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Unique Selling Point in the Den

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Dragons Den Nigeria has empowered young entrepreneurs across the country with business advice from five experienced and successful businesspersons selected from various sectors of the economy.

However, only two entrepreneurs – Yusuf who got an investment of 10 million naira in his business "

Naijacities.com"and Alsu Odewinge who got 3 million naira investment for her "Start-Up City" business – have been able to convince the dragons enough.

The first entrepreneur in this episode, Idowu Oluwakayode, came to the den seeking a 15 million naira investment (for 40% equity) from the dragons to boost his product "H2Jo"- which according to him was a new idea developed to fizzle out the production of water in sachets.

He was to package table water in 50cl plastic cups, an idea that put him under the dragons’ fire. The last straw however was when he stated he was going to recycle the containers to which Ishmael was quick to point out the health implications – he got no investment.

Martin the second entrepreneur had come to the den seeking 50 million naira in exchange for 20% equity in his business "Doctor-on-Phone" which would offer assistance during medical emergencies via the telephone.

The dragons considered the idea a high-risk one since he was not sure of the availability of medical doctors at the time of distress, the absence of physical contact between the doctors and patients to be able to make diagnosis and lastly, the legal implications of falling short of service.

Martin got no deal.

The third entrepreneur, Oluwaseun Kayode needed 2 million naira for his business of designing books in African fabric covers and was ready to part with 30% equity. His current unit production cost was estimated at about 550 naira, and he intended to retail the books at 700 naira.

However, Awosika and Parkes observed that the prototype he presented was not well done and so, the dragons lost faith in that venture.

Ibrahim Jairo was the fourth entrepreneur who came with a proposition to establish a computer gaming arcade in Abuja, and was looking for N9,995,000 (nine million, nine hundred and ninety-five thousand naira).

The idea raised serious copyright issues. This coupled with the fact that he did not conduct an extensive feasibility study of the business sent him out of the Den without a deal.

The fifth entrepreneurs, Frank and Erastus wanted 4.5 million naira to give up 20% equity in their business, "Nigerian Sales Genie", a site where people can come buy and sell products and services. In other words, an online-classified advert portal.

On close examination, the dragons discovered they had not laid any foundation for this business and Amosu’s final comment decided their fate.

They had lost out but with words of encouragement from Momoh.

Babajide Oyeleye, the sixth entrepreneur came seeking 18 million naira for "Emergency Kits for Cars" in exchange of 40% equity in the business.

He came to display towing ropes assembled in Nigeria, to help motorists when they experience vehicle breakdowns. But the dragons aptly pointed out that the business had no uniqueness and no testimonial from any monitoring organization like the Road Safety Commission of Nigeria – they opted out.

The last entrepreneurs for this episode were the siblings Nuyin and Damilola, who came to raise 30 million naira in exchange for 40% equity in their "24-hour Electrical and Electronics Repair Centre," that could provide solutions to every electrical need within Lagos once the customer dials their company.

Well, the dragons did not invest but the trio of Awosika, Parkes, and Ishmael offered them an opportunity to return for more talks when they have prepared a more functional business plan. .


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

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MTN Launches One TV with Free-to-View, Pay-as-You-Go

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MTN Group has begun rolling out MTN One TV, a new entertainment proposition designed to make digital video content more accessible, relevant, and flexible for customers across African markets.

MTN Launches One TV with Free-to-View, Pay-as-You-Go

Introduced in line with MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, MTN One TV brings together local storytelling, live channels, international programming, and market-specific viewing options tailored to how customers across the continent access and pay for digital entertainment.

The proposition is designed to give customers greater choice in how they watch content, with viewing models that may vary by market and can include free-to-view content, advertising-funded experiences, pay-as-you-watch access, and subscription offerings.

Depending on local availability, customers may also be able to pay through airtime, Mobile Money, and other locally supported payment methods, helping to reduce common barriers to streaming access.

