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Finnih, Ommo Clark Share Business Nuggets at CFA’s Startups Hangout
The July 2017 edition of CFA’s Startups Hangout was held at Adna Hotel, GRA, Ikeja on July 14, 2017 and Startups that attended, had a very interesting knowledge-imparting session, listening to and asking questions on how to better run their Startups for productivity, profitability, efficiency, etc., from the two distinguished and successful Entrepreneurs who were guest speakers at the event.
First to speak was Ommo Clark, CEO iBez Solutions. She gave reasons why most Nigerian businesses fail and these are:
a) There is a world of difference between how to generally run a business and how to actually run actually do business in a particular or specific environment.
She advised the Startup attendees to always study and learn what it takes to do business in the environment where they find themselves, so, they will not fall into the kind of problem she fell into when she started her business, as she could not earn any income for a long period of time in spite of the fact that, the solutions that she was offering to the market were very good and she was very good at providing those solutions, all because she approached the marketing aspect the wrong way.
b) The second reason why businesses fail in Nigeria, Ommo noted, is the fact that most Startups do not analyse and test their ideas and solutions before hitting the market with them.
“In more developed countries; much emphasis is placed on analyzing and testing solutions before hitting the market with them after finding them viable”, she emphasised.
She advised, however, that they should not restrict the testing of their solutions with only their friends and relatives because they may not be objective sometimes, but also test them with people they do not know to get a fair result of the tests before market entry.
Ommo stated that, although, writing codes is good, those codes should, however, be analyzed and tested to ensure that they really solve the problem that are intended to be solved.
Then came the time for Bolaji Finnih, Founder, TechPreneur Africa, to speak. Bolaji noted that the main issue bothering many Startups is how to make money from using all of these technologies springing up all around us on daily basis. He stated that Startups, therefore, need to know the Apps that work for them.
“Much as business opportunities present themselves, if you don’t understand the business and control the flow, end to end, don’t do it, because, if you do, and there is any hitch along the line to that you have no control over and you can’t deliver, then, you are out of business”, Bolaji advised, giving an example of how he had to close a line of business because he could not control an aspect of it and failed to deliver.
Bolaji also stated that Startups should start with what they have and move on to grow their businesses from there.
He gave the example of a very good website developer he knew who started with only his CPU, back then, and was always looking for where to borrow a Monitor and Keyboard to couple the CPU to, so, he could work. He said that the developer is doing very well today in spite of those initial challenges that he had.
He also advised the Startups to imbibe the spirit of Entrepreneurship, so that Nigeria can move from a nation of hustlers to a nation of Entrepreneurs.
He said that the spirit of Entrepreneurship is to note that you cannot do everything, hence, have focus and stick to it. You “Entrepreneurial strategy is more of what you do not do than what you do”, Bolaji stated.
Bolaji also advised the Startups that they should not see any idea that comes to their mind as exclusively their own because there is no end to the flow of ideas, hence, they should be open to collaboration and partnership in order to achieve the bigger picture. He stated that the Startups need to learn how to scale their businesses in order to be relevant, both in Nigeria and internationally.
Three of the many other wise business counsels shared by the speakers during the question and answer session include:
a) When you are in business, be true to yourself and have someone who can tell you the truth about you and your business beside you all the time. It helps you to stay focused in your business.
b) An Entrepreneur needs to develop himself in the areas Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, etc., by studying from free online courses on them, in order to have a grip on their business.
c) In today’s world, where many staff of organizations do not concentrate on work, but would rather be busy with chatting away on social media platforms, there is the need to set up productivity targets for the staff. It is better to track productivity rather than activity.
An Entrepreneur can also activate “Performance Related Pay” strategy, PRP, whereby, staff are paid according to targets achieved and also compensated with a commission if targets are exceeded, after the periodic review.
The July 2017 edition was sponsored by TechPreneur Africa and TAMS. TAMS also made a presentation on the services it renders in the field of Human Resources from recruitment to retirement, etc., which the Startups can patronize in running the HR department.
“We also thank the Media Partners of the CFA’s Startups Hangout, Nigerian CommunicationsWeek, Guardian Tech and CFAtech.ng, Connectnigeria.com and ITPulse.com.ng for spreading the awareness of this unique opportunity for Startups to learn and grow”, CFA said.
Watch out on https://startups.cfatech.ng/ for details of the August 2017 edition of the CFA’s Startups Hangout which also promises to further enlighten our growing Startups on the path to achieving success and greatness.
CFA is the Founder, www.CFAtech.ng & Co-producer/Presenter,Tech Trends on Channels Television
Lagos State has become the first sub-national government in Nigeria to establish a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Registry, a move aimed at strengthening climate governance, improving emissions accountability and accelerating the state’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The Lagos State Greenhouse Gas Registry (LGHGR) was unveiled at the Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, at a ceremony attended by Prof. Akin Abayomi, commissioner for Health, members of the State Executive Council, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, development partners, TPHG Technologies, the diplomatic and business communities, academics, civil society organisations and the media.
Describing the initiative as a landmark achievement in the state’s environmental sustainability drive, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, general manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), said the Registry marks a defining moment in Lagos’ climate action journey and reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to building a resilient, climate-smart and environmentally sustainable economy.
According to Ajayi, the digital platform will enable the state to accurately measure, monitor, report and verify greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors, providing credible data to guide environmental policies and climate interventions.
He said the Registry would strengthen evidence-based decision-making, improve transparency and accountability, support national and international climate reporting obligations, unlock carbon market opportunities and boost investor confidence in Lagos’ environmental initiatives.
Ajayi also commended TPHG Technologies for providing the technical expertise that made the pioneering project possible.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Abayomi described the Registry as a major milestone that positions Lagos at the forefront of climate governance and emissions accountability in both Nigeria and Africa.
