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NCC, Zoho, Digital Encode, Galaxy Backbone, others for AfriTECH 2.0

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AfriTECH 2.0
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Stakeholders will gather in Lagos, Nigeria, on 09 November 2022 for another edition of Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH 2.0) sponsored by Zoho Corporation, Digital Encode, Galaxy Backbone Limited, ESET, Layer3Cloud; including partners drawn from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), and InnovationBed.Africa.

AfriTECH 2.0

Taking place both virtually and (physically) at Oriental Hotel, Lekki Road, this year’s theme is: ‘Sustainability and the Company of the Future’ and will convene an array of industry leaders, and tech-entrepreneurs, decision-makers, and tech ecosystem players from across the continent.

Delegates can expect two days of expert panel discussions, keynote addresses, case studies, live-demo experiences, and networking with leaders in the private sector, government, civil society, investors, and academia – all with their unique insights around ‘Harnessing Digital Identity for Digital Economy Agenda’; ‘Creating Sustainable Future through Connectivity’; ‘Blockchain & Cryptocurrency – The Future of Money’; and ‘Cloud Computing in 5G Era – Everything-As-A-Service’.

Chike Onwuegbuchi, Co-Founder of TechCastle Foundation says: “Africa Tech Alliance Forum, now in its second year, is an annual event that brings together stakeholders from different sectors of Nigeria’s economy to share ideas, trends, opportunities around technology, innovation and entrepreneurship development in Nigeria and Africa at large.

“The Forum promotes the need for Africa to become more innovative and apply technology to drive her economic growth and sustainable development using emerging technologies and trends, research, development, entrepreneurship, commercialization and investments as key drivers. AfriTECH also creates awareness and encourages innovation in the private and public sectors”.

He expressed excitement about the Forum, adding that it will culminate in an awards ceremony which aims to celebrate and reward companies and individuals on the African continent that have demonstrated excellence in the areas of innovative product/service development, policy/regulations, amongst other areas.

He said that attendees can look forward to a robust presentation by the Professor Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and a keynote address by Mr. James Agada, the Immediate Past CEO of CWG PLC and Founder of IxzdoreLab, as well as an in-depth discussions by Malam Kashifu Inuwa, Director General, National Information Technology Agency (NITDA); Professor Muhammad Abubakar, MD/CEO, Galaxy Backbone Limited; Kehinde Ogundare, Country Manager for Zoho Technologies Nigeria; Dr. Adewale Peter Obadare, Co-Founder/Chief Visionary Officer of Digital Encode Limited; Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, Co-Founder/CTO of Digital Encode Limited; Professor Adesina Sodiya, President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS).

The keynote speaker, James Agada, is notable for solving technical challenges. Helping customers use technology to solve their problems and grow is the ultimate icing on the cake for him. Agada inspires youth and others to do a lot better than they think possible.

Before establishing Ixzdore Laboratories he was the CEO, CWG PLC., where he played majors in developing the company’s growth and sustainability plan. Agada’s rise to a top chief executive followed years of hardwork, resilience and demonstration of understanding of the business climate in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.

Meanwhile, a session will be dedicated to Innovators for the UN World Summit Awards 2022 led by the Programos Foundation. Mr. Emmanuel Amos will also enlighten the Forum participants on the World Summit on Information Society process towards 2025.

Commenting on the importance of AfriTECH 2.0, Peter Oluka, the Editor of TechEconomy, says: “AfriTECH2.0 will delve into the nitty-gritty of ‘Sustainability and The Company Of The Future’; adding that top on the list of lessons from COVID-19 pandemic is ‘build back better’, where businesses and governments must reflect on what to do differently and what to stop doing altogether’ to move the economy forward.

AfriTECH 2.0 is also supported by media partners; Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, TechTrends.Africa, TechBuild.Africa, ITPulse.com.ng, TechnologyMirror, Ravenewsonline.com, DigitalTimesng.com, ITRealms.com.ng, ITNewsNigeria.ng, DigiVation Network, TechandBiz and GrassRoots.ng.

Participation in AfriTECH 2.0 is FREE but you need to register ahead of the date; 09 November 2022, using the link here. https://africatechallianceforum.africa/index.html


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Guinness Nigeria Sustains Growth Momentum in Q4 Amid Market Headwinds

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Guinness Nigeria Plc has announced its unaudited financial results for the twelve months ended 30 June 2025, reporting a remarkable turnaround in performance despite a persistently challenging economic environment and an intensely competitive landscape.

