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Foundation Partners Dutch Bank To Support Startups

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2 years ago

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Determined to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria, the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, FATE Foundation, Netherlands Enterprise Agency, and the Netherlands Consulate-General in Lagos, have recently hosted a Capital Unleashed Roundtable.
In a statement, the organisers said  in the rapidly evolving world, young entrepreneurs were the driving forces behind innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development, hence the need to boost access to capital for them.
The statement added that the ideas of young entrepreneurs and ventures hold the key to addressing societal challenges and creating opportunities for a brighter future.
It stated that the event underscored the commitment of the Netherlands to address the financing needs of young entrepreneurs together with players in the Nigerian ecosystem, create pathways for growth and sustainability, and propel Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem to new heights.
The Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation of the Kingdom of The Netherlands, Geoffrey van Leeuwen said, “With Nigeria emerging as one of Africa’s leading startup ecosystems, the need for accessible finance is more pressing than ever.
“Bringing together government institutions, banks, venture capital funds, development organisations, and young entrepreneurs, these engagements will forge partnerships that will drive tangible outcomes in the realm of entrepreneurship and innovation.”
The organisers further said the objective of the event was to initiate and develop ideas for new financial products that can bridge the early-stage financing gap, ranging between 50,000 and 250,000 euros.
“This initiative comes as a follow-up to the Orange Corners Innovation Fund, providing finance up to 50,000 euros and finance provided via FMO subsidiaries starting from 250,000 euros, both Dutch initiatives in Nigeria”, the statement said.
It added that despite the vibrant entrepreneurial landscape, many startups struggle to secure the  necessary funding to scale their ventures beyond the initial stages.
“Although Nigeria is the most popular investment destination on the continent, access to finance remains a significant barrier for many budding entrepreneurs; particularly in the pre-commercial phase. This lack of growth capital impedes economic growth, entrepreneurship, and innovation across various sectors”the partners said.
The Executive Director of FATE Foundation, Adenike Adeyemi, said, “I am excited about the collaboration between the Netherlands and Nigeria to accelerate access to growth capital for young entrepreneurs. This initiative aligns seamlessly with FATE Foundation’s commitment to fostering job creation, and innovation, addressing finance gaps, and propelling Nigeria’s startup ecosystem to new height”.

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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3 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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3 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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3 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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