Business
Okonjo-Iweala: AI Will Transform the Nigerian Economy
Citing a Pricewaterhouse report, she emphasized that AI has the potential to elevate global economic activity by up to $15.7 trillion, or about 15 percent, by 2030. “This growth will extend beyond the industrialized north.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), asserts that the Nigerian economy stands on the brink of significant transformation through the strategic adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
With the right policy decisions and targeted investments from the government, Nigeria is poised to harness the full potential of AI.
Speaking at the 10th Convocation of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Abuja, she declared, “If Nigeria can capitalize on this opportunity, the rewards for our economy will be substantial.”
She referenced a recent report from a public policy consultancy that highlights the potential for AI to generate an impressive $136 billion in productivity gains across Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa.
However, she acknowledged that challenges such as unreliable electricity and frequent power outages might impede internet access and the adoption of AI in Nigeria and other African nations. Despite these challenges,
Okonjo-Iweala pointed out that the combined gains from AI for the four countries represent 13 percent of their total GDP for 2022, with Nigeria poised to capture 43 percent of these estimated benefits.
She praised the federal government and the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy for their proactive approach in formulating a national AI strategy aimed at leveraging AI to propel economic growth through talent development and partnerships with major players like Google to train and upskill the youth and support startups.
Citing a Pricewaterhouse report, she emphasized that AI has the potential to elevate global economic activity by up to $15.7 trillion, or about 15 percent, by 2030. “This growth will extend beyond the industrialized north.
The global south, including Nigeria, has immense opportunities ahead, but we must act decisively to seize this potential,” she stated. Okonjo-Iweala underscored the importance of Nigeria not being left behind in the race to leverage AI technology.
The implications for reshaping economies and achieving development goals are profound, and Nigeria’s proactive engagement with AI will position it for success in international trade and economic advancement.
Business
Dangote Cement Shelves $18 billion Listing On LSE
Its shares will remain listed on the Nigerian Exchange, and the decision will not affect its operations or business plans.
Dangote Cement Plc has abandoned plans for a secondary listing of $18 billion on the London Stock Exchange and preferring to keep its shares exclusively on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).
The decision , according to the company is because the LSE has been struggling to attract major new listings as companies increasingly reconsider their presence on the UK bourse.
In May this year , Aliko Dangote said that he was holding early discussions about a potential London listing.
The move would have given the company access to a broader pool of international investors and additional sources of capital.
However, the company said on Tuesday that it had abandoned the plan, citing market conditions and strategic priorities. Its shares will remain listed on the Nigerian Exchange, and the decision will not affect its operations or business plans.
Business
I sold heavy weapons internationally – Orji Kalu
“Yes, so I stopped because my parents, my mother, my father came and said I must stop, and I stopped,” he said.
The Senator representing Abia North, Orji Kalu, has disclosed that he previously engaged in the international trade of heavy weapons, selling arms to buyers in different countries before quitting the business at the insistence of his parents.
Kalu made the revelation during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, while discussing his business background and relationships with former and current South African leaders.
Asked whether he was an arms dealer, the former Abia State governor answered in the affirmative, saying he stopped after his parents intervened.
“Yes, so I stopped because my parents, my mother, my father came and said I must stop, and I stopped