General
Lagos, Afreximbank Train 253 Export Ready Entrepreneurs
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
No fewer than 253 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have undergone a training on exports in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
The beneficiaries underwent the training under the Lagos State Export Readiness Programne (LASERP), designed to prepare Lagos entrepreneurs to compete beyond the country’s shores, diversify the economy away from the dominance of oil, and to entrench Lagos as the undisputed gateway of trade for Nigeria and the African continent.
At a graduation ceremony held for them last Friday in Lagos, 20 outstanding trade champions were chosen to represent the state and showcase the best of Made in Lagos products in the Lagos Pavilion at the Intra African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algiers, the Algerian capital, in September.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Special Adviser on Works, Mr Adekunle Olayinka, said, “Our ambassadors are no longer just local champions – they are export-ready entrepreneurs, positioned to scale, to innovate, and to stand tall in regional and global markets.
“Already, Lagos contributes more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s non-oil exports, which stood at $5.3 billion in 2024, and with this graduating cohort of over 250 SMEs, we project an additional $1 billion in foreign exchange inflows annually within the next five years.”
Also speaking, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, represented by his Special Adviser on Communications, Media, and Publicity, Dr Ogho Okiti, thanked the stakeholders involved in the exercise, including Afreximbank and ImpactHer, for “making this programme a success.”
According to him, the partnership “demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships in unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential.”
“Export diversification is critical to Nigeria’s long-term economic growth. Programmes like LASERP directly support our broader agenda to grow non-oil exports, expand Nigeria’s global competitiveness, and strengthen women-led enterprises and SMEs. It will serve as a model for similar initiatives across Nigeria,” he stated.
On her part, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose, re-echoed Mr Sanwo-Olu’s view that the state would no longer be “local champions, [but] global competitors.”
On his part, the Regional Chief Operating Officer for Afreximbank, Mr Allain Thierry Mbongue, said, “By investing your time and energy, you have positioned yourself not only as business leaders in Lagos but as future exporters whose goods and services would soon carry the proud label; Made in Africa.
“At Afrexim Bank, we believe SMEs are not just the backbone of African economies, they are the engine that will power Africa’s economic future under AfCFTA. That is why the bank has laid strategic emphasis on SMEs development.”
The chief executive of ImpactHER, Ms Efe Ukala, revealed that the training focused on digital and brand transformation, as entrepreneurs were equipped with what they need to stand out in the digital export world.
“During the training, we helped build websites, provided customised digital export marketing strategy, facilitated 5 per cent single digit interest loan for participants – two out of which are being processed, as our participants shipped out over a dozen 20-foot containers of goods over the past 6 weeks while 10 businesses secured international trade certification – thus securing long term access to new markets,” she said.
The beneficiaries were reminded by the Managing Director of Secure ID, Mrs Kofo Akinkugbe, that “quality and global standards” are crucial for entering new markets and gaining international recognition.
“Prepare deeply because readiness is the foundation of market access; don’t go alone – clusters and cooperatives are your allies in scaling; see finance as within reach – with the right structures, capital will come; invest in networks – because trade is built on trust, not just transactions; and formalise your trade activities – so you can scale under AfCFTA and beyond,” were the words of the Managing Partner at Zenforte Partner, Ms Weyinmi Eribo, to the graduating students.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Ministry of Finance has directed all shipping companies and airlines operating in Nigeria to submit their manifests through the Single Window Project (SWP) as part of efforts to strengthen cargo tracking and transparency.
The submission of shipping manifests before the change of policy was handled exclusively by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for onward cargo processing and port clearance.
However, following a memo from late last year signed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, all shipping firms and airlines were directed to integrate with the National Single Window platform to ensure seamless Manifests submission.
“I would like to bring to your attention that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugurated the National Single Window (NSW) Project on the 16th of April 2024.
The NSW Project aims to streamline and automate import and export processes at Nigeria’s entry & exit ports, with the dual goals of enhancing trade facilitation and increasing government revenue.
“By integrating the operations of multiple government agencies involved in trade processes on one platform, the NSW platform will ensure faster clearance of goods and services, improve operational efficiencies at the imports and significantly reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks.
“Key components of the Single Window as defined by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and World Customs Organisation (WCO) include: (a) a single-entry point i.e. traders, shipping lines, airlines and other stakeholders should submit all required import and export documentation through a single-entry point on a centralized digital platform, and (b) single submission i.e. all documentation should only be submitted once and data only entered once.
“As a result, the NSW Platform will be the single-entry point of submission for all Sea and Air Manifests. Therefore, all shipping lines and airlines are therefore directed to integrate with the NSW Platform to ensure seamless Manifests submission,” parts of the memo read.
The Comptroller-General of the NCS, the chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS), the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were copied in the memo.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The petition written against the immediate past chief executive of the Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed, which was withdrawn from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has now been taken to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The letter was written by the chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Mr Aliko Dangote. It contained allegations of allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against Mr Ahmed.
The petition led to the resignation of the former NMDPRA chief from office last month.
It was gathered that Mr Dangote, through his legal representative, filed a formal corruption petition against him at the headquarters of the EFCC, with specific plea of prosecuting Mr Ahmed if found culpable.
The businessman said the withdrawal of the petition from the ICPC was a strategic move aimed at accelerating the prosecution process.
In the petition signed by his lead counsel Mr O.J. Onoja (SAN), Mr Dangote noted that, “We make bold to state that the commission is strategically positioned along with sister agencies to prosecute financial crimes and corruption related offences, and upon establishing a prima facie case, the courts do not hesitate to punish offenders. See Lawan v. F.R.N (2024) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1953) 501 and Shema v. F.R.N. (2018) 9 NWLR (Pt.1624)337.”
He further urged the anti-money laundering agency, under the leadership of Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, “…to investigate the complaint of Abuse of Office and Corruption against Engr. Farouk Ahmed and to accordingly prosecute him if found wanting.”
“The commission’s firm resolve in handling this matter with dispatch is not only imperative and expedient but will also serve as a deterrent to other public officers out there with such corrupt proneness and tendencies,” he added.
Recall that on December 14, 2025, Mr Dangote raised concerns about Mr. Ahmed’s financial dealings, alleging that the former regulator is living far beyond his legitimate means.
According to him, four of Mr Ahmed’s children attended elite secondary schools in Switzerland, incurring costs running into several millions of dollars—an expenditure that raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of regulatory oversight in the downstream petroleum industry.
Mr Dangote listed the schools attended by Mr. Ahmed’s children: Faisal Farouk (Montreux School), Farouk Jr. (Aiglon College), Ashraf Farouk (Institut Le Rosey), and Farhana Farouk (La Garenne International School), noting that each child spent six years in these institutions. He estimated annual tuition, travel, and upkeep per child at $200,000, totaling approximately $5 million for their secondary education.
Additionally, he alleged that Mr Ahmed spent another $2 million on tertiary education for the four children, including $210,000 for Faisal’s 2025 Harvard MBA program.
“Nigerians deserve to know the source of these funds, especially when many parents in Mr Ahmed’s home state of Sokoto struggle to pay as little as N10,000 in school fees,” Mr Dangote stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian author, Ms Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, have lost one of their twin sons, Nkanu Nnamdi.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by Ms Omawumi Ogbe, on behalf of the family, the 21-month-old baby passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, after a brief illness.
The statement said the family is devastated by the loss, and requested that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.
“We’re deeply saddened to confirm the passing of one of Ms Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege’s twin boys, Nkanu Nnamdi, who passed on Wednesday, 7th of January 2026, after a brief illness. He was 21 months old.
“The family is devastated by this profound loss, and we request that their privacy be respected during this incredibly difficult time.
“We ask for your grace and prayers as they mourn in private.
“No further statements will be made, and we thank the public and the media for respecting their need for seclusion during this period of immense grief,” the statement read.
Ms Adichie is known for works including Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah and her 2012 Ted Talk and essay We Should All Be Feminists, which was sampled by Beyoncé on her 2013 song Flawless.
The 48 year old writer had her first child, a daughter, in 2016. In 2024, her twin boys were born using a surrogate.
In 2020, her 2006 novel Half of a Yellow Sun was voted the best book to have won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in its 25-year history.
Her latest book, Dream Count, was published in 2025.
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