ITPulse

By Martin Ekpeke Nigeria’s ambition to build a productive, innovation-driven economy may depend as much on what graduates can do as on the certificates they hold, according to Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

By Abigail Mbah For thousands of Nigerian entrepreneurs, the shop is no longer a physical space with rent and signage. It is a Facebook page, a Marketplace listing, an Instagram account or a WhatsApp status. Informal traders, home-based sellers and small businesses that never built websites are using Meta’s platforms to reach customers, take orders and complete sales every day. Facebook Marketplace alone now carries more than 835,000 listings in Nigeria each month.

Cascador and Sterling Bank have launched a $200 million SME Credit Backstop Fund designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria overcome barriers to financing, expand their operations, acquire productive assets and create jobs.

Mary-Brenda Akoda, winner of the 2026 The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation (NPSI), has unveiled GenScanAI, an artificial intelligence-powered medical imaging solution capable of reducing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan times by up to 90%, potentially improving diagnostic efficiency without requiring new MRI hardware.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has strengthened its digital empowerment drive for women educators by providing high-specification HP OmniBook laptops to the National Association of Women in Colleges of Education (WICE), alongside digital skills training for 1,135 members.

By Oluwatosin Thompson The next company to dominate financial services may never ask you to open an account. It may never issue a debit card, accept deposits or offer a loan. You might never know its name. Yet every time you transfer money, receive a salary or pay a merchant, your transaction could depend on infrastructure it controls. That possibility challenges how we traditionally understand competition in financial services.

Facebook Marketplace records more than 835,000 product listings in Nigeria every month, with electronics emerging as the leading category, as the platform marks its 10th anniversary of connecting buyers and sellers. Electronics account for more than 180,000 monthly listings, while home items and fashion each attract over 110,000 listings. Home improvement products contribute more than 40,000 listings monthly, reflecting the range of goods Nigerians offer and seek through the platform.

By Abigail Mbah Electric mobility company Spiro is targeting 100,000 battery-swapping electric motorcycles on Nigerian roads within the next two to three years, as it accelerates expansion, scales local assembly and extends its energy infrastructure to more states. The company also plans to sell 50,000 motorcycles by 2027 as it seeks to deepen the adoption of electric mobility among commercial riders and reduce dependence on petrol-powered motorcycles.

By Gloria Onosode A common view of wealth creation is that you first become financially comfortable, and then you start building wealth. For some people, that can mean waiting for the next promotion, a better-paying job, a more successful business or a time when the living costs take up less of their income. The problem is that “enough” can keep moving. As income increases, so do responsibilities, expectations and, often, lifestyle.

PalmPay, has been named Digital Payments Platform of the Year at the 2026 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, recognising the company’s contribution to the growth of digital payments and financial inclusion in Nigeria. The BAFI Awards organised by BusinessDay and held on October 9, 2026 at the Civic Center, Lagos, and was officially presented to PalmPay by Frank Aigbogun, renowned publisher and co-founder of BusinessDay.