News
Tin Can port rakes in ₦401bn in just one quarter
A single customs command at one Lagos seaport just pulled in more revenue in three months than many federal agencies collect in a full year.
Articles by Damilola Esebame
News
Cardoso holds firm on 26.5% rate as fuel costs surge
For eleven straight months, Nigeria’s inflation rate had been falling, rewarding one of the most aggressive monetary tightening campaigns on the continent.
News
S&P lifts Nigeria’s rating after 14 long years of waiting
For 14 years Nigeria sat in the same corner of the global credit map, slipping further into territory investors call speculative.
News
FG braces investors for N600bn bond auction next week
Nigeria’s federal government is returning to the domestic debt market with a fresh bond offering that carries notable signals for fixed-income investors. The Debt Management Office published its May 2026 offer circular on May 12, outlining plans to raise N600 billion through two reopened instruments. The auction is scheduled for May 18 with settlement on […]
News
Nestlé and NB surge to profit as FX storm fades
For nearly two years, Nestlé Nigeria Plc and Nigerian Breweries Plc bled cash at a pace that spooked even seasoned Lagos investors. Foreign exchange chaos wiped hundreds of billions of naira off their bottom lines and forced both to suspend dividends. That picture has flipped with startling speed, and the numbers landing on the Nigerian […]
News
Dangote eyes $50bn valuation in bold refinery listing
Africa’s biggest single industrial bet is heading for its biggest financial test, and the price tag attached to it has nearly doubled. Less than a year ago, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE was valued in the $20 billion to $25 billion range by most analysts. The figure now being pitched to global investors […]
News
Airtel Africa revenue storms past $6 billion mark
Africa’s biggest telecom story of 2026 just landed, and the numbers behind it suggest something deeper than a strong year. The London and Lagos-listed group reported full-year results that crossed thresholds investors had penciled in for a later financial year. Behind the headline number sits a structural shift in how 183.5 million people across 14 […]
News
NGX shatters all-time high as investors pocket ₦3.2trn
Something unusual happened on the Nigerian Exchange on May 8, 2026, and it has market watchers divided. The benchmark All-Share Index climbed 2.10% to a fresh all-time high of 244,775.83 points in a single session. That move alone added ₦3.2 trillion to investor portfolios before the closing bell sounded at 4:00 PM local time. Here […]
News
FirstHoldCo proposes plan to hit ₦1tn capital mark
Nigeria’s banking recapitalization exercise wrapped up in March 2026 with 33 institutions collectively raising ₦4.65 trillion in fresh equity. FirstHoldCo Plc, the holding company that controls First Bank of Nigeria, already cleared that regulatory hurdle months earlier. But a filing dated May 6, 2026, shows the Femi Otedola-chaired group is not slowing down after meeting […]
News
Access Holdings faces fresh hurdle to H1 2026 dividend
If you hold Access Holdings shares for the income they typically deliver, the first half of 2026 could test your patience once more. The financial group just printed its most profitable year ever, crossing the N1 trillion mark in pre-tax earnings for the first time. Ordinarily, shareholders would be preparing to collect a generous payout […]
News
Dangote denies asking 4 billionaires for refinery help
A viral online post has been circulating for days, claiming that Africa’s richest man secretly turned to four fellow billionaires for cash. The post sparked the kind of social-media frenzy you would expect when a story implicates the upper tier of African business. The story names some of Nigeria’s most recognizable business titans, attaches eye-popping […]
Investing
Why Profitability Matters More Than Growth in European Fintech Funding Today
European fintech funding has undergone a fundamental transformation. The era of growth at any cost has ended, replaced by investor demands for clear paths to profitability and sustainable business models.
Blog
Why Fintechs Scale Faster Than Banks, But Struggle to Defend Margins at Maturity
Fintechs achieve remarkable growth velocity in their early years, but sustaining fintech margins at maturity requires fundamentally different capabilities than those driving initial scale.
Blog
Open Banking Didn’t Kill Banks, Poor Pricing Governance Did
Despite widespread predictions that open banking would disintermediate traditional financial institutions, banks that failed did so because of poor pricing governance, not regulatory mandates forcing data sharing.
Blog
The Payments Stack Is Fragmenting, and Pricing Strategy Is the Only Real Differentiator Left
As the payments stack fragments across multiple vendors and platforms, a robust payments pricing strategy has become the only sustainable way to differentiate in an increasingly commoditized market.
