General News
FG to Establish Shared Facilities in All States to Boost MSMEs

The federal government said it planned to establish at least one Shared Facility for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in every state of the federation.

The Special Adviser to the President on MSMEs, Mr. Tola Adekunle-Johnson, disclosed this at a media briefing to announce activities for the 5th National MSME Awards, slated for June 27 to commemorate the 2022 World MSME Day.
The portal for applications opened last week and will close on June 12.
However, Johnson said five shared facilities are currently in operation adding that three additional facilities would be commissioned within the next six weeks in Kebbi, Kaduna and Ebonyi.
He added that the plan of the current administration is to commission a total of eight Shared Facilities by the end of 2022.
Essentially, the shared facilities scheme is a fall-out of the activities of the National MSME Clinics which was introduced to help improve engagements between government and MSMEs in the country.
Over 1,500 micro, small and medium enterprises, MSMEs, are to benefit directly from the Nigerian government’s shared facility scheme.
The project will provide MSMEs with affordable shared access to essential amenities such as power, high quality operating equipment, broadband connectivity as government works to reduce the cost of operation of these small businesses across the country.
Two of the facilities have been established in Bauchi and Oyo state respectively to cater for the fashion industry, production of shea-butter, soap making and ground-oil milling.
The presidential aide added that over 600,000 SMEs across the country have taken part in the MSME Clinics stressed that the initiative has had tremendous impact on small businesses.
He said in line with agenda of the Buhari administration, the office of the vice president had over the years supported the growth of small businesses across the country by empowering and rewarding excellence in the MSME space in Nigeria.
One of such MSME targeted interventions is the National MSME Clinics birthed in 2017.
He said maiden edition of the clinics held in Aba, Abia State in 2017 adding that since then, the clinics have held in 30 States with the vice president attending 28 of them.
According to Johnson, “This initiative has undoubtedly been impactful, specifically with the number of businesses that have directly benefited. Out of the Clinics emerged initiatives such as the MSME One-Stop Shop, the Shared Facility Initiative and the National MSMEs Awards.
“The National MSME Awards was conceived in 2018 to reward excellence, hard work and innovation in the MSME space. The initiative has impacted thousands directly and indirectly, inspiring prospective business owners to strive for excellence.”
According to him, 10 outstanding MSMEs in different categories will receive 10 cars and other prizes at the 2022 edition scheduled to hold next month.
He said, “It is open to every person and there are no limitations. The only thing is that it has to be indigenous and the local content must be satisfied. Because you’re not going to take something from outside and couple it and tell us you’re the owner.
“We are making sure that this is our own and we can beat our chest and say this is truly Nigerian and that it reaches a level that it is competitive with any other product.
“If you have this kind of product and you are a Nigerian doing this kind of beautiful thing, the clinic is ready to book you for an award.
The categories for this year’s awards include, MSME Award of Excellence in Agriculture, MSME Award of Excellence in Beauty, Wellness and Cosmetics, MSME Award of Excellence in Creative Arts
MSME Award of Excellence in Fashion and Style and MSME Award of Excellence in Leather Works among others.
General News
Cellulant Taps Freddie Oduro to Lead Enterprise Payments Expansion in Ghana

Cellulant, a leading Pan-African payments company enabling seamless digital transactions across Africa, has appointed Mr. Freddie Oduro as its new Country Manager for Ghana.

