Economy
Accelerating Potential of Nigerian SMEs
By Timi Olubiyi, PhD
As businesses grow, many decisions come to bear, from marketing to funding, expansion, investments, operations, logistics, staffing, technology adoption, and so on, all to enhance business productivity. Without a doubt, just like individuals make poor choices and bad decisions, businesses do too.
Business leaders and entrepreneurs make bad decisions not because they are not clever or experienced but because they are humans. Certainly, humans are never perfect decision-makers at all; a bad decision can occur once in a while or repeatedly, and such is the case with business leaders, entrepreneurs, top management, and/or owner-managers of businesses around as well.
As important as decision-making is in business operations, the good news is that business failures have been identified largely to be due to poor decision-making by operators, owners, or business managers. Why is this good news? Understanding the major cause of past business failures could help restrain many entrepreneurs or businesses from repeating this error clearly. Since poor decision-making has been identified as a major concern for business sustainability, making a good choice most time is important for any business, though this can be argued.
In business, no matter the structure in place, decision-making is key and is one of the main indicators of a high-performing business or one of the indicators of how healthy a business is. Remember, not having a decision-making process is in itself a decision on its own.
I have observed keenly that a large number of businesses, be they large or small in Nigeria, particularly the ones in the industrialized States and areas, relish taking shortcuts as a normal practice, and they hardly ever have an articulated decision-making process within their businesses.
It is rather worse in small-scale businesses where decision-making could be the sole responsibility of the operators or business owners. In fact, in small-scale businesses, the most common cause of poor decision is that the operators are so dominant with excessive managerial control that they see decision-making as their sole right without any recourse to the ideas or opinions of employees or others. This is the big issue really.
Furthermore, no initiative or contributions from employees and subordinates are ever considered, key decision-making is never participatory, and this sometimes leads to business concerns. A decision-making responsibility before, during, and after any implementation of a task in a business should not be the entire decision of the business owners. Playing the obvious role of the sole expert in all departments, units, and concerns of the business operations by the owners is never sustainable but damaging; this action has been captured as one of the major causes of the incidence of widespread business failures amongst small -scale businesses in the country.
A good decision can enable a business to thrive and survive long-term, while a poor decision can lead a business into failure. A common behaviour of leaving things to chance when decisive action ought to be taken is also a poor decision, which can bring huge consequences on the business.
This worrying development amongst small-scale business operators has cost many their fortune, particularly with the advent of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), which has been impacting the economy and businesses negatively. It should be a time for decision-making for businesses and not a time to operate aloof. The coronavirus pandemic has changed the world and also signalled a new era for businesses. Therefore, there is a need for business operators to take strategic decisions, most notably in the manufacturing, retail, and service sectors, due to technology disruptions.
Yet business operators in these mentioned sectors disregard this all-important activity. The failure of any business or venture to make good and quality decisions could be a result of many factors, such as inexperience, lack of time, stress, overwork, and pressure from stakeholders, among others. All these can lead to poor decision-making and the eventual failure of any business. The quality of decisions in any business directly impacts its performance and overall business outcomes.
Small business operators should understand that it is healthy for staff to disagree over decisions if the views defer. It only helps to make a proper and effective decision for the business at the end of the day. Leaders should purposefully create a culture where debate and disagreement are welcome.
Remember, decision-making is the action or process of thinking through possible options and uncertain outcomes and selecting the best option concerning the business. This decision-making could bother on marketing, financing, customer satisfaction, investment, and technology usage in the business.
It is often shocking that once-known and thriving businesses can suddenly go under and cease to operate as a result of what most times seem to be poor decision-making and mismanagement. In the case of big and widely known multinational businesses like Kodak, Nokia, Motion Blackberry, and Motorola, the management ignored the shift in technology and failed to be decisive in their decision making particularly on innovations, until it was too late despite the vantage position.
Though Nigeria has a tough operating environment and harsh economic factors, however, many of the small businesses and start-ups in the real estate, retail, manufacturing, corner shops, and service sectors, among others, have lost their relevancies due to poor or lack of prompt decision-making.
For instance, just on Ogudu road via Ojota in Lagos State, businesses that were once the toast of teeming residences and customers, such as Cherries superstore, Terminal 3 restaurant, CCD stores, and The Mr Biggs eatery Ogudu branch have all now remained permanently closed, failed, sold off or shut down to what seems to be poor decision making from the management. This is the fate of so many of the medium-small scale businesses in Lagos State and, indeed, Nigeria. They disappear after a few years of operations and never grow to become intergenerational businesses.
