News
Orji, Nkontchou to Address Global African Investment Summit
The organizers of The Global African Investment Summit (TGAIS) have listed Uche Orji, managing director & chief executive officer of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Bimpe Nkontchou, director of the Lagos Court of Arbitration as part of speakers at the Summit.
The Organizers of The Global African Investment Summit (TGAIS), in a statement also announced a partnership with Nigeria’s leading indigenous independent oil firms, Seplat.
The partnership sees Seplat sponsoring the event and Dr. AB Orjiako, the chairman, addressing the conference on opportunities in investing in Africa’s natural resources sector.
Dr. Orjiako is amongst strong company on the stage at TGAIS, with headline speeches from African president’s including His Excellency Paul Kagame, His Excellency Yoweri Museveni, His Excellency Jakaya Kikwete, His Excellency John Mahama and His Excellency Faure Gnassibé of Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana and Togo respectively. The summit will be held at London’s landmark Savoy Hotel, October 20-21.
Seplat is a strong example of the evolution of the natural resource industry in Africa.
The indigenous company is not only making commercial history – such as being the first local company to acquire and operate oil and gas leases – but it is also at the forefront of how African businesses seek financing from the international market.
Lessons from Dr. Orjiako will be keenly heard by the audience of pension fund managers, private equity investors and CEOs.
Paul Sinclair, the event director, highlighted the importance of having African businesses represented at the summit: “We are seeing African firms taking an increasingly high profile in areas of the economy that used to be dominated by foreign firms. Governments across the continent are pushing for increased local participation in sectors such as oil and mining.
To have Seplat, one of Nigeria’s biggest oil success stories, presenting at our event ensures that the important lessons this firm has to offer can be felt elsewhere.
“As a London and Nigeria cross listed firm, Seplat embodies the spirit behind The Global African Investment Summit. By building the links between the international financial community in London and African opportunity we expect to see many more companies following similar financing arrangements.”
The Summit will involve African governments profiling investment opportunities to London’s international finance community.
By focusing on bankable projects and upcoming investor milestones the event is not just for talking about doing business, it is about securing finance and bringing foreign direct investment to Africa.
Bridging Africa’s investment gap will help convert a decade of strong economic growth for the continent into long-term socio-economic development.
TGAIS is about attracting the right partners for Africa, partners who are looking for long investments and strong relations with their host communities.
A key theme for the summit will be placing sustainability at the heart of investments, an idea that both protects investments from risk but – critically – also maximizes the benefits for local governments and their citizens.
Major energy projects that will be highlighted at the event include: Ruzizi III Hydropower Project (Rwanda); Ghana 1000 Gas to Power Project (Ghana); Batoka Hydro Power Project (Zambia) and Inga Dam III (Southern Africa).
Other is Lake Tanganyika and Rovuma Gas Fields (Tanzania); Uganda oil exploration blocks and Tweneboa, Enyera and Ntomne (Ghana).
The Summit also covers agribusiness and infrastructure and will see speakers from a number of prominent companies in these sectors as well from professional services firms and multilateral trade promotion and development agencies.
The event is hosted by His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the country has strong representation throughout the program.
Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has warned local investors and foreign businesses about the activities of fraudsters falsely claiming to represent the company.
The state-owned company said the impostors are reportedly soliciting illegal fees under the guise of arranging meetings with the new NNPC board members, executives, and management.
The disclaimer comes following the change of the NNPCL board.
On April 2, 2025, President Bola Tinubu appointed a new 11-member board with Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) and Ahmadu Musa Kidano as executive chairman.
In a statement signed on Monday by Olufemi Soneye, chief corporate communications officer, NNPC, t said the practice of soliciting fees is completely unauthorised and unlawful.
NNPCL said, “The general public is advised to beware of individuals and companies falsely claiming to represent NNPC Limited.
” Their tactics include soliciting fees for meetings with the NNPC board of directors, executives, and management staff. These actions are unauthorised and illegal.
“Foreign investors and international business entities are especially urged to remain cautious. If approached, report the incident to the appropriate authorities immediately.”
The company clarified that engagements with its boards or executives must follow official channels in line with company policy.
The oil giant said, “All legitimate engagements with NNPC Limited occur strictly through official channels or business units only.
“For further enquiries, please contact us at contactus@nnpcgroup.com.
“NNPC Limited remains committed to transparency, integrity, and the protection of our stakeholders in all interactions.”
The company called for public cooperation to prevent scammers from defrauding investors.
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMCIDE) has announced that plans to support the country’s farmers with its AgriConnect initiative have kicked off with a pilot scheme launched in Ogun State in southwestern Nigeria.
Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, minister, communications, Innovation and Digital Economy,
Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, minister, communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, last week launched the initiative at the Ogum State Cultural Centre Complex. AgriConnect is described as a transformative programme designed to digitally empower Nigerian farmers through real-time access to agronomic services, weather insights, financial tools and market intelligence.
The pilot scheme is being implemented in partnership with technology vendor Huawei Technologies and operator MTN Nigeria.
AgriConnect will initially benefit over 1,000 farmers, selected from the Ogun State Farmers Information Management System (OGFIMS), with over 160,000 registered farmers.
Each beneficiary will receive mobile-data-enabled smart devices, embedded with Huawei’s AI-powered tools and MTN-supported connectivity to enable smarter planting, better risk mitigation and streamlined communication with government data centres.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Tijani noted that AgriConnect highlighted the importance of food security. Referring to a target of cultivating 500,000 hectares of land, he pointed out that innovation would be an important part of the effort.
As the government builds out the framework from this pilot in Ogun State (a leader in cassava production), he said, it aims to scale the AgriConnect model across other states – “ensuring that every farmer, regardless of geography, has the opportunity to benefit from the digital economy”, as he put it.
The AgriConnect initiative reflects an FMCIDE commitment under the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to promote rural inclusion and leverage Nigeria’s comparative advantage in agriculture.
By fusing AI, connectivity, and human-centred design, the ministry says that AgriConnect stands as a scalable model for advancing food security, driving innovation, and improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers across the country.
Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) has extended its heartfelt congratulations to Steve Babaeko and the entire X3M Ideas team following their remarkable achievement of being ranked 31st on the Financial Times’ prestigious 2025 list of Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies.
This recognition by the Financial Times, in collaboration with global research firm Statista, highlights X3M Ideas’ outstanding performance and resilience in a highly competitive and challenging business landscape.
The agency’s ranking was determined based on its compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2020 and 2023, verified through independently certified financial data, underscoring the credibility and transparency of the accolade.
Founded by renowned advertising executive Steve Babaeko, X3M Ideas has consistently demonstrated innovation, operational excellence, and creative leadership. The agency’s bold campaigns and commitment to impactful storytelling have not only elevated its profile in Nigeria but have also established its presence across several African markets.
This milestone marks a significant moment for Nigeria’s creative sector, traditionally overshadowed by industries such as fintech and energy in continental rankings.
AAAN President, Lanre Adisa, in a statement, congratulated Babaeko and X3M Ideas on the remarkable recognition. He said: “Steve’s tenure as AAAN President was quite revolutionary. He raised the bar for our association and industry at large. His leadership brought bold ideas to life, executed with brilliance and a deep sense of purpose for the creative community.
“This global acknowledgment is a testament to his enduring impact, not just as a creative force but as a trailblazer on the African continent.”
The Financial Times’ 2025 list features 130 top-performing companies from across Africa, with Nigeria and South Africa accounting for a significant share, reflecting the economic strength and entrepreneurial spirit of the continent’s largest economies.
X3M Ideas’ recognition not only celebrates its own growth but also signals the rising influence of the creative economy in shaping Africa’s future.
This latest accolade adds to a string of recent achievements for X3M Ideas, including being named Independent Network of the Year at the 2025 Pitcher Awards, further cementing the agency’s status as a leader in African creativity and innovation.
AAAN commends Steve Babaeko and the entire X3M Ideas team for their outstanding contribution to the industry and for flying the flag of Nigerian creativity high on the global stage.
Beware!, Fraudsters Using our Name to Defraud Investors- NNPCL
FG Plans AgriConnect Initiative Pilot
Human Hacking: When Cyber Criminals Target You
Telcos Hit by Major Outages across Lagos, Enugu, Others
FIRS Launches Revised SOP to Streamline Tax Payment
E-Financial1 day agoCyber Crime: Hackers to Hold Secret Conference 3.0 July 25
General News1 day agoWema Bank Workers, Others Arraigned over Alleged N8.9Bn Cybercrime
Telecom1 day agoGaps on Phone Number Recycling Fuel Identity Theft, Data Breaches- ICIR
E-Financial1 day agoSEC Flags ‘Punisher Coin’ As High-Risk Scheme
E-Business1 day agoFG Enrolls 59,786 Inmates on NIN Platform
General News1 day agoMusic Stars, Comedians Light Up “Evening with Glo” in Ijebu Ode
Telecom3 hours agoTelcos Hit by Major Outages across Lagos, Enugu, Others
News3 hours agoBeware!, Fraudsters Using our Name to Defraud Investors- NNPCL