General News
Craig Group Sets Up Shop in West Africa
The Craig Group has launched Craig International Supplies Lda. in Angola to cement its coverage of the African market.
The oilfield procurement division of the global shipping and energy services firm is setting up the new business in Luanda to complement operations in its Cape Town office and capitalise on the growing opportunities throughout Africa.
It is anticipated that the combined forces of the two offices will achieve a 30% increase in international growth for CIS which has a total turnover of £35 million. Two fifths of this business currently comes from overseas work, delivered through its network of offices in the UK, Africa and the US.
The Angolan office, which will initially employ several local people and meet the strict local content issues, will be led by newly appointed Country Manager for Africa, Thinus Von Waltsleben who joined CIS earlier this year. With ten years experience in the West African supply business, Von Waltsleben recently led a visit to Angola to investigate the potential and increase CIS’ local content offering for clients operating in Africa.
David Allan, managing director of CIS, said, “The opening in Angola strengthens our global network of coverage and makes sure we are where clients need us, when they need us with an enhanced procurement capability.
“Our Cape Town office, with ten years experience of operating in South and West Africa, has given us a strong platform from which to build our business in this emerging market.
“The combination of experience, expertise and commitment to quality and service, allied to the considerable financial strength of The Craig Group, provides CIS with a formidable procurement capability at competitive rates.”
Douglas Craig, Craig Group managing director, added, “Through this investment in Angola and other recent investments in CIS, we are reinforcing our commitment to being a world-wide leader in oilfield procurement. The Craig Group’s name is already synonymous with high quality services at affordable prices and the three-fold coverage — UK, US and Africa — that CIS is now offering is an endorsement of our global business strategy to supply international clients, wherever they may be, from the best location.”
CIS supplies oil and gas operations in the UK and Norwegian North Sea, West Africa, the Congo, South Africa, the Caspian, the United States, Far East and the Middle-east from its bases in Aberdeen, Houston and Cape Town. It provides a comprehensive range of products and services to oilfield operations and projects. From its considerable inventory and an extensive database of Quality Assured suppliers, CIS can supply the entire range of products for all seismic, drilling, exploration and production.
Federal government has announced it will impose a new 5 percent refined fossil fuel tax from January.
The surcharge, which has been signed into law by President Bola Tinubu to encourage clean energy use, could raise more than half a billion dollars annually.
The fee will apply to petrol and diesel, while cooking gas and compressed natural gas — which the government has tried to promote — are exempted.
Nonprofit group ActionAid Nigeria said the policy will “disproportionately impact the poor” and deepen inequality, noting that Nigerians have not recovered from the inflationary effect of the removal of fuel subsidies in 2023.
General News
FintechNGR Announces DevTribe 2025, Focuses on Empowering Nigeria’s Software Developer Ecosystem
The Fintech Association of Nigeria (FintechNGR) has announced DevTribe 2025, its flagship software developer-focused conference, set to hold on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at The Zone, Gbagada, Lagos.
With the theme “Trends, Tools & Tech Stacks for Modern Developers,” the conference aims to convene Nigeria’s growing community of software developers, tech professionals, founders, and ecosystem enablers for a day of technical exchange, innovation, and collaboration.
DevTribe 2025 is part of FintechNGR’s broader strategy to strengthen the software development pipeline in Nigeria and bridge critical gaps in mentorship, tooling, and visibility for local tech talent. This year’s event promises an immersive and community-driven experience, with a strong emphasis on emerging technologies, practical skills, and inclusive opportunities for developers at all levels.
“The DevTribe platform reflects our commitment to supporting the people building Nigeria’s digital future not just by acknowledging their role, but by actively investing in their growth,” said the organisers. “We’re bringing the right people, tools, and ideas into one room to shape the next phase of innovation.”
The event will feature keynote addresses, lightning talks, community-led sessions, and a career fair designed to help software developers connect with hiring partners and growth opportunities. It also offers a space for collaboration among startups, corporates, regulators, and talent platforms working to drive inclusive digital transformation.
FintechNGR welcomes software developers, companies, and ecosystem partners to be a part of DevTribe 2025.
NBA Africa, the local affiliate of the NBA basketball brand in the US, has announced the second edition of Triple-Double: NBA Africa Start-up Accelerator, which aims to promote the continent’s technology ecosystem and the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The NBA Africa Startup Accelerator will strengthen Africa’s technology ecosystem by providing mentorship and investment to the next generation of African tech entrepreneurs.
The organisation announced the initiative would once again be administered by ALX Ventures, a technological incubator that equips the continent’s innovators in technology with the knowledge and tools they need to develop and scale their enterprises.
Furthermore, NBA Africa named ServiceNow, an AI platform for business transformation whose Now Assist and AI agents help organisations in delivering ‘faster and smarter experiences’ at scale, as an official program partner.
The organisation stated that startups can apply to participate at tripledoubleaccelerator.nba.com until Friday, August 29, following which the applications will be filtered down to a top 10 list.
The shortlisted startups will then participate in a 10-week mentorship program, where they will be paired with mentors from NBA Africa, ServiceNow, and ALX leadership, as well as other corporate stakeholders, who will advise the companies on product development, business growth, and go-to-market strategy.
The finalists will next present their technologies to international industry professionals at the program’s second Demo Day in December, when the top five prize-winning companies will be chosen to receive financial assistance and mentorship.
“Last year’s inaugural Triple-Double Accelerator program showed how much talent, passion and creativity there is among African entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of the continent’s rapidly growing sport and entertainment industries,” said NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi. “We look forward to reviewing this year’s submissions and to helping another round of promising startups take the next step in their development.”
Last year, almost 700 early-stage African entrepreneurs applied to the program.
Ten finalists were then chosen to pitch their products to a panel of international industry leaders at the program’s first Demo Day, which took place at the NBA headquarters in New York City.
Four prize-winning companies – Festival Coins (Nigeria), Salubata (Nigeria), HustleSasa (Kenya), and UBR VR (Egypt) – were awarded financial support and mentorship.
FG Announces New Fossil Fuel Tax
Airtel Nigeria CEO Identifies Data Boom, Nationwide Connectivity as Crucial Innovation Areas
Olukoyede, EFCC Chair Denies Forcing Ojulari to Resign as NNPC Boss
NCC Tightens Rules of Corporate Governance for Telcos
Non-Resident Registration Pushes BVN Enrollments to 66.2m in July
Telecom2 days agoNCC to Sanction Operators over Regulatory Violations
General News2 days agoCustoms Ditches Fast Track Scheme for Authorised Economic Operator
News2 days agoFG to Move 5m Homes to Clean Cooking by 2030 — Minister
Telecom2 days agoAirtel Africa Signs Multi-year Strategic Partnership with Xtelify
E-Financial2 days agoSEC DG Warns as Crypto Adoption Rises in West Africa Without Proper Regulations
E-Financial2 days agoNOVA Bank Deepens Market Presence with New Branches and Regional Focus
Broadcasting2 days ago5 Reasons Why Payroll Outsourcing Might Be the Smartest Move You Make
E-Business1 day agoReport Reveals Over Half of Security Experts Overwhelmed Managing Cybersecurity Tools from Multiple Vendors