One of the worst things to do in business is to ignore customers’ preferences, revolutionary innovations and also fail to adapt to changes within the business environment as quickly as possible. The high business mortality rate in Nigeria is mainly due to these reasons. Entrepreneurs and operators try to protect what they already have going for them instead of having a decision-making process that can always suggest innovation and ways of doing things better to meet and surpass customers’ expectations.
Many businesses still follow this rigid path, particularly in the manufacturing, services, and retail businesses, lacking the foresight of the advent of online presence, e-commerce, and technological shift occasioned by COVID-19. In my view, businesses need to have a sound decision-making policy that is in tune with the current realities of aggressive social media and internet usage. We have experienced a major cultural shift in customers’ behaviour with COVID-19, and businesses need a decision-making process to review their activities from time to time. This will help to adapt to the economic and environmental changes accordingly.
Multiple studies have suggested that engaging employees in the decision-making process can impact businesses positively, make them more committed to business success, have stronger connections with the businesses, increase engagements and also help produce higher quality results.
Therefore, building a participatory decision-making culture is recommended for businesses, particularly small-scale businesses at this time. This strategy will more than likely improve the competitive position and effectiveness of the management, operators, and business owners. Because making decisions is a critical component of effective leadership, hence involving employees in the process will help businesses make better decisions.
Let the truth be told, inexpensive and reasonable businesses built around clothing, housing, potable water, medical care, education, home essentials, shopping and food items will always have economic demands. Thus, as much as the adequate and proper decision-making process or policy is in place, that should give the needed competitive advantage and make businesses not to ordinarily fail. Good luck!
How may you obtain advice or further information on the article?
Dr Timi Olubiyi is an Entrepreneurship & Business Management expert with a PhD in Business Administration from Babcock University Nigeria. He is a prolific investment coach, seasoned scholar, Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI), and Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) registered capital market operator. He can be reached on the Twitter handle @drtimiolubiyi and via email: dr***********@***il.com, for any questions, reactions, and comments.
Economy
Trump Earned over $1 billion Through Cryptocurrency; How Can an Ordinary Investor Earn $17,700?
Trump publicly criticized Bitcoin in 2021 but rapidly shifted his stance during the campaign, proposing to make the United States the “global cryptocurrency capital.”
After returning to the White House, he signed an executive order supporting the development of the digital asset industry. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Trump and his associated businesses have generated over $1 billion in gains through cryptocurrency.
As we enter 2026, cloud mining is emerging as a new area of interest amidst the continued development of computing infrastructure and digital asset markets. For the average investor, the question arises: how can one generate $17,700 in passive income—or even more—despite constant market volatility?
Cloud mining： represented by platforms like SHRMiner, is rapidly gaining market attention. By providing rentable computing power services and earning mining rewards, it allows users to access the complete cloud mining process and earn passive BTC income without purchasing expensive equipment or specialized skills.
Recently, SHRMiner, a UK-based cloud mining platform, officially launched a new “free cloud mining service.” This service is designed for holders of mainstream cryptocurrencies such as BTC, XRP, DOGE, LTC, and EHT, providing users with a new opportunity to participate in cryptocurrency mining without any entry barriers.
How to earn passive income from BTC through SHEMiner cloud mining
Start earning returns in just three simple steps:
- Register an account
By visiting the official SHRMiner website, users can register for a free account in less than two minutes and receive a $15 sign-up bonus; this bonus allows them to quickly experience the platform’s services and earn a daily return of $0.60 from a complimentary trial contract.
- Select a cloud mining plan
Choose a cloud mining plan that suits your needs and budget. The platform offers flexible plans ranging from $100 to $200,000 to meet the investment goals of different users.
- Start earning returns
After purchasing a contract, earnings are automatically settled within 24 hours without requiring additional management or action; users can withdraw their earnings to their cryptocurrency wallet addresses at any time or reinvest the profits to benefit from the compounding effect.
The primary advantage of this model is that it significantly lowers the barrier to entry. Users do not need to research specific mining hardware models or hashrate configurations, nor do they need to set up their own system environments; simply by registering an account, depositing assets, and selecting a mining plan, they can start earning returns.
SHRMiner Platform Advantages:
- Supports daily automatic settlement
- No additional electricity or maintenance costs required
- Utilizes advanced ASIC mining hardware, powered by renewable energy sources including hydropower, wind power, and solar power
- Supports mining for multiple currencies: earn mainstream cryptocurrencies such as BTC, XRP, ETH, DOGE, USDC, USDT, SOL, LTC, and BCH.
