By Adedapo Adesanya

Innovate Africa, the product-led fund backing bold early-stage innovators, has announced it will host the Lagos edition of World Product Day 2025 on Wednesday, May 21, 2025,  at The Strong Tower Hall in Lagos to tackle the world’s “wickedest” problems.

The one-day conference marks the culmination of a continent-wide transformative sprint, moving from grassroots problem identification to prototype-ready solutions that address Africa’s most complex and urgent challenges.

According to a statement shared with Business Post, World Product is a global initiative by Mind the Product, celebrated in over 100 cities worldwide. Curated by Innovate Africa, the Lagos gathering offers a high-impact, single-day conference that connects product builders, engineers, founders, and enterprise teams through thought leadership discussions, practical learning, and talent engagement.

Themed Bold Builders Wanted, the initiative began in March with an open Ideathon, which crowdsourced real-world challenges from across the continent. Innovate Africa distilled the hundreds of entries into  12 “wicked problems” spanning healthcare, climate resilience, digital infrastructure, consumer protection, and public services.

In April, the fund assembled multidisciplinary teams and product owners, who through structured sprints pushed each idea to prototype stage. The top 5 teams will pitch their solutions live in Lagos for a $2,000 grand prize and a comprehensive post-event support package designed to help transform early-stage ideas into scalable ventures. In addition, finalist teams could receive incubation support, or mentoring.

Set to bring together up to 250 curated participants, including mid- to senior-level professionals, founders, hiring managers, and ecosystem leaders, confirmed speakers include Mr Mustapha Otaru, Chief Product Officer at Sterling Bank; Mr Andrew Obuoforibo, Head of Product at 54 Collective; and Mr Isma’il Shomala, Chief Product Officer at Go Money.

In addition to the hackathon finale, the event highlights will include: Product Career Fair, a curated matchmaking between top-tier product and engineering talent and leading African tech employers; Hands-On Product Workshops, a facilitated training on customer discovery, product strategy, and experimentation; and Fireside Chats & Panels, an intimate discussions with product executives, including a spotlight session with top tech companies in Africa, including Moniepoint.

Kristin H. Wilson, Managing Partner of Innovate Africa Fund, said “Too many of Africa’s wicked problems are still meeting surface solutions –  shiny tech, borrowed models from markets such as the US, and large funding rounds – before the problem has been clearly defined.

“If we really want to solve these challenges, we need to start by listening, get clear on what’s broken and then roll up our sleeves with  builders who lead with empathy,  context, and a bias for execution. That’s really what World Product Day Lagos is about – a day to move lived experience into tested prototypes and to line up capital, expertise and networks that can carry the strongest ideas to product-market fit.”

Product builders, engineers, founders, and enterprise teams are invited to register at https://lu.ma/jnjimijz to attend World Product Day Lagos 2025 and be part of a movement turning bold ideas into breakthrough products.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Governor of Osun State, Mr Ademola Adeleke, has praised prominent Nigerian businessman, Mr Aliko Dangote, for the distribution of 30,000 bags of rice to economically challenged persons in the state.

Mr Dangote shared the staple food over the weekend through his Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) under the National Food Intervention programme.

Mr Adeleke, while flagging off the distribution, expressed gratitude to the industrialist and philanthropist for the unwavering commitment to the well-being of the vulnerable as well as the fight against hunger and poverty in Nigeria and Africa.

He said the distribution of 30,000 bags of 10 kg size of rice to all vulnerable groups in all the local government areas of Osun state would go a long way in alleviating the food crisis facing them due to the food inflation ravaging the country and Africa at large.

The Governor, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Tola Faseru, saluted Mr Dangote for the effort to support Osun state at this time of economic challenges impacting the vulnerable people in society.

“The distribution of these bags of rice to the indigents is a significant step towards addressing food security and poverty alleviation in the state.

“I must commend the efforts of the foundation again in making life meaningful to this set of people who need food assistance. Together, we can build a prosperous society for all,” he stated.

He assured that many vulnerable groups and their members would benefit from the rice distribution, particularly people with disability (PWD), the aged, motherless babies’ homes, youth groups, farmers, artisans and many more.

The Governor emphasized the need for continuous collaboration with the foundation on initiatives that bring relief to the vulnerable in the country, adding that it is on record that his administration continues to provide relief to the people of Osun via several palliative initiatives.

Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Mr Olaniran Akanfe Atidade, described the foundation’s gesture as a significant effort towards food security and poverty alleviation.

A representative of the foundation, Mr Victor Ejiro, in his remarks, said Osun State is “dear to the heart of our chairman and his foundation, hence the need to prioritize the state.”

He added that the foundation has continuously targeted one million vulnerable Nigerians in its Annual National Food Intervention Program.

The 2025 rice distribution programme, according to Mr Ejiro, is targeted at beneficiaries in all the 774 local governments in Nigeria. He added that this is a direct response to cushioning the effect of the harsh economic conditions among the vulnerable.

It was gathered that representatives of various beneficiary groups were presented with their allocation of bags of rice, expressing their appreciation to ADF for the invaluable gesture and support.

Recall that in March 2025, the foundation commenced its 2025 National Food Relief Programme aimed at distributing over one million 10kg bags of rice across the 774 local government areas of the 36 states and FCT in Nigeria.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The chief executive of Pan-African Payment & Settlement System (PAPSS), Mr Mike Ogbalu, has welcomed the recent circular from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announcing a significant streamlining of documentation requirements for PAPSS transactions in Nigeria.

This progressive policy, announced on April 28, 2025, sets the stage for faster, more cost-effective, and more inclusive participation by Nigerians and Nigerian businesses, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), involved in intra-African commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

With the new disclosure, individuals and businesses in Nigeria will now be able to make PAPSS transactions efficiently; with less delays occasioned by paperwork. Only basic KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) documents are required for clearance of payments under $2,000 (for individuals) and $5,000 (for corporates) per month.

This makes it easier for Nigerian SMEs to trade across Africa under the AfCFTA, with fewer heavy documentation barriers than ever before.

The announcement also empowers commercial banks to source foreign exchange for PAPSS through Nigeria’s Foreign Exchange market.

As PAPSS continues to expand across Africa — with 16 countries, 14 payment switches, and more than 150 commercial banks now connected, including 22 banks in Nigeria — the streamlined requirements will eliminate barriers and encourage broader use of our secure, instant, local currency-based platform.

The CEO of PAPSS, commented: “Today marks a transformational milestone for Nigerian commerce and for the larger vision of African economic integration. We are grateful to the Central Bank of Nigeria for its unwavering support and vision in propelling Nigeria towards seamless intra-African payments under the AfCFTA.

“This bold policy move by the CBN will empower banks, businesses, and entrepreneurs to connect, trade, and pay more easily than ever before. The directive removes excess paperwork from a large number of transfers, empowering Nigerian businesses to participate more freely in the African Continental Free Trade Area by utilising our secure, local currency-based platform.

“We also expect Nigerian banks to begin integrating PAPSS into their digital platforms such as mobile apps and online banking in the near future, promoting even wider adoption.

“PAPSS is at the forefront of the African advancement towards a truly borderless African economy and achieving the ultimate goal of economic self-determination. We encourage all stakeholders across the continent to follow in Nigeria’s footsteps, embrace PAPSS, and become part of the transformation that will define the way Africa does payments and accelerate the realisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area goals.”