By Samson Adeyanju 

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ultraviolet Microfinance Bank, Bayonle Omoyele, has paid a working visit to Equity Circle, one of Abuja’s fast-growing real estate companies, as part of efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships within Nigeria’s real estate sector.

During the visit, Equity Circle’s Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Fabian George, conducted Omoyele on a tour of the company’s facilities and outlined its growth trajectory.

He disclosed that the firm recorded significant milestones over the past four years, culminating in an ₦8 billion revenue in the 2025 financial year.

Discussions between both parties focused on establishing a strategic credit relationship, with proposed areas of collaboration including invoice discounting, structured credit solutions, and cash-flow management support to help Equity Circle sustain and scale its operations.

Addressing Equity Circle staff during an interactive session, Omoyele emphasised the importance of strong marketing fundamentals, highlighting the 4Ps of marketing-Product, Price, Place, and Promotion, as key drivers of long-term competitiveness and brand leadership.

He also urged the team to adopt a long-term growth mindset, remain focused, and ensure that every unit contributes meaningfully to the organisation’s strategic goals, noting that disciplined execution is critical in Nigeria’s evolving real estate market.

The visit underscores Ultraviolet Microfinance Bank’s commitment to supporting high-growth enterprises through tailored financial solutions and partnerships that promote sustainable economic development.

By Omoniyi David

Moniepoint Inc has reaffirmed its commitment to building Africa’s technology talent pipeline, announcing the opening of applications for the second cohort of its flagship DreamDevs initiative.

Co-Founder and CTO Felix Ike described DreamDevs as a programme that equips recent graduates with industry-ready skills and hands-on experience to bridge the continent’s tech talent gap.

“The success of our first cohort validated that Africa’s young tech talent can compete globally. This year, we aim to convert half of our participants into full-time employees,” Ike said, adding that the initiative creates sustainable career pathways that drive Africa’s digital economy.

DreamDevs complements Moniepoint’s other talent development programmes, including HatchDev, in collaboration with NITHub, University of Lagos, which trains about 500 specialised developers annually, and the Women-in-Tech programme, now in its fifth year.

The initiative also aligns with the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT), programme, with Moniepoint serving as a key sponsor, offering graduates a specialised pathway from training to employment.

DreamDevs underscores Moniepoint’s broader mission to leverage technology to empower Africa’s youth and advance the continent’s digital economy.

By Omoniyi David

The Nigerian capital market recorded one of its strongest performances in 2025, earning global recognition after delivering exceptional returns and attracting increased investor interest.

As attention shifts to 2026, analysts are assessing whether the rally can be sustained amid political and policy uncertainties.

The market closed 2025 with an average equities return of 51.19 per cent, placing Nigeria among the world’s top five performing stock markets.

The Nigerian Exchange All Share Index posted a net capital gain of N32.13 trillion, outperforming several major economies where average returns remained below 25 per cent.

Capital raising activities rose to about N7 trillion, reinforcing the market’s role as a key funding source for government and corporate expansion.

Trading volumes also hit record levels, supported by strong activity in both the primary and secondary markets.

The debt market remained resilient, with companies increasingly relying on capital market instruments amid high interest rates. Commercial paper issuances alone reached nearly N1 trillion, largely driven by private firms.

The positive momentum has extended into 2026, with equities valuation approaching N100 trillion despite early year spending pressures. Analysts, however, caution that the year presents a mix of opportunities and risks.

As a pre election year, 2026 will see heightened political activity alongside the first full implementation of new capital market and tax laws. While the reforms are expected to strengthen regulation, analysts warn that policy interpretation and execution could influence investor sentiment, especially foreign portfolio flows.

Market watchers are also focusing on banking and insurance sector recapitalisation, which is expected to drive equity issuances, mergers and acquisitions in the first half of the year.

Analysts say sustained policy stability and effective implementation will be critical in determining whether the market extends its rally or enters a period of adjustment.