A currency up 1.3 per cent in a fortnight and food inflation that barely moves are not a contradiction. They are two different problems, and only one of them is monetary.

The currency traded around N1,350 to the dollar as campaigning opened, with the pound near N1,819. Stability, rather than strength, is the achievement being claimed.

Nigerian startups raised $113.7 million in June 2026, with 1,476 active companies and four unicorns. The funding environment has recovered from a bruising two years.

The musician and emPawa Africa founder is exploring an NGX listing, saying he wants Nigerians to own a piece of the business. He cites Aliko Dangote as the model.

Nigerian market capitalisation has gone from about N30 trillion in 2023 to N160 trillion in 2026, making the exchange one of the world's best performers. Some of that is growth and some of it is arithmetic.

A $5 billion IPO for Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals is targeted for completion by October 2026. It would be one of the largest listings in African history.

Ex-depot and pump prices have moved repeatedly in both directions this month as the refinery and the state oil company respond to each other. It is the first real competition in Nigerian fuel retail in decades.

Twelve startups, up to $350,000 each, one from each geopolitical zone. The Bank of Industry programme stops taking applications on Wednesday 19 August.