News
VFD Group Plans IPO on the NSE in 2022

VFD Group, a proprietary investor in financial services companies, is targeting a 2022 initial public offering on the Nigerian stock exchange, CEO Nonso Okpala tells The Africa Report.
The Lagos-based company has appointed Kairos Capital to help it seek Nigerian and international investors, says Okpala, who holds about 24% of the company. He plans to keep his stake after the IPO.
VFD, which started operating in 2011, currently trades on the NASD over-the-counter (OTC) exchange, an alternative market for west African securities. It became a public company in January 2019 and pays regular dividends to its shareholder base of more than 60,000. Its investments include a stake of 35% in Abbey Mortgage Bank, a majority stake in Anchoria Asset Management, and a wholly-owned microfinance unit.
The company, which more than doubled its full-year profit in 2019, also owns Everdon Bureau de Change, Dynasty Real Estate and the Transfercorp remittances service. Receipts from a main list IPO, says Okpala, would be used to build the VFD “ecosystem” which aims to provide a full range of financial services for families and businesses.
Mortgages are a key part of the strategy. According to the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa (CAHF), the number of outstanding mortgages in Nigeria in 2019 was just 113,000.
The ratio of mortgages to GDP at 0.3% was one of the lowest in the world, held back by high interest rates and equity requirements of 20% for mortgage loans. CAHF says that progressive use of credit bureaux by lenders is improving risk management.
Nigeria’s mortgage market remains “very untapped, with huge potential,” notes Okpala. The company’s virtual banking platform is the “key to the whole ecosphere,” he adds. VFD has no exit strategy for its investments. “We don’t buy to sell. We buy to keep the company and integrate it into our platform.” COVID-19 impact
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had no impact on the company’s operating strategy or its IPO plans”, Okpala says.
VFD’s first-quarter profit declined by 75% as the microfinance business was negatively affected by lockdown, with some clients unable to repay their loans.
Depending on the customer’s business, VFD was able to help with logistical advice and equipment purchase, Okpala says. For businesses that weren’t able to adapt, loans were suspended and rescheduled, with moratoriums being granted for the duration of lockdown. When a company can’t pay, “it’s best to structure the business so that it continues to exist.”
The company’s V digital banking application launched at the start of March drew more users as people needed to find a way to carry out virtual banking during lockdown, he says. VFD itself was able to save on a planned office expansion which it realised was no longer necessary. It now gives employees the option to work remotely.
“Productivity has increased” as a result meaning “a double advantage,” adds Okpala. The pandemic “has taught us a lot about the running of the company in a cost-effective manner.”
The company, which has a stake in the Atiat vehicle and equipment leasing business, is considering branching out into non-core financial services businesses such as auto purchase. It is also studying expansion into foreign markets such as Ghana.
In the process, Okpala hopes that VFD will break with what he calls Nigeria’s tradition of “one-man businesses. We want an institutional strategy. Patient capital needs an institutional process.”
News
IHS Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to raising Nigeria’s Next Tech Giants from the Ilorin Innovation Hub

Telecommunications infrastructure provider, IHS Nigeria, has reiterated its commitment to transforming the Ilorin Innovation Hub into a leading destination for talent and technology development across North-Central Nigeria. The company envisions the Hub as a launchpad for future unicorns and a magnet for young innovators from Kwara State and the surrounding regions.
Speaking during a virtual town hall session organized by the Ilorin Innovation Hub with the theme “From Ilorin to the World: Building a Globally Recognized Technology Hub,”, Mr. Kazeem Oladepo, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of IHS Nigeria, emphasized the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and community engagement in nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
“We see the Ilorin Innovation Hub as a platform to attract top talent—not just from Ilorin, but from across the region’s tertiary institutions and tech ecosystem,” Oladepo said. “This is an opportunity to build globally impactful companies by harnessing local brilliance with global insight.”
Mr. Temi Kolawole, Managing Director/CEO of the Ilorin Innovation Hub, described the town hall as a homecoming for top minds with roots in Kwara State.
“This is a convergence of visionaries—people who’ve built, scaled, and invested in world-class companies—now giving back to shape a collective future,” Kolawole said. “Our partnership with IHS Nigeria exemplifies what’s possible when public sector ambition meets private sector expertise.”
Responding to a participant’s question on how individuals could contribute towards the growth of the hub, Mr. Oladepo encouraged industry experts present to engage directly with the Hub’s program managers – future Africa and Cc-Hub, provide mentorship, and help in aligning the training modules with local and global market realities.
“IHS is already investing financial, technical, and intellectual resources into the Hub. But to truly thrive, we need champions within the ecosystem—mentors who’ve built real businesses—to guide young people as they develop transformative ideas,” he noted.
Highlighting long-term sustainability, Oladepo called for the inclusion of successful professionals and entrepreneurs in the Hub’s activities to ensure relevance and adaptability.
“Let’s bring in those who’ve succeeded in fields like e-commerce, logistics, Healthtech, and Data Mining. Their insights can help refine the Hub’s programs and ensure participants extract real value,” he added.
Other speakers at the session included Ms. Anu Adasolum, Founder & CEO of Sabi, and Mr. Chris Folayan, Founder of Founder Centered. The virtual townhall was well attended with participants including tech enthusiasts, founders, startups drawn from both within and outside Nigeria.
News
Airtel Nigeria Promotes World Environment Day with Nationwide Sustainability Activities

