From an Oil and Gas Career Dream to Building a Blockchain Startup
Before founding Xend Finance, Ugochukwu Aronu imagined a future in the oil and gas industry. He had studied Electronic Engineering at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and believed a job with a major oil company would offer the financial success he…
How an Enugu Startup Is Building a Global Financial Platform
Xend Finance is a financial technology company based in Enugu, Nigeria. It is building a platform that allows individuals and businesses to manage digital assets, save, make transfers, and access financial products across different markets. The company…
BOI Opens Online Financing Applications for Nigerian Businesses
The Bank of Industry (BOI) has opened its MyBOI online portal, giving registered Nigerian businesses a new way to apply for financing and monitor their applications. The platform covers BOI’s financing facilities and is designed to take applicants…
5 Ways the Next Phase of Fintech Could Change How Nigerian Businesses Operate
Nigeria’s fintech industry is entering a phase where payment processing is no longer the only focus. At Nigeria Fintech Week 2026, industry leaders highlighted artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, skills, trust, and cross-border expansion as important…
5 Things Nigerian Payment Businesses Must Prepare for Before 2027
Nigeria’s digital payments industry is facing a new infrastructure requirement ahead of 2027. The Central Bank of Nigeria has directed banks, fintech companies, mobile money operators, payment processors, and other payment-system…
From Community Radio to Cold Storage: How Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu Built ColdHubs
Ikegwuonu grew up in a family familiar with agriculture. His father had a farm, and he and his siblings were involved in farming activities while growing up. However, his interests were not limited to agriculture. He was particularly fascinated by…
After First Pitch Competition, SEDC Advances $50million South-East Venture Fund
The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has concluded the inaugural pitch competition under its South East Venture Capital Program (SEVCP), marking the completion of its first major startup selection exercise as it develops a proposed $50 million…
SMEDAN Opens ₦50 Million Pitch Competition for Nigerian Small Businesses
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) is inviting applications from Nigerian small businesses for its 2026 Zero to 100 Pitch Competition, which offers a combined grant pool of ₦50 million to support business growth and…
Next Gen Fellowship 2026 Opens Applications for 120 Young Innovators in Southeast Nigeria
Innovation Growth Hub (IG Hub) is inviting applications from young innovators across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States for the Next Gen Fellowship 2026, a programme designed to help participants strengthen and implement technology-driven…
Nigeria Opens National AI Innovation Challenge for Builders
Nigerian developers, startups, and university research teams can apply for the 2026 National AI Innovation Challenge (NAIC), a Federal Government programme supporting practical applications built with Nigeria’s multilingual artificial intelligence model.…