The announcement comes in a landmark year for the company, as Guinness Nigeria celebrates 75 years of operations in Nigeria—a testament to the enduring strength of its brands, its people, and its commitment to brewing excellence.

In the period under review, the company delivered strong topline growth, with revenue rising by 65.8% to ₦496.6 billion, up from ₦299.5 billion in the previous year. Gross profit grew by 62.2% to ₦148.3 billion, while operating profit rose by 86.6% to ₦47.4 billion. Most notably, the company returned to profitability with a net profit after tax of ₦16.2 billion, compared to a ₦54.7 billion loss recorded in FY24.

These results reflect Guinness Nigeria’s focused execution of its strategic priorities, disciplined cost management, and the resilience of its people and portfolio.

Commenting on the performance, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, Chairman of the Board, said: “This strong turnaround speaks to the quality of leadership, clarity of vision, and strength of governance at Guinness Nigeria.

“As we mark 75 years of doing business in Nigeria, this performance underscores our long-standing resilience and commitment to value creation. The Board remains confident in the company’s long-term strategy and is committed to sustaining this momentum for our shareholders and stakeholders.”

Girish Sharma, Managing Director/CEO, added: “These results reflect our team’s focus, agility, and deep connection with our consumers. We have set a clear ambition—to be one of the best performing, most trusted, and most respected consumer products companies in Nigeria.

“That ambition is driving us to build a high-performance organisation with an entrepreneurial spirit. While the external environment remains dynamic, we are building on this momentum with confidence and purpose.”

Guinness Nigeria remains committed to delivering long-term, sustainable growth while continuing its legacy of enriching lives and communities across the country.

 


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FintechNGR Rejigs Nigeria Fintech Week with Multi-location Model

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L-r: Mrs. Isioma Udeozo, CEO, Opolo Global Innovations / FAL Partner; Dr. Stanley Jacob, President, FintechNGR; Dr. Jameelah Sharrieff-Ayedun, vice president, FintechNGR and Chair, NFW Committee; Uche Uzoebo, CEO, SANEF; Seun Folorunso, Director, Advocacy & Programs, FintechNGR at the media interaction to herald 2025 Nigeria Fintech Week held in Lagos on Wednesday.
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With the fast-evolving financial technology ecosystem, FintechNGR plans to restructure the model of Nigeria Fintech Week (NFW) coming up between October 7–9, 2025, with a next-level, bold experience and movement uniting over 20,000 multi-industry stakeholders across Africa’s digital landscape.

As part of the restructured model, the event will take place as a multi-location experience, bringing activities to Abuja, Delta, and Enugu, while the main event unfolds at the Landmark Centre in Lagos. This inclusive structure allows for broader access and reflects the national impact of fintech across all geopolitical zones.

Dr. Stanley Jacob, President, Fintech Association of Nigeria, disclosed this at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, where the Association officially unveiled the direction for the 8th edition of Nigeria Fintech Week (NFW25), themed “The Fintech Ecosystem Symphony: Orchestrating Nigeria’s Digital Future.” This edition will spotlight how harmonised efforts across government, startups, corporates, and investors can accelerate financial innovation and inclusion across the continent.

According to him, “We’re no longer just an association; we are a movement. NFW25 is where partnerships will be born, sectors will be reimagined, and Nigeria’s digital economy will be orchestrated like a grand symphony.”

Since its inception in 2017, Nigeria Fintech Week has emerged as the continent’s foremost fintech convening – a catalyst for market-shaping conversations, regulatory advancements, and investment deals.

Dr. Jameelah Sharrieff-Ayedun, Vice President and Chair of the Organising Committee, noted that this year’s expansion across multiple cities was designed to enhance accessibility, financial inclusion, and grassroots innovation. “Fintech is no longer for a select few. From the aviation sector to agriculture, from secondary school students to startup founders, this year, everyone has a seat at the table.”

Whether you’re a startup, policymaker, enterprise, student, creative or influencer, developer, or fintech enthusiast, your voice matters in this symphony. As Ms. Uche Uzoebo of SANE puts it, “Even food companies, schools, and churches are now digitizing. NFW25 is where they find solutions and partnerships.”