He noted that climate change has evolved into a significant public health and governance challenge, stressing that access to reliable emissions data would enable the state to formulate evidence-based policies, attract climate financing, strengthen resilience and accelerate its transition to a low-carbon economy.
Providing insights into the technical framework of the project, Dr. Mofoluso Fagbeja, lead consultant and chief executive officer, TPHG Technologies, explained that the Registry was developed from the greenhouse gas inventory jointly undertaken by LASEPA and TPHG Technologies in 2022, using 2019 as the baseline year for emissions assessment.
He said the platform is designed to close critical emissions data gaps, particularly within the industrial sector, while supporting effective climate policy implementation, emissions management and sustainable development.
Fagbeja also disclosed that the greenhouse gas inventory estimated that poor air quality contributes to about 35,000 premature deaths annually in Lagos, underscoring the urgent need for stronger emissions control measures and cleaner environmental practices.
In a goodwill message, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, minister of Environment, represented by Mrs. Adenaike Olunimpe Oludunni, federal controller of Environment in Lagos, commended Lagos State for pioneering the initiative, describing it as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s climate commitments.
He said the Registry aligns with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and supports the Federal Government’s Energy Transition Plan, while reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to deeper collaboration with Lagos State on climate governance and environmental sustainability.
A recently released Henley Passport Index 2026, showed that Nigerian citizens can travel to at least 20 destinations outside the African continent where entry is allowed either visa-free, with a visa on arrival (VOA) at no extra cost, or via an e-visa.
This expanded access opens doors for Nigerian travellers to experience countries in the Caribbean, Asia, and beyond with greater ease.
Below is a comprehensive guide to countries outside Africa which Nigerian passport holders can visit without a traditional visa.
Visa-Free Countries outside Africa for Nigerian Passport Holders:
Barbados
Cambodia – Visa on arrival
Comoros Islands – Visa on arrival
Cook Islands
Dominica
Fiji
Haiti
Iran – Visa on arrival
Kiribati
Lebanon
Maldives – Visa on arrival
Micronesia
Montserrat
Niue – Visa on arrival
Palau Islands – Visa on arrival
Samoa – Visa on arrival
St. Kitts and Nevis
Timor-Leste – Visa on arrival
Tuvalu
Vanuatuul
Nigeria and Israel yesterday reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in research, technology and innovation as both countries pledged to expand partnerships that will drive entrepreneurship, commercialise research and accelerate economic development.
The commitment was made at the closing ceremony and innovation showcase of the I-FAIR Cohort of the Israel-Nigeria Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (I-FAIR) in Abuja, where the Ambassador of Israel to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, announced that funding had been secured for the fifth edition of the programme, scheduled to begin in October 2026.
Freeman described I-FAIR as a practical demonstration of the growing partnership between both countries, saying it had enabled Nigerian innovators to develop local solutions to national challenges through Israeli mentorship and expertise.
He said, “This programme has never been about bringing Israeli solutions to Nigeria. It’s been about helping brilliant Nigerian innovators develop Nigerian solutions to Nigerian challenges supported by Israeli experience, mentorship and innovation.”
The envoy noted that the initiative had brought together government, academia, investors, engineers and entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into businesses capable of creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.
Announcing the continuation of the programme, he said, “I am so proud to stand here today and announce that we have secured with our partners funding for I-FAIR 5 and I-FAIR 5 will be launching in October 2026.”
Freeman said the relationship between Nigeria and Israel had grown significantly over the past four and a half years through cooperation in innovation, agriculture, healthcare, education, water management and technology.
He expressed confidence that stronger collaboration between both countries would unlock greater opportunities for startups, research institutions and businesses.
According to him, “Israel brings experience and innovation, technology, agriculture, healthcare, cyber security, security and water management. Nigeria brings extraordinary talent, creativity, entrepreneurship and one of the most dynamic young populations anywhere in the world.”
He added, “I have no doubt that the best chapters of the relationship between Israel and Nigeria are still ahead of us.”
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Architect Sonny Echono, also reaffirmed TETFund’s commitment to strengthening research and innovation through strategic partnerships with Israel and other stakeholders.
He said the I-FAIR programme aligned with Nigeria’s priorities in food security, agriculture, medicine, technology, clean energy and the circular economy, adding that TETFund would continue supporting initiatives that promote research commercialisation.
Echono stressed that collaboration between government, academia and industry remained critical to translating research findings into products and services.
He said, “It is this critical linkage, especially between science, engineering, technology and innovation, and the productive sector that is critical for translating R&D results and inventions into finished products for socio-economic benefits of our people.”
He disclosed that TETFund was working with partners to establish innovation facilities in about 60 tertiary institutions and had created a student innovation fund that would provide up to ₦50 million to students with commercially viable ideas.
The TETFund boss also announced plans for a National Research Fair later this year, where innovators would showcase products before policymakers, financial institutions and investors to attract funding and commercial partnerships.
Paying tribute to the outgoing Israeli ambassador, Echono described Freeman as a strong bridge between Nigeria and Israel.
He said, “Nigeria is grateful for your service. You have been a strong bridge between our two countries.”
Earlier, Head of Programmes at Innov8 Hub, Tolulope Aina, said sustainable economic development depended on building an innovation ecosystem that transforms ideas into successful businesses.
She noted that Innov8 Hub had supported more than 3,000 innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs, helping them convert research into products, startups and investment-ready ventures.
Aina said, “Nigeria does not suffer from a shortage of brilliant minds, what we need are stronger pathways that help those ideas become products, businesses, and opportunities that improve life.”
She thanked the Embassy of Israel and TETFund for their continued support in strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
According to her, “Building an innovation-driven economy requires collaboration, long-term commitment and shared purpose.”
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