By Adedapo Adesanya

President Bola Tinubu has given approval for the investment of $75 million in Flutterwave, as part of the payments company’s efforts to raise $250 million through an Initial Public Offering (IPO).

The investment is expected to be executed through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MoFI), according to reports on Monday.

Since its founding in 2016, Flutterwave has rapidly expanded and now has a presence in about 30 African countries. The company’s valuation is at $3 billion.

According to the reports, the fintech company approached the federal government last year to participate in the offer, which has been in motion since it was first touted as far back as 2022.

Flutterwave’s IPO has been delayed by its lack of sustained profitability, earlier governance and misconduct scandals, and unfavourable global market conditions.

It was gathered that MoFI engaged two of the Big Four global accounting and auditing firms to carry out a detailed review of the company’s financial statements and operations, in a move aimed at ensuring due diligence and strengthening investor confidence.

Citing sources, the newspaper said Flutterwave brought Nigerian government participation to secure sovereign backing and reinforce confidence in Nigeria’s growing technology sector.

According to the sources, the move was also intended to project Nigeria’s potential on the global stage, adding that the company is also using the IPO to widen ownership and allow more Nigerians to invest in its growth.

The paper also reported that the IPO would expand ownership, giving more Nigerians the opportunity to invest in one of Africa’s leading fintech companies.

Market interest in the offer is said to be strong, with existing investors indicating plans to increase their stakes, while new institutional players are also positioning to participate.

This development is coming after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) granted Flutterwave a license to operate microfinance banking services in Nigeria. The license enables the company to hold funds and deposits directly, strengthening its financial infrastructure across its largest market and enabling more efficient financial services and settlement flows for consumers, businesses and enterprises.

By Margaret Banasko

Nigeria is at the forefront of Africa’s digital labour shift. According to the World Bank, the country leads a cohort of 17.5 million online gig workers across sub-Saharan Africa, with over 65% of the population under age 35 who make up the digital-native workforce. According to recent data from 2023, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that approximately 87.3% of employed Nigerians are primarily self-employed, reflecting a deep-seated culture of entrepreneurship.

The Nigerian freelancer’s life isn’t without its hurdles. Between the biting impact of inflation, a volatile exchange rate, and the soaring costs of power and data, many digital professionals are finding their margins squeezed like never before. Surviving this economic climate requires more than just hard work; it demands a shift in mindset. Success now hinges on thinking outside the box and maintaining the discipline to save.

Here are 5 actionable saving hacks that prove that financial discipline is the ultimate hedge against uncertainty. Whether you’re saving a little or a lot, consistency is the key to surviving in a volatile market.

1. Build a “Dry Month” Emergency Fund

In the world of freelancing, some months are lucrative while others are quiet. A dedicated ‘Dry Month’ fund is your insurance against the unpredictable nature of client work. By automating your savings until you have a three-to-six-month cushion, you’re essentially paying your future self in advance. Treating this fund as a fixed monthly expense creates a rock-solid safety net, ensuring that a slow season never dictates your professional worth.

2. Work From Home to Cut Fuel and Transport Costs

With the removal of fuel subsidies and the subsequent hike in transport fares, commuting to co-working spaces or client offices every day can drain your profits. Transitioning to a fully remote setup—or limiting outings to a single ‘errand day’—can save you tens of thousands of Naira monthly. Consistently diverting that transport money into a FairSave account will help you build a substantial buffer for a rainy day.

3. Replace Physical Meetings with Virtual Calls

Beyond the transport cost, physical meetings consume your most valuable resource – time. Transitioning to video conferencing tools allows you to manage multiple clients across different time zones without leaving your desk. If a face-to-face meeting isn’t strictly necessary for closing a deal, opt for a virtual touchpoint. The data cost of a 30-minute video call is a mere fraction of the cost of a cross-town ride.

4. Automate Your Savings

Manual saving rarely wins against the temptation of daily spending. Switching to FairMoney’s digital tools changes the game. By using FairSave for accessible interest or FairLock to secure a lump sum at a fixed rate, protecting your funds from impulsive spending. For goals like a new laptop or certification, FairTarget automates your progress toward the finish line. Letting money sit idle in an inflationary economy is a cost in itself; putting it into high-yield accounts ensures your money keeps pace with your hustle.

5. Leverage Group Subscriptions

Internet data is the lifeblood of the digital professional, but as overheads rise, collective bargaining becomes a strategy. Many telecommunications providers now offer “family” or “group” data plans that are significantly cheaper per gigabyte than individual monthly subscriptions. By partnering with a few trusted fellow freelancers to share a large data pool, you can slash your monthly “office” overhead. It’s a simple collaborative hack that keeps everyone online for less.

In Nigeria’s volatile gig economy, the true measure of a freelancer’s success is not gross revenue, but capital retention. Amidst significant inflationary headwinds, these strategic financial levers serve as a critical buffer for your enterprise. By prioritising incremental, disciplined saving, digital professionals can insulate themselves against macroeconomic shocks and secure a competitive advantage in the long-term wealth game.

Margaret Banasko is the Head of Marketing at FairMoney Microfinance Bank

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The 2026 edition of the glamorous Adire Lagos Experience, organised by Ecobank Nigeria, a subsidiary of the leading Pan‑African financial services group, Ecobank Group, will hold from June 11 to 14.

The four‑day event will feature over 100 vendors, with the exhibition remaining predominantly Nigerian, reflecting the country’s leadership as the home and heartland of Adire production.

To enrich diversity and continental collaboration, 10 per cent of participating vendors will come from outside Nigeria, offering complementary African textile expressions and creative perspectives that foster knowledge exchange and cross‑border partnerships.

Giving details of the forthcoming event, the Head of SMEs, Partnerships and Collaborations at Ecobank Nigeria, Mrs Omoboye Odu, said participants would converge on Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), Victoria Island, Lagos, for the programme.

She noted that the theme for the company’s flagship cultural and creative industry showcase is Threads Across Borders, specifically chosen to celebrate the depth and global resonance of Adire as a uniquely Nigerian art form, while positioning it within Africa’s broader textile and cultural narrative.

Rooted in Nigeria’s rich heritage, the Adire Lagos Experience continues to serve as a gateway for cross‑border cultural exchange, reinforcing Ecobank’s Pan‑African vision through culture‑led commerce.

“Adire is proudly Nigerian, and this platform remains firmly anchored in celebrating our local artisans and creative enterprises. At the same time, Ecobank’s Pan‑African mandate allows us to thoughtfully open the space to creators from other African markets, encouraging collaboration, shared learning, and trade connections that elevate African craftsmanship as a whole,” she said.

Beyond the exhibition booths, the Adire Lagos Experience 2026 will offer indigenous cuisine, African music and cultural performances, alongside curated networking and business engagement sessions designed to strengthen linkages across the Adire and wider creative value chain—from artisans and designers to merchants, buyers, and cultural enthusiasts.

As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting SMEs and the creative economy, Ecobank has opened registration for prospective exhibitors, with selected applicants eligible to receive complimentary exhibition booths. Applications close on April 28, 2026.

Through the Adire Lagos Experience, Ecobank continues to champion Nigeria’s cultural leadership while advancing Pan‑African collaboration—transforming heritage into enterprise and reinforcing its role as a truly Pan‑African institution driving impact beyond banking.