- Equipped with SSL encryption and DDoS protection, a real-time earnings dashboard for easy monitoring of mining performance
- 100% remote access, fully accessible via the SHRMiner application or browser without hardware requirements, and 24/7 online technical support.
⦁Affiliate Program: The Affiliate Program allows you to earn up to 4.5% commission by referring friends, with the opportunity to earn an additional bonus of up to 30,000.
Examples of common contracts:
| Contract Name | Price | Profit | Days | Principal + Total Return |
| New User Experience Agreement | $100 | $4 | 2 | $100+$8 |
| Bitdeer Sealminer A2 Pro | $500 | $6.25 | 5 | $500.00 + $31.25 |
| Litecoin Miner L9 | $1000.00 | $13.00 | 10 | $1000.00 + $130 |
| Bitcoin Miner S21 XP Imm | $5000.00 | $70.00 | 25 | $5000.00 + $1750 |
| Bitcoin Miner S21e XP Hyd | $10000.00 | $150.00 | 35 | $10000.00 + $5250 |
| ANTSPACE HW5 | $50000.00 | $900.00 | 45 | $50000.00 + $40500 |
After purchasing a contract, earnings will be automatically credited to your account within 24 hours. Upon contract expiration, your principal will be returned in full. You may withdraw the principal or reinvest it to benefit from compound returns; please click here for more details regarding the mining contract.
Unimaginable money-making opportunities
What sets SHRMiner apart is its extraordinary daily passive income; users have the opportunity to earn $10,700 or even more each day, turning the dream of online wealth into reality. Imagine generating substantial income without the need for ongoing investment or complex setups—that is exactly what SHRMiner offers.
Safety and Sustainability
In the mining sector, trust and security are paramount; SHRMiner fully recognizes this and prioritizes user safety above all else. Committed to transparency and legitimacy, SHRMiner ensures your investment is protected, allowing you to focus on profitability. All mining facilities utilize clean energy, making this a carbon-conscious cloud mining operation. Renewable energy protects the environment from pollution while providing a powerful energy source.
In short
If you are looking for ways to generate passive income, cloud mining is an excellent choice. When approached correctly, these opportunities allow you to effortlessly build cryptocurrency wealth on “autopilot” with minimal time investment. At the very least, they are far less time-consuming than any form of active trading. Passive income is the ultimate goal for every investor and trader, and with SHRMiner, maximizing your passive income potential is easier than ever.
To learn more about SHRMiner, please visit the official website: https://shrminer.com
Complete List Of The Top Crypto Platforms in Nigeria: Where to Trade Safely
As a Nigerian just getting started in crypto trading, or someone trying to rebuild their confidence after a bad trading experience, the fear of losing your hard-earned money is valid. This is why choosing a reliable crypto platform to carry out your trading is very important.
The good news here is that there are several trusted crypto platforms built to serve Nigerian traders, offering secure trading, fast withdrawals, and competitive fees.
In this guide, you will discover the top crypto platforms in Nigeria, what makes each one stand out, and how to choose the best option based on your trading goals.
Top 4 crypto platforms in Nigeria
NOSH
Nosh is one of the top platforms in Nigeria and Ghana with the best crypto trading services, offering the best rates for crypto trading, allowing you to get good value for your digital assets. With its user-friendly interface and 24/7 customer support, it is a very good option whether you are a new or experienced crypto trader.
With Nosh, you get:
- Instant payouts on every transaction, no unnecessary waiting.
- Advanced fraud protection with two-factor authentication to keep your account and transactions secure.
- Easy and direct conversion of crypto to Naira or Cedis within a few minutes; no need for third-party apps whenever you are ready to cash out.
- High exchange rates.
- Transparent rates with a rate calculator to know how much you will be getting.
Nosh supports a variety of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Dogecoin, USDC, USDT, Ethereum, Tron, Litecoin, and Binance Coin.
KUCOIN
KuCoin is another popular crypto platform known for its P2P (peer-to-peer) marketplace. With KuCoin, you can trade your crypto directly with a buyer or sell your crypto directly with a seller. KuCoin holds the crypto in escrow until the seller accepts that they have received the payment; this is done to avoid fraud from the buyer or seller of the crypto.
With KuCoin, you get:
- To carry out P2P trading with escrow protection.
- To use multiple payment method options like bank transfer, USSD, and mobile-money-linked options.
