised the country’s readiness to continue working with other member states to foster cooperation, investment and innovation across the global gas value chain.

Philip Mshelbila is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) and Vice President of Bonny Gas Transport, bringing over three decades of leadership and technical expertise in the global energy industry.

Before joining NLNG, he served as Chief Executive Officer of the Atlantic LNG Company of Trinidad and Tobago and held several senior positions within Shell Nigeria, including General Manager, Gas, and Director of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC).