By Vivian Imoh-Ita Across African banking, the conversation is shifting from “inclusion as intent” to “inclusion as performance.” Margin pressure, recapitalisation conversations, digitisation, and tighter risk expectations are forcing a hard question: where will sustainable, low-volatility growth come from in the next cycle? One answer is hiding in plain sight: women-led enterprises, underfunded, underserved, and consistently productive. In Nigeria’s informal economy, where cash flow is real but documentation is uneven, the institutions that win will be the ones that price risk with better signals, distribute at scale, and convert trust into long-term financial relationships. Too often, women’s economic participation is…
Author: Rommy Imah
Rommy Imah
Rommy Imah is Founder/Editor of Digital Times Nigeria (www.digitaltimesng.com). He has been in active journalism in over two decades with a bias for technology and business reporting. He is particularly passionate about technology and how it can be used to transform human life, businesses and services.
News Highlights: Canada and Nigeria are bringing together top technology leaders, innovators, and policymakers in Lagos to forge new commercial partnerships and accelerate collaboration across critical digital sectors. The forum will showcase advanced Canadian technology solutions while creating direct business linkages with Nigerian firms through keynote sessions, partnership-focused panel discussions, etc. The Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) at the Deputy High Commission of Canada in Nigeria is set to host a high-level Canada–Nigeria Technology Partnership Forum on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the Federal Palace Hotel, bringing together key stakeholders from both countries to accelerate collaboration in the digital economy. The…
News Highlights: LG Electronics has introduced its Smart Dehumidifier in Nigeria to tackle rising humidity during the rainy season, helping protect homes, offices, and commercial spaces from mould, dampness, and poor indoor air quality. The appliance combines Dual Inverter Compressor technology for energy-efficient moisture control, a HEPA H13 filter for cleaner air, quiet operation, and smart remote control via LG ThinQ. LG Electronics has introduced its Smart Dehumidifier to the Nigerian market, positioning it as a practical tool for maintaining healthier, drier, and more comfortable indoor environments across residential and commercial settings. This development comes as Nigeria’s rainy season intensifies,…
News Highlights: Okafor secured second place at the 2026 OpenClaw Hackathon organized by Tencent in Shenzhen, outperforming many elite engineers in one of the world’s most competitive innovation ecosystems The competition coincided with Tencent’s rollout of the OpenClaw AI agent plugin on WeChat, instantly extending advanced AI capabilities to over a billion users. In a striking moment of global recognition for African talent in artificial intelligence, Shenzhen-based Nigerian technologist Francis Okafor has emerged as the second-place winner at the 2026 Tencent OpenClaw Hackathon, a fiercely contested competition hosted by Chinese tech giant Tencent. The achievement places the Nigerian engineer among…
News Highlights: Y’ellopreneur 3.0 is a ₦1 billion matching-fund programme to provide equipment financing, training, mentorship, and advisory support for 200 women-led MSMEs across Nigeria. The initiative aims to move women entrepreneurs from small-scale operations to sustainable, industrial-level businesses, strengthening financial inclusion and economic participation nationwide. In a strategic push to transform women-owned businesses from micro operations into industrial-scale enterprises, the MTN Foundation, in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI), has opened applications for the Y’ellopreneur 3.0 programme, a ₦1 billion matching-fund initiative delivered through the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University. Rather than a conventional empowerment scheme, the…
News Highlights: FairMoney Microfinance Bank has appointed Gbenga Shobo as Board Chairman and Debo Aderoju as Executive Director/Chief Risk Officer. The new appointees bring critical expertise to support FairMoney’s transition from a high-growth fintech lender into a full-service licensed microfinance bank. FairMoney Microfinance Bank, one of Nigeria’s leading technology-driven financial institutions, has announced the appointment of seasoned banking professionals, Gbenga Shobo as Chairman of the Board, and Debo Aderoju as Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer. Digital TimesNG understands that the appointments are part of the Bank’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its corporate governance structure and executive leadership capacity, respectively,…
News Highlights NDPC says recording and posting unsuspecting citizens online violates privacy rights under the Constitution and the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023. Statement signed by the Commission warns offenders, including platform owners, risk sanctions and possible criminal prosecution. The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has warned content creators to respect citizens’ privacy when producing and sharing social media content, cautioning that violations could attract sanctions and criminal liability. In a statement signed by the Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations at the Commission, Babatunde Bamigboye, the NDPC said it had received complaints about individuals who photograph or record unsuspecting…
News Highlights Nigeria’s electricity sector tops consumer complaints, with issues ranging from erratic supply and billing disputes to unmet Band A and B tariff service commitments. The FCCPC is actively monitoring fuel prices, airline fares, and cement costs, while pursuing legal action under the FCCPA to protect consumers. Nigeria’s electricity sector has emerged as the single largest source of consumer dissatisfaction, driven by persistent supply shortfalls, tariff disputes, and perceived service gaps across distribution networks, according to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). The commission disclosed that energy companies generate the highest volume of complaints nationwide, with grievances…
News Highlights Telecoms, fintech firms, and banks account for a large share of Nigeria’s roughly 25,000 annual consumer complaints, driven by data service issues, digital transactions, and predatory loan terms. The FCCPC has recovered over N20bn for consumers as of March 2026 and successfully pushed telecom operators to cut a planned 100% tariff hike to 50% amid inflation pressures. Telecommunications and fintech services have emerged as major pressure points for Nigerian consumers, with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) reporting thousands of grievances tied to data services, digital transactions, loan apps, and banking platforms. The Commission’s Executive Vice…
News Highlights The Anambra State–owned Solution Innovation District (SID) and Saudi Arabia’s Dhahran Techno Valley Holding Company (DTVC) signed a MoU to deepen collaboration in research, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization. The partnership will promote joint startup accelerator programmes, co-investment in high-potential technologies, knowledge sharing, and international innovation events to connect startups, investors, and researchers from both regions. The Anambra State, Nigeria-owned Solution Innovation District (SID), and Dhahran Techno Valley Holding Company (DTVC), a leading science and technology hub based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and…