Mr. Freddie Oduro, New Country Manager for Ghana.
Freddie’s appointment is a key step in Cellulant’s broader strategy to deepen its presence in priority markets by accelerating the acquisition of in-country enterprise businesses and strengthening its position as the payments partner of choice in Africa.
Freddie brings over a decade of commercial and strategic leadership experience in the telecommunications and financial services sectors, with expertise in sales, business operations, and market expansion.
In his new role, he will drive merchant acquisition, strengthening partnerships, oversee collections and payout operations, while ensuring strong internal controls and regulatory compliance.
He joins Cellulant from Payaza and previously served as Sales Director at Cellulant, where he helped significantly expand the company’s footprint in Ghana.
Cellulant has been powering payments in Ghana for leading brands in sectors like e-commerce, utilities, oil and gas and retail, helping them offer their customers a wide range of secure digital payment options.
“We are happy to welcome Freddie back to the Cellulant family,” says Richard Gesimba, Chief Revenue Officer at Cellulant. “Ghana remains a critical market for us, with immense potential driven by rising digital payments adoption.
“As we sharpen our focus on in-country enterprise customers, Freddie’s leadership and industry insight make him the ideal person to steer our Ghana operations.”
The appointment comes at a transformative time for the company. Following a strategic shift between late 2023 and early 2024, focused on streamlining operations, doubling down on enterprise payments, and strengthening customer intimacy, Cellulant achieved profitability in 2024 and continues to build on this momentum.
The company now processes close to 4.5 million transactions daily for businesses across Africa, reinforcing its position as a fintech leader.
“I am honoured to return to Cellulant and lead the Ghana team at such a defining moment,” says Freddie, Country Manager for Cellulant Ghana. “Ghana presents a tremendous opportunity.
“We will ramp up our efforts to sign on more local merchants, strengthen our compliance and control frameworks, and introduce innovative solutions like Tingg Edupay, our automated school fee management solution that eliminates reconciliation delays by validating payments in real time and instantly updating student accounts.
“We will build on Cellulant’s strong foundation to deliver real value, reliability, and economic impact.”
Ghana’s digital payments sector continues to grow steadily, supported by increased mobile money usage and a progressive regulatory environment. Between January and October 2025, the value of mobile money transactions hit about GH¢ 3.6 trillion, up sharply from GH¢ 2.37 trillion in the same period of 2024.
Registered mobile money accounts now exceed 79 million, demonstrating strong consumer and business confidence in digital financial services and in turn creating many opportunities for payment innovation.
This leadership appointment underscores Cellulant’s commitment to building a resilient, high-performance organisation geared towards playing a pivotal role in the next era of Africa’s digital economy.
Looking ahead to 2026, Cellulant plans to further enhance the user experience on its payment platform, Tingg, and expand its footprint across Ghana.
General News
Top Nigerian Startups Secure Funding Boost @ iHatch Demo Day Awards

Nigeria’s startup ecosystem received a fresh injection of momentum as top emerging ventures secured funding and investor attention at the iHatch National Demo Day, where Interface Africa clinched the highest prize of $15,000.

The 4th cohort of the NITDA–JICA-backed accelerator brought together founders, policymakers, and venture stakeholders in Abuja, showcasing innovations ranging from clean-energy financing and digital food marketplaces to next-gen fintech tools.
The startups went rounds of running through state-level selections and regional competition. iHatch was established in 2021 as a strategic partnership to create an enabling environment for young Nigerians to develop and scale their innovative solutions.
The iHatch National Demo Day (4th Cohort), is an initiative by NITDA and JICA which provides a clear pathway for homegrown talent to contribute significantly to economic diversification and digital transformation.
After rigorous selection processes, the top founders converged to pitch their innovations, recognised the standout performers, which are:
Interface Africa with $15,000, the firm is driving Nigeria’s clean energy transition by enabling structured and affordable solar financing.
Ahioma with $12,000, the firm enhances food accessibility with a digital marketplace connecting consumers directly to trusted vendors.
Linia Finance with $10,000, the firm is helping Nigerians take control of their finances with tools for budgeting, tracking, and smart money planning.
Chapta got a laptop reward. They delivering an offline-capable school application ensuring consistent, accessible learning for students everywhere.
Softdrop also got a laptop reward, they solve logistics challenges through a modern delivery platform designed for speed, convenience, and efficiency.
General News
Fidelity Bank to Host Virtual Masterclass on New Tax Law

Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading financial institution, will host a free virtual training on the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (NTA) as part of its commitment to helping small businesses prepare for the upcoming legislation.

Fidelity Bank
The masterclass is scheduled for 10:00 AM (Nigerian time) on Friday, 12 December 2025. It will provide participants with clear insights into changes in the tax framework, the impact on income and business operations, and practical steps to avoid penalties in 2026.
Attendees will also learn strategies to stay ahead in an evolving regulatory environment.
The Nigerian government enacted major tax reforms on 26 June 2025 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed four tax bills into law.
These Acts will take effect on 1 January 2026 and represent a significant overhaul of the country’s tax system.
The reforms aim to modernize and harmonize Nigeria’s tax framework, improve revenue generation, broaden the tax base, and create clearer rules for individuals, businesses, and government agencies.
“Our decision to host this masterclass reflects our commitment to empowering businesses with the right information ahead of the commencement of the new tax regime.
“Information is money and a well-informed business owner is already steps ahead in the race to success.
“This is why we are bringing experts to provide accurate details and demystify the tax act,” said Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc.
Interested participants can register via https://bit.ly/2026TaxLawMasterclass .
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