Economy
Rebooting Nigeria’s Economy Through Digital Technology
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The urgent need to softly reboot the nation’s economy through digital technology has been emphasised by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Isa Ali Pantami.
The Minister, speaking at a recent event in Lagos, stated that an economy driven by digital technology will help Nigeria to survive the present regressive economic outlook as a result of COVID-19 disruption.
“Since the global lockdown earlier in the year, digital commerce has become the most efficient growth area providing the world new ways of doing things as encapsulated in the New Normal pseudo phrase,” Mr Pantami said at the 2nd edition of the Re-Ignite Public Affairs National Dialogue Series held in partnership with Businessday Media.
At the webinar themed Nigeria at 60 – Rebooting Nigeria’s economy the way forward, the Minister, who was represented by his Technical Assistant on Info-Tech, Dr Olufemi Adeluyi, highlighted the national digital economy policy and strategy which would help move the Nigerian economy sector forward.
He stated that the policy is hinged on eight pillars which include the developmental regulation pillar, digital literacy and skills pillar, solid infrastructure pillar, service infrastructure pillar, digital services development and promotion pillar, soft infrastructure pillar, digital society and emerging technology pillar, indigenous content development and adoption pillar.
The program had other eminent members of faculty selected from among tech, creative, oil and gas, financial and digital experts and entrepreneurs who provided perspectives on why the government should create enabling policy environment for business enterprises to thrive within the digital space.
The faculty of discussants are Adia Sowho, Teleco expert and former Director of Digital Business at Etisalat Nigeria; Obi Asika Nigerian creative industries entrepreneur and founder/CEO of Dragon Africa and Storm Productions.
A Policy Analyst and General Counsel at Gulf of Guinea Consulting Najim Animashaun; and Abolore Salami, a financial expert both shared perspectives from other markets and the need for government to create enabling regulatory and policy environment. The webinar was moderated by technology entrepreneur Chineye Mba-Uzoukwu.
They all enumerated challenges that are inhibiting digital growth in the private and public sectors in Nigeria. They also emphasised the need for continuous education of the users and also, the struggles that Telco companies in the country are facing despite the perception that they are making money.
An interesting standpoint was also made by Mr Obi Asika an expert from the creative industry. His point was majorly on connected thinking and collaboration; connecting Nigeria digitally and a collaboration between the public and private sector.
In his welcome remarks, Mr Franklyn Ginger-Eke, the Executive Director and COO of Re-Ignite Public Affairs Limited, convener of the Re-Ignite Public Affairs National Dialogue Series, welcomed all participants and disclosed that the seven series virtual conference is being conveyed in celebration of the 60th independent anniversary of Nigeria.
He disclosed that the series, having considered themes such as Education, Economy, will still examine other sectoral issues themed along with Infrastructure, Health, Agri-Business, Governance and Security.
Re-ignite Public Affairs, is a strategy-driven research-based solution provider in the Public Affairs space for business and government. The firm provides services that help to improve governance and enhance the relationship between the business community and the different arms of government and its agencies.
Economy
BNB Price Reflects Changing Dynamics in the Digital Asset Market
Economy
NASD Unlisted Security Index Crosses 4,000-point Benchmark Again
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange achieved a milestone on Friday, April 24, 2026, after five securities on the platform helped with a 1.85 per cent growth.
Data showed that the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) again crossed the 4,000-point benchmark yesterday.
The index chalked up 73.64 points during the trading day to close at 4,052.59 points compared with the preceding session’s 3,978.95 points, while the market capitalisation added N5.38 billion to finish at N2.424 trillion versus Thursday’s closing value of N2.380 trillion.
The price gainers were led by Okitipupa Plc, which grew by N25.00 to sell at N305.00 per share compared with the previous price of N280.00 per share. Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc gained N6.92 to close at N76.26 per unit versus N69.34 per unit, Afriland Properties Plc appreciated by N1.00 to N17.00 per share from N18.00 per share, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc improved by 55 Kobo to N99.55 per unit from N99.00 per unit, and Food Concepts Plc increased by 5 Kobo to N2.70 per share from N2.65 per share.
However, there was a price loser, MRS Oil, which dipped by N21.75 to N195.75 per unit from N217.50 per unit.
During the final session of the week, the value of securities jumped 75.2 per cent to N41.3 million from N23.6 million units, and the number of deals expanded by 62.9 per cent to 44 deals from 27 deals, while the volume of securities declined marginally by 0.9 per cent to 447,403 units from 451,522 units.
At the close of trades, Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc was the most traded stock by volume (year-to-date) with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, trailed by Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units valued at N415.7 million, and Infrastructure Guarantee Credit Plc with 400 million units traded for N1.2 billion.
GNI was also the most active stock by value (year-to-date) with 3.4 billion units sold for N8.4 billion, followed by CSCS Plc with 59.6 million units transacted for N4.0 billion, and Okitipupa Plc with 27.8 million units exchanged for N1.9 billion.
Economy
Naira Slips to N1,358/$1 as FX Reserves, Policy Uncertainty Concerns
By Adedapo Adesanya
It was not a good day for the Nigerian Naira in the currency market on Friday, April 24, as its value depreciated against the major foreign currencies at the close of transactions.
In the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX), it lost N4.53 or 0.33 per cent against the United States Dollar yesterday to trade at N1,358.44/$1, in contrast to the N1,353.91/$1 it was exchanged on Thursday.
Equally, the domestic currency slipped against the Pound Sterling in the official market during the session by N8.14 to close at N1,834.02/£1, compared with the previous rate of N1,825.88/£1 and dropped N8.01 against the Euro to sell at N1,590.73/€1 versus N1,582.72/€1.
Also, the Naira depreciated against the US Dollar at the GTBank FX desk on Friday by N4 to quote at N1,370/$1 compared with the previous session’s N1,366/$1, and at the parallel market, it depleted by N5 to settle at N1,380/$1 versus the preceding day’s N1,375/$1.
Data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) indicated that NFEM interbank turnover surged to N43.562 million across 68 deals, up from N28.117 million the previous day.
Despite the CBN’s reassurance that the recent drop in external reserves is not worrisome, the market remains unsettled by persistent concerns over liquidity constraints, policy transparency, and weakening confidence in Nigeria’s FX market as gross reserves continue to decline to $48.4 billion.
The outlook for the Dollar appears supported by broader macro risks, including elevated oil prices tied to the tanker traffic disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and a continued US-Iran standoff over ceasefire negotiations.
A look at the digital currency market showed that investors are sitting on the edge as the US Dollar rebounded amid geopolitical and inflation risks despite continued inflows into US spot bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs).
Solana (SOL) rose by 1.2 per cent to sell $86.45, Cardano (ADA) appreciated by 1.1 per cent to $0.2517, Dogecoin (DOGE) grew by 0.9 per cent to $0.0989, Ripple (XRP) improved by 0.3 per cent to $1.43, Ethereum (ETH) soared by 0.2 per cent to $2,316.83, and Binance Coin (BNB) chalked up 0.1 per cent to sell for $637.44.
However, TRON (TRX) depreciated by 1.3 per cent to $0.3235, and Bitcoin (BTC) lost 0.2 per cent to close at $77,562.27, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) closed flat at $1.00 each.
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