- Offers competitive and relatively low trading fees, especially if you’re holding KCS (KuCoin’s native token).
- Gives you access to spot trading, futures/derivatives, staking, and other earn products
KuCoin supports stablecoins such as USDT, USDC, and TUSD.
COINCOLA
Coincola is also a top platform ranked as one of the best P2P trading platforms for Nigerians. With Coincola, you get to buy and sell your Bitcoin and USDT with real-time price tracking. Coincola is your go-to platform if you need one that offers flexible funding options like cash deposit and bank transfers. However, there have been reports of withdrawal delays.
With Coincola, you get;
- A P2P marketplace to buy/sell Bitcoin and other coins directly from vendors, with their completed-trade counts shown upfront so u can trade with caution.
- Instant BTC conversion with real-time price tracking
- To use multiple local funding options like bank transfer, cash deposit, and gift cards
- An escrow system that holds your money until a trade is confirmed.
Coincola supports cryptocurrencies like USDT and TRON.
YELLOWCARD
Yellowcard is another popular crypto platform that offers not only P2P trading but also allows you to buy and sell assets like USDT, USDC, PYUSD, BTC, and ETH with regional payment options like mobile money, bank transfers, and cash deposit. However, in 2025 they announced they no longer offer crypto-to-cash retail services.
With Yellowcard, you get:
- Direct access to buy and sell crypto rather than waiting to match with individual P2P counterparties.
- To use multiple funding methods like bank transfer, mobile money, and cash deposits.
- Free local and cross-border transfers via “Yellow Pay” to 20 different countries in Africa.
Factors to consider when choosing a crypto platform
- Don’t just look at the advertised trading fee. Some platforms hide the extra cost, so your actual rate ends up higher than expected. Do a small test trade first and see what you actually receive.
- The best platform in the world is useless to you if it doesn’t support how you actually move money, whether it’s bank transfer or mobile money. Check that before you even sign up, not after.
- Some platforms convert instantly; others, especially P2P ones, need you to wait for a counterparty to show up. If you need your money fast, that difference matters a lot.
- If you specifically need USDC or another less-common stablecoin, don’t assume it’s there on the platform. Double-check the coin list before you commit to one.
- Support should not be silent when something goes wrong. Look for evidence people actually got helped, not just a “24/7 support” badge.
- If a platform can’t tell you clearly how they protect your money, that’s a red flag on its own. Always go for one that prioritizes security.
FAQs
- Which crypto platform is best in Nigeria?
The best crypto platform in Nigeria is Nosh. Nosh offers the best rates for selling crypto with direct crypto-to-naira conversion to easily change your crypto to cash when needed.
- Can I teach myself crypto trading?
Yes, you can. There are many platforms and tutors with tutorial videos and lessons on how to start crypto trading on your own.
- What is the most popular crypto in Nigeria?
The most traded cryptocurrency in Nigeria is Bitcoin, making it the most popular.
Conclusion
When you trust the right platform, your journey in crypto trading is safe and secure. Always look out for crypto trading platforms that meet your needs alongside keeping things like payment options, a good list of coins they support, and other factors mentioned in this article before committing to one.
Always start with a small test trade first to see what you are getting; it will help you get a better idea of how the platform works so you don’t fall victim to hidden charges not included in price tags by some platforms.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Okitipupa Plc was the sole price gainer at the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange on Friday, August 7, lifting the trading platform by 0.44 per cent at the close of transactions.
The share price of the palm oil producer appreciated during the trading session by N25.00 or 9.0 per cent to N277.00 per unit compared with the previous day’s N252.00 per unit.
As a result, the market capitalisation gained N12.29 billion to close at N2,807 trillion, in contrast to the previous session’s N2.795 trillion, while the NASD Security Index (NSI) added 93.63 points to finish at 4,678.08 points compared with Thursday’s 4,657.59 points.
The bourse recorded a price loser yesterday, and this was Mass Telecoms Innovation Plc, which crashed by 3 Kobo or 9.4 per cent to settle at 32 Kobo per share versus the previous day’s 35 Kobo per share.
The volume of securities traded by investors plunged by 81.5 per cent to 535,7560 units from 2.9 million units, the value of securities slumped by 93.9 per cent to N6.0 million from N99.2 million, and the number of deals decreased by 41.9 per cent to 36 deals from 62 deals.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units transacted for N6.5 billion, and Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc with 77.0 million units exchanged for N5.5 billion.
GNI Plc also ended the day as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, trailed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units valued at N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units sold for N415.7 million.