Telecommunications provider, Airtel Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability with a nationwide campaign to combat plastic pollution in commemoration of World Environment Day 2025.
Themed “Ending Plastic Pollution”, this year’s events demonstrated the corporate mission of Airtel to champion environmental stewardship.
Tagged #UnPlasticAfrica, the company’s campaign began on June 3, mobilizing employees across six operating regions for a week of education, advocacy, and cleanup activities aimed at promoting sustainable living, in alignment with global efforts to reduce plastic pollution.
The activities kicked off with a Sustainability Seminar, led by Dr Hassan A. Sanuth, Director of Sanitation Services at the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, and focused on the role of the individual in reducing plastic waste while promoting practical recycling habits.
Following this educational session, all Airtel Nigeria employees took the “Eco Pledge” to commit to reusable containers.
In his remarks at the seminar, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, reaffirmed Airtel`s dedication to sustainability.
“As we invest in Nigeria’s digital future, we are equally committed to protecting the environment that sustains us. From AI-powered services that reduce paper use to partnerships that connect rural areas without environmental disruption, we are embedding sustainability into every layer of our operations,” he said.
Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Sanuth emphasized the urgency of addressing the plastic pollution crisis, particularly in urban centers like Lagos.
“Plastic waste is choking our drains, polluting our water bodies, and threatening public health. Every little action counts, from individuals making conscious choices to organizations taking bold steps and together, our collective efforts can make a significant impact in ending plastic pollution,” he noted.
He also highlighted the dangers of plastic waste, noting that microplastics have been traced in food, water, and even human blood and called for stronger policies and corporate accountability.
The highlight of the week was a market clean-up and sensitization drive held by Airtel employees in Abuja, Oyo, Benin, Enugu, and Kano. Airtel staff volunteers, in collaboration with local partners, led plastic collection efforts, conducted environmental hygiene training, and distributed over 3,000 branded reusable bags and parasols to market vendors and shoppers.
The World Environment Day campaign, nicknamed Earth Fest 2025, is part of Airtel Nigeria’s broader CSR Strategy, which continues to integrate environmental stewardship into its organizational practices.
News
NOTAP Boss Laments Loss of IPR by Nigerian Researchers

Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, director general, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), has expressed displeasure over the level of Intellectual Property Right (IPR) losses by Nigerian researchers due to insufficient knowledge of the benefits of IPR protection.
Speaking at a one-day Coordinator’s Forum organized by the Office in Uyo for the South-South geopolitical zone of the country, the Director General, represented by Mrs. Caroline Anie-Osuagwu, director of Technology Acquisition and Research Coordination (TARC) department, said that prior to the establishment of the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices (IPTTOs) in Nigerian knowledge establishments, Nigerian researchers had no deep knowledge of the importance of IP protection, hence losing their IP rights.
In a statement signed by Raymond Onyenezi Ogbu for the head, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of NOTAP, the DG advised researchers to always file for a patent each time they anticipate a breakthrough and avoid publishing before patenting, as any research work published in a paper is already in the public domain and can no longer be patented.
“IP rights are rights granted to a researcher or inventor by the government to have a monopoly over the financial exploitation of their inventions for a period of time to recoup the expenditure on their research undertaking”. the DG said.
She challenged patent owners to license or commercialize their inventions, adding that patents that cannot metamorphose into tangible products and services are not worth keeping, as they are liabilities to the owners.
The DG said that researchers with patented inventions can license their invention for royalty purposes or sell them outrightly to venture capitalists if they cannot commercialize.
“Over the years, the nation has depended on the consumption of products from foreign research, while Nigeria is blessed with skilled human resources but only needs to be strategic in their research understanding”.
“The aim of organizing the IPTTO coordinator’s forum was to interact with the coordinators, know their challenges and achievements, and encourage the centers that are not very progressive to strengthen their centers.” She added.
The DG stressed that while a number of centers are performing well, some are struggling to find their fit, occasioned by bureaucratic bottlenecks.
She expressed confidence in the ability of the research communities engaging in demand-driven and market-driven research to fast-track development adding that technology development is a product of research work, and knowledge institutions are duty-bound to engage in critical research to advance the IPR ecosystem in Nigeria.
Participants from the South-South Zone took turns to commend NOTAP for the impactful program and requested the Office to assist them with links to venture capitalists for the commercialization of their research results.
All the IPTTO coordinators presented their scorecards and were advised to get ready for the 2026 IPTTO ranking that would be organized by the Office.
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