Blog
How Personal Injury Settlements Are Taxed: What Accident Victims Need to Know Before Filing
Understanding personal injury settlement taxes is essential for accident victims, as the IRS treats different types of compensation differently; some portions may be tax-free, while others could increase your tax bill.
Blog
Bankruptcy and Personal Injury Claims: Can You Keep Your Settlement Money?
Understanding how bankruptcy and personal injury claims interact is crucial for anyone facing financial difficulties after an accident; exemption laws may allow you to protect some or all of your settlement money from creditors.
Blog
Wage Garnishment Laws: How Much Creditors May Legally Take From Your Paycheck
Federal wage garnishment laws set strict limits on how much creditors may take from your paycheck, with protections that vary based on the type of debt and your income level; understanding these limits can help you protect your earnings.
Wealth Management
How Australia’s Flat CGT Discount Differs from the UK’s Tiered System And What It Means for Your Portfolio
Australia’s 50% CGT discount offers a straightforward approach to taxing capital gains, contrasting sharply with the UK’s tiered rate system—understanding these differences helps Australian investors optimise their long-term investment strategies.
Investing
Superannuation vs. Pensions: What Australian Investors Can Learn from the UK Retirement System
Discover how Australian superannuation compares to the UK pension system. Learn key differences, contribution caps, and strategies to maximise your retirement savings in Australia.
Wealth Management
Navigating Franking Credits: A Guide to Tax-Efficient Dividend Investing in Australia
Franking credits represent one of Australia’s most valuable tax benefits for dividend investors, allowing shareholders to reduce or eliminate double taxation on company profits distributed as dividends.
Blog
LendingTree Business Loans Review 2026: Is This Marketplace Worth Your Time?
If you have ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of business loan providers online, LendingTree aims to solve exactly that problem. After spending significant time navigating the platform, I can confirm that its core promise of one application and multiple offers delivers as advertised. LendingTree is not a direct lender. Instead, it operates as […]
Blog
Solana Trapped in Descending Channel: SOL Likely to Spend Christmas Below $120 as Sellers Maintain Control
Solana (SOL) is heading into the holiday period under sustained technical pressure. As of this writing, the price action has failed to reassert itself against key resistance zones. After multiple rejections in the mid-$120s, Solana’s price has slipped back into a vulnerable range where sellers remain in control.
Blog
Zcash Flashes Mixed Signals Near $500: Privacy Coin Faces Critical Juncture After 44% Monthly Drawdown
Zcash (ZEC) is approaching a critical juncture as price action hovers just below the $500 psychological level. Following a powerful rally that saw the privacy coin surge from July 2024 lows near $16 to a November 2025 peak of $744.13, ZEC has entered a corrective phase, compressing price into a fragile equilibrium between accumulation and distribution.
Blog
XRP Flashes Critical Sell Signal: Death Cross Confirmed as Token Sheds 50% From July ATH
XRP has entered a pronounced corrective phase following its July 2025 all-time high of $3.67. As of December 24, 2025, the token trades near $1.85-$1.90, representing an approximate 50% drawdown from peak valuations.
Business Finance
ESG Integration in Corporate Strategy: How Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors Drive Long-Term Shareholder Value
Discover how ESG integration shapes corporate strategy and drives long-term shareholder value. Learn how environmental, social, and governance factors influence investment decisions and company performance.
Business Finance
Capital Structure Optimization: Balancing Debt, Equity, and Hybrid Securities for Corporate Value Creation
Understand how companies optimize their capital structure by balancing debt, equity, and hybrid securities. Learn the trade-offs between financing options and how capital structure decisions affect shareholder value.
Business Finance
Understanding Board Fiduciary Duties: The Business Judgment Rule, Duty of Care, and Duty of Loyalty in Practice
Key Takeaways Board fiduciary duties require directors to act in the best interests of shareholders and the corporation, placing these interests above personal gain. The duty of care obligates directors to make informed decisions using reasonable diligence, including reviewing relevant information before voting. The duty of loyalty prohibits self-dealing and requires directors to disclose conflicts […]
Blog
Types of Credit and How They Work: A Comprehensive Guide to Revolving Credit, Installment Loans, and Open Credit
Understanding the different types of credit available to consumers is essential for making informed financial decisions and building a strong credit profile. Credit is not a one-size-fits-all product. Different forms of credit serve different purposes, carry different costs, and affect your credit score in different ways.
Blog
What the 200% Stock Surge Says About AI Memory Demand in Micron
Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) heads into its fiscal first-quarter 2026 earnings report on Wednesday as one of the most remarkable success stories in the semiconductor sector this year.
Blog
Why Broadcom Stock Fell 11% Despite Strong AI Revenue Growth
KEY TAKEAWAYS Broadcom Inc. suffered an 11% single-day decline on December 13, 2025, erasing approximately $100 billion in market capitalization despite beating earnings estimates. The company reported fiscal Q4 2025 revenue of $18.02 billion, up 28% year-over-year, with AI revenue reaching $6.4 billion, up 74%. Margin pressure concerns emerged from an $11 billion order involving […]
Blog
Understanding Credit Scores and Reports: A Complete Guide to How Your Credit History Shapes Your Financial Life
Your credit score and credit report are two of the most powerful financial tools that follow you throughout your adult life, yet many Americans remain unclear about how they work, what they contain, and why they matter. These three-digit numbers and detailed financial histories influence everything from whether you can buy a home to how much you pay for car insurance. Understanding the mechanics of credit scoring, the contents of your credit reports, and your legal rights as a consumer can save you thousands of dollars and open doors to better financial opportunities.
Blog
What Is a Quality of Earnings (QoE) Report and Why Buyers Require One
A quality of earnings (QoE) report digs beneath a company’s financial statements to reveal its true, sustainable earning power. Unlike a standard audit, a QoE analysis uncovers risks, one-time adjustments, and working capital needs that can dramatically influence valuation and deal decisions.
Blog
SBA 7(a) Loans for Acquisitions: Structure, Requirements, and Limitations
Key Takeaways The SBA 7(a) loan program is the most popular financing option for small business acquisitions, allowing buyers to finance up to 90% of the purchase price with a maximum loan amount of $5 million. Buyers must typically inject at least 10% equity into the transaction, though a portion of this can come […]
Personal Finance
Retirement and Your Home: Downsizing, Reverse Mortgages, or Relocating
A home isn’t just a place to live; it’s a large investment. As you approach retirement, your property can become a key part of your financial strategy: whether you decide to downsize, tap equity through a reverse mortgage, or relocate to a lower-cost region. Choosing wisely can help you stretch savings, lower monthly expenses, and […]
Personal Finance
How Much You Really Need to Retire Comfortably
Most people approaching retirement share the same question: “How much money do I really need to retire comfortably?”The truth is, the number isn’t one-size-fits-all. Retiring comfortably depends on your lifestyle, income, health, and inflation’s slow creep over time. But financial experts agree that smart planning using income replacement ratios, inflation-adjusted projections, and personalized calculations can […]
Personal Finance
Working in Retirement: How to Earn Without Hurting Benefits
Key Takeaways You can work part-time, consult, or earn passive income in retirement, but you must monitor how earnings impact Social Security benefits and taxes. Before full retirement age, income above the SSA limit ($23,400 in 2025) temporarily reduces benefits; after FRA, there’s no limit. Passive income, such as rent, dividends, or royalties, doesn’t count […]
Investing
Asset Allocation and Risk Management After 50: Is the 60/40 Rule Still Viable?
KEY TAKEAWAYS After 50, risk management becomes more important than aggressive growth; portfolios should prioritize income stability and capital preservation. The 60/40 rule (60% stocks, 40% bonds) still provides a useful foundation but often needs adjusting to reflect market conditions and personal goals. Shifting toward lower-volatility assets, shorter-duration bonds, and reliable income streams (like annuities […]
Personal Finance
Retirement Tax Planning: Hidden Costs You Need to Plan For
Key Takeaways Retirement doesn’t eliminate taxes; withdrawals, Social Security, and Medicare premiums can still create major tax costs. Different income types interact in ways that can push you into higher tax brackets (“tax stacking”). Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) can raise taxable income and Medicare premiums if not planned strategically. Social Security benefits may be up […]
Blog
Understanding the Portfolio Company (PortCo) Model in Private Equity
Key Takeaways A portfolio company (PortCo) is a business in which a private equity firm has made a strategic investment, typically acquiring a controlling or substantial minority stake. Unlike passive stock investments, PE firms actively manage their portfolio companies, implementing operational improvements and strategic initiatives to increase value. The typical holding period for […]
Budgeting & Saving
Irregular Income: What It Is, How It Works, and Real-World Examples
Irregular income refers to income that changes regularly, instead of arriving in fixed and predictable amounts.