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Unmasking Nigeria’s Food Safety Crisis: A Dual Pathway to Public Health and Global Competitiveness

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By Diana Tenebe, COO, Foodstuff Store

Nigeria, often heralded as Africa’s economic powerhouse and most populous nation, is grappling with a silent epidemic that exacts a devastating toll on its citizens and stifles its economic potential: a pervasive food safety crisis. This isn’t merely a matter of occasional discomfort; it’s a grim reality where over 200,000 Nigerians perish annually from foodborne illnesses, inflicting an estimated economic burden of US$3.6 billion each year. The current state of food safety is not just a public health nightmare; it’s a significant impediment to the nation’s economic growth and global trade aspirations, demanding immediate, comprehensive attention.

The challenges plaguing Nigeria’s food supply chain, from farm to fork, are multifaceted and deeply entrenched. Across the vast landscape, inadequate practices, weak enforcement mechanisms, and a widespread lack of awareness among both consumers and food handlers contribute to this grave situation. Unhygienic food handling, poor storage conditions, and the pervasive use of contaminated raw materials are disturbingly common, particularly within the vast informal food sector. This sector, a lifeline for many Nigerians, often operates without the most basic amenities, such as running water, adequate refrigeration, or proper waste disposal. The problem is further compounded by insidious issues like food fraud, deliberate adulteration of products, and the indiscriminate misuse of agrichemicals, leading to numerous documented cases of mass poisonings and tragic deaths across the country. A critical and alarming finding is the glaring absence of an organized system for monitoring food safety issues. This systemic failure means that incidents are often misclassified, under-investigated, and consequently, the true scope of the problem remains obscured.

Beyond the immediate public health ramifications, the ramifications of Nigeria’s weak phytosanitary policies and inadequate regulatory oversight ripple into the international arena, costing the nation millions in lost export revenue. The repeated rejection of Nigerian agricultural products by discerning international markets, including the EU, US, and various Asian countries, due to contamination from pesticides, aflatoxins, and pest infestations, severely limits market access and fundamentally undermines the nation’s agricultural competitiveness. The seven-year EU ban on Nigerian bean exports, initiated in 2015 and costing the country millions, stands as a stark and painful reminder of these systemic failures. It underscores the urgent need for a robust and internationally recognized food safety framework if Nigeria is to truly unlock its agricultural potential on the global stage.

Crucial regulatory bodies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), along with policies such as the National Policy on Food Safety (NPFS), are in place to ensure food safety in Nigeria. However, their full effectiveness faces ongoing challenges in implementation and enforcement.

These challenges often stem from overlapping responsibilities, insufficient funding, and a need for greater collaboration among the various agencies. Additionally, current legislation lacks comprehensive traceability requirements, which can make it difficult to identify the origin of contamination and assign accountability. Furthermore, certain traditional cultural practices sometimes present a barrier to the widespread adoption of modern, hygienic food handling standards.

Overcoming these formidable hurdles requires a concerted, multi-pronged strategy. For customers, fostering a culture of food safety is imperative. A pivotal step in addressing this crisis lies in empowering consumers through comprehensive public awareness campaigns and readily accessible food safety education. These initiatives must be presented in simple, digestible formats, perhaps through a “food safety culture toolkit” that demystifies complex information. Education should emphasize the critical importance of personal hygiene, safe food handling, proper storage, and effective preparation practices, all aligned with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) internationally recognized “Five Keys to Safer Food.” Also, promoting the widespread adoption of robust risk assessment and management tools, such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems, is vital for food businesses of all sizes. This proactive approach can significantly mitigate risks throughout the food production process.

For market competitiveness, elevating standards and enforcement should be the goal. To enhance Nigeria’s global market competitiveness, a strategic focus on strengthening regulatory oversight is paramount. This includes substantial investment in modern testing and quarantine infrastructure, which is essential for meeting stringent international standards. Furthermore, establishing a more coordinated and effective phytosanitary enforcement authority will streamline processes and ensure compliance. By improving these standards, Nigeria can drastically reduce export rejections, enhance its credibility in global trade, and unlock immense opportunities presented by schemes like the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which offers duty-free access to over 3,000 Nigerian products. Crucially, enacting the comprehensive National Food Safety and Quality Bill is a vital legislative step, along with ensuring greater involvement and capacity building for state and local authorities in food safety enforcement.

By prioritizing food safety, Nigeria stands at a critical juncture where it can not only safeguard the health and well-being of its citizens but also significantly boost its agricultural exports, attract much-needed foreign investment, create sustainable jobs, and ensure overall economic prosperity. This is not merely a regulatory issue; it is a fundamental pillar of national development.


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