Beyond enhancing customer experiences, MTN One TV creates new opportunities for African creators, broadcasters, advertisers, and ecosystem partners by helping connect content to wider audiences through MTN’s scale across connectivity, payments, and digital services.

By bringing together a broad mix of content experiences under a single proposition, MTN aims to support greater content discovery, broader audience reach, and sustainable growth across Africa’s digital entertainment ecosystem.

Anchored in MTN’s strategic platforms of Connectivity, Fintech, and Digital Infrastructure, MTN One TV forms part of the Group’s broader ambition to build digital experiences that create value for customers while enabling participation and growth across Africa’s digital economy.

“Entertainment is increasingly becoming an important gateway to digital participation,” said Selorm Adadevoh, MTN group chief commercial, strategy and transformation officer.

“Through MTN One TV, we are leveraging the scale of our connectivity, fintech, and digital capabilities to make relevant content more accessible while creating new opportunities for Africa’s creative and digital economies. This is aligned with our ambition to deliver digital solutions for Africa’s progress.”

MTN One TV is being introduced progressively across MTN markets through a phased rollout approach that reflects local market needs, existing services, and partnership opportunities.

Over time, MTN will bring together a combination of video capabilities, content partnerships, and customer experiences under the MTN One TV brand to create a more consistent and scalable entertainment proposition across its footprint.

Through MTN One TV, MTN continues to extend its role beyond connectivity by combining entertainment, payments, and digital services to deliver experiences tailored to the needs of African consumers.

The rollout supports MTN’s Ambition 2030 vision of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress while expanding access to digital entertainment across the continent.

 


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IATA Drops Bombshell: Nigeria Among World’s Most Expensive Countries to Run an Airline

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International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified Nigeria as one of the most expensive countries in the world for airline operations, citing high taxes, charges and operational costs that continue to weigh heavily on local carriers.

IATA Drops Bombshell: Nigeria Among World's Most Expensive Countries to Run an Airline

IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, disclosed this during the association’s Annual General Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro.

Al-Awadhi said that although Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had been pursuing reforms aimed at improving the aviation sector, airlines operating in the country still faced enormous cost pressures.

According to him, the high-cost operating environment has continued to affect the profitability and competitiveness of Nigerian airlines, making it difficult for the industry to realise its full potential.

He noted that excessive taxes, regulatory charges and other operating expenses remained major obstacles to airline growth across the region, with Nigeria ranking among the most challenging markets from a cost perspective.

Al-Awadhi urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States to adopt a proposed 25 per cent reduction in aviation taxes and charges to ease the burden on airlines and passengers.

According to him, lowering taxes and charges would reduce airfares, stimulate passenger traffic and strengthen the competitiveness of carriers operating within West Africa.

He stressed that a more supportive policy environment was critical to unlocking the economic benefits of aviation, including increased trade, tourism and regional integration.

Industry stakeholders have consistently advocated lower taxes and regulatory fees, arguing that the current cost structure makes air travel less affordable and limits the growth of the sector.

IATA’s latest remarks add to calls for governments in West Africa to implement policies that will promote a more sustainable and competitive aviation industry across the region.


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NASENI Trains 50 Women in Kano on Renewable Energy Technologies Under She-Powers Initiative

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The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has trained 50 women in Kano State on inverter and battery technologies through its She-Powers Energy Initiative.

NASENI Trains 50 Women in Kano on Renewable Energy Technologies Under She-Powers Initiative

The three-day programme, held at the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano which ended yesterday, was designed to equip participants with practical renewable energy skills, promote women-led enterprises, and enhance sustainable livelihoods.

 The initiative forms part of NASENI’s broader commitment to empowering women, creating economic opportunities, and expanding participation in Nigeria’s growing clean energy sector. It also aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by supporting job creation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic development.

 Through targeted interventions such as the She-Powers Energy Initiative, NASENI continues to demonstrate its commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to improve lives and drive sustainable development across the country.

Photos: Participants at the She-Powers Energy Initiative training organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) held at the the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano yesterday.


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