Business247

Founders, executives and institutional leaders gather for the second edition, with the Refined Woman Honours.  Zuri Circle Network will host The 2nd Annual Refined Woman Conference in Lagos on Saturday, 19 December 2026. It brings together women founders, executives, professionals and institutional leaders from a wide range of industries. The day includes an Executive Breakfast, a plenary, a networking lunch, a VIP Reception and the Refined Woman Honours, an evening celebrating leadership and enterprise growth. It follows ZCN’s second Fearless Female Founders programme, which received 2,810 applications. At the programme’s centre is a compliance gate that checks verified registration, financial documentation and confirmed operations. 54.9% cleared it on first submission, and 98 founders were formally selected. “The conference puts verified women-led businesses in the same room as the institutions that can back them,” said Linda Obi, Founder and Executive Director of ZCN. “The women...

A verified pipeline shows where Nigeria’s women-led lending opportunity is ready, and what moves the rest. Banks say they want more women-led businesses on their books. Zuri Circle Network’s recent programme suggests the opportunity is larger than many institutions assume, and the obstacle sits further upstream . Of 2,810 applications to the second Fearless Female Founders programme, 54.9% cleared ZCN’s compliance gate on first submission. The remaining 45.1% did not. The gate checks verified business registration, financial documentation and confirmed operations, the same kinds of documents a credit team asks for before it opens a file. What it means for lenders Readiness can be measured. A first-pass rate is a baseline. An institution can see whether a pipeline is improving, and where. A verified pipeline reduces screening. A founder who has shown registration, records and operations is a different conversation from one who hasn’t. The opportunity is national. Applications came from ...

  African B2B commerce raised over $400 million to digitise the supply chain, and most of it is gone. Nigeria's $6 billion alcohol market kept running on key distributors and WhatsApp the whole time. Sippy thinks the survivors, not the casualties, wrote the playbook. In February 2026, a Lagos court froze the assets of Alerzo, the Ibadan B2B retail startup that raised over $20 million and once claimed 100,000 retailers. Moniepoint was chasing ₦4.38 billion of a loan. Alerzo was selling its buses and motorcycles to pay it back. Seven months later Twiga Foods, the Kenyan supply chain company that raised $185 million, entered administration. MarketForce had already shut RejaReja in 2024 after raising $40 million, citing "razor-thin margins" and a "race to the bottom" on price. Sabi, valued at $300 million in 2023, cut a fifth of its staff in 2025 and pivoted from FMCG to exporting minerals. Wasoko and MaxAB merged, shed three markets and quietly became a lender inst...

   Babatunde140 and Noku Dlamini share a powerful message of unity through ‘Ubuntu’, a soulful Afro-fusion collaboration inspired by community and human connection. Afro-fusion artiste Babatunde140 has teamed up with Noku Dlamini on “Ubuntu,” a soulful collaboration inspired by the African philosophy of Ubuntu — “I am because we are.” The song, which blends rich African rhythms with heartfelt vocals, delivers a message centred on unity, human connection and the importance of community. “Ubuntu” is scheduled for release on October 7, 2026, and will be available across major streaming platforms through Prime Music Partners. Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, Babatunde140 said, “Ubuntu is a reminder that none of us exists in isolation. Our strength comes from the people around us, the connections we create and the way we support one another.” He added, “With this song, we wanted to celebrate that sense of togetherness and remind listeners of the power that comes when p...

    What began at his father’s dining table, alongside his co-founder, Emmanuel Obi, has grown into a bold journey of building a creative company in Nigeria. But building a business in Nigeria is rarely a straightforward path. It means navigating changing consumer behaviours, economic realities, rapidly evolving technology and an increasingly competitive industry.  For Tseyi Agharaye, CEO and Lead Director of Bloom Digital Media, these challenges have become part of the journey of building one of Nigeria's emerging multidisciplinary media and communication companies.  As Bloom celebrates five years, Tseyi is looking beyond the traditional agency model.  His ambition is to build a company that sits at the intersection of media, technology, creativity and communication.  Over the past several years, Tseyi has led Bloom's growth from a digital marketing-focused business into a broader organisation providing strategic communication, digital marketing, media and...

Accoridng to several reports online, the Nigeria Assisted Parenthood Forum has hosted the Fertility Choices Women’s Brunch in Abuja and is set to bring its programme of practical education on assisted parenthood to London in October. The Fertility Choices Women’s Brunch took place on 19 September 2026 in Abuja and online. The Nigeria Assisted Parenthood Forum UK will follow from 16 to 17 October 2026 at Coram Campus in central London, with online participation also available. Organised by Ôka’mara Law & Consulting, the programmes bring together medical, legal and emotional perspectives on fertility treatment, fertility preservation, donor conception, surrogacy and adoption. Both events form part of the   Nigeria Assisted Parenthood Forum , an education and advocacy initiative created to address the information gap facing people navigating infertility and different paths to parenthood. Fertility Choices Women’s Brunch, Abuja The Abuja brunch provided a private setting in which w...

      Nollywood actress and humanitarian, Queeneth Agbor, has commenced engagements with key stakeholders in Cross River State as part of efforts to mobilise support for her forthcoming charity and empowerment programme for inmates of the Calabar Custodial Centre. Agbor, through the Queeneth Agbor Strength Beyond Walls Foundation, is scheduled to host the special empowerment and rehabilitation programme for inmates on October 9, 2026. In preparation for the initiative, the actress embarked on a series of courtesy visits to prominent individuals and institutions in the state, including the First Lady of Cross River State, Bishop Dr Eyoanwan Itam Bassey Otu, government officials, correctional authorities, traditional and community stakeholders, Callywood, media organisations, corporate bodies and potential sponsors, including **SSG Prof Anthony Owan-Enoh**. The visits, according to Agbor, are aimed at bringing together individuals, government institutions and private organi...

         Mballou Fofana, the Philadelphia-based entrepreneur behind Le Mandingue African Restaurant, is expanding her African food business as she moves to take the brand’s products into households across the United States. The planned expansion comes as Fofana continues to build on business interests that include hospitality and real estate, with her property portfolio reportedly valued at about $15 million. Fofana’s rise in business followed a life-changing experience in 1998 when she lost one of her legs in an accident. Rather than allowing the setback to halt her ambitions, she continued to pursue opportunities in the United States, eventually establishing herself as an entrepreneur in the hospitality and property sectors. Her Le Mandingue African Restaurant has operated in the Philadelphia area for more than two decades, serving West African dishes to customers while providing a platform for the exposure of African culinary traditions. Fofana said her exper...

     The streets of Manhattan came alive with the vibrant rhythms of Africa last Friday, August 14, 2026, as Nigerian highlife powerhouse Chinedu Okoli, globally renowned as Flavour, headlined a sold-out edition of the LOUD IN AFRICA Concert Series at Racket NYC. The highly anticipated event lived up to its billing, drawing a massive, enthusiastic crowd from across the African diaspora, music lovers, and international culture enthusiasts for an unforgettable night of music, dance, and heritage. From the moment the doors opened at 431 West 16th Street, the venue buzzed with high energy. Flavour, true to his title as the "King of Highlife," took the stage and treated the audience to a masterclass in live performance. Blending his signature highlife melodies with contemporary Afrobeats and rich traditional instrumentation, he doled out back-to-back crowd favorites, keeping fans on their feet singing along word-for-word. The night was further elevated by a stellar lineup of s...

  Professional marketing capability in Nigeria has, for years, come in one of two forms: expensive or amateur. Agencies price their work for companies that can absorb ₦500,000 or more per project and wait two to three weeks for delivery. Free tools produce results that read exactly like what they are: software built for hobbyists, not businesses trying to close sales. Most startups, entrepreneurs and SMEs sit stuck between the two, too established for amateur output to hold up, too early-stage for agency pricing to make sense. FrontOffice has launched to close that gap.       The Problem More than 95 percent of Nigerian SMEs fail within their first five years, and ineffective marketing is consistently named as one of the leading reasons, according to industry research on Nigeria's digital marketing landscape. Nigeria now has over 100 million people online, researching, comparing and buying, according to DataReportal's most recent figures. The customers are there. Wha...

Panuel has identified smarter capital allocation and stronger investment management as important factors in unlocking Africa’s economic potential during its next growth cycle. The investment-management company said Africa is undergoing significant structural changes, with urbanisation, digital transformation, infrastructure development and regional trade creating a broad range of new opportunities. However, it noted that the emergence of opportunities alone is not enough to guarantee sustainable economic value. According to Panuel, greater emphasis must be placed on how investment capital is evaluated, allocated and managed across African markets. “Africa’s next growth cycle may be defined less by the question of whether capital will come to the continent and more by how effectively that capital is managed, allocated and connected to the global economy,” a company representative said. The organisation said the increasing integration of African businesses into regional and international...

 By Adetutu Audu ELSOOLTAAN INTERNATIONAL FOR TRADE & INVESTMENT, the founding business of the Elsooltaan Group, has outlined its positioning as a single point of contact for businesses moving in either direction — into Africa or out of it — backed by on-the-ground presence in Egypt and a footprint spanning the US, UAE, and Central Asia. According to the company, the business identifies commercial and investment opportunities across Africa and structures them for international partners and financial institutions, while also helping foreign businesses and investors navigate entry into African and Middle Eastern markets. Its work spans four broad areas: investment and market-entry facilitation, trade logistics and supply (covering import/export sourcing, customs documentation, general contracting, and air/sea/land logistics through a global partner network), advisory services including strategic planning, financial management, and risk assessment, and market access support includ...

  KudiWave Technologies Limited   PalmPay Limited is facing fresh questions over the movement of N750,369,439.04 from an account belonging to KudiWave Technologies Limited while a legal challenge concerning the funds was pending before the Federal High Court in Lagos. KudiWave is demanding a full explanation of the transactions recorded on the account, including an earlier movement of funds on July 11, 2026, before the N750.37 million was taken out again on July 15 under the narration “Judicial Adjustment.” The fintech company said it was not informed before the transactions were carried out and did not authorise the movement of the funds. A review of the account after access was restored showed that money was moved out on July 11 and returned on the same day. Four days later, N750,369,439.04 was transferred from the account. The transactions occurred during a legal dispute over an order made by the Federal High Court on June 29, 2026, affecting funds standing to KudiWave’s cr...

            Nigerian highlife star Flavour is set to headline the LOUD IN AFRICA Concert Series in New York City on August 14, 2026, as organisers prepare for what is expected to be one of the biggest African music events of the summer. The concert will take place at Racket NYC, bringing together music lovers from across the African diaspora for an evening celebrating African music, culture and entertainment. Popularly known as the "King of Highlife," Flavour has built a global reputation with his blend of highlife, Afrobeats and contemporary African music, earning a loyal fan base across Africa, Europe and North America. The event will also feature performances by Naomi Achu, Prince Bright of Buk Bak, Bruck Up (Mr. Excitement), 2Cent, Unathi Nkayi, while Nollywood actress Mercy Macjoe is expected to make a special guest appearance. Speaking ahead of the concert, Founder of LOUD IN AFRICA, Abass Mubarak Akeju, described the event as part of a broader effort...

                 For many entrepreneurs, success is measured by profit margins and business growth. But for Mballoh Fofana, founder of Le Mandingue African Restaurant in Philadelphia, the true measure of success lies in overcoming adversity, preserving culture and creating opportunities for others. Fofana's story is one of resilience after tragedy. In 1998, she lost one of her legs in an accident an experience that could have ended her entrepreneurial aspirations. Instead, she turned the setback into motivation, rebuilding her life through determination, faith and hard work. More than 22 years later, she has established Le Mandingue African Restaurant as one of the Philadelphia region's longest-serving African restaurants, earning a reputation for authentic West African cuisine and warm hospitality. Beyond the restaurant business, Fofana has also expanded into real estate, building a portfolio of commercial and residential properties across t...

    Across Africa, governments have become increasingly ambitious about infrastructure. New highways, industrial parks, ports and logistics corridors are no longer just campaign promises—they are central to plans for economic growth and regional integration. Ghana is no exception. Through its  Big Push  programme, the country has committed billions of dollars to expanding its transport infrastructure, betting that better roads and stronger connectivity will unlock trade, create jobs and drive long-term development. But building infrastructure has never been simply about ambition. It is about execution. And as Ghana moves from planning to delivery, experienced African infrastructure companies are positioning themselves to help turn that vision into reality. One of them is  Porteo Group . Founded by Ivorian entrepreneur  Hassan Dakhlallah,  the company has spent more than a decade delivering roads, ports, industrial facilities and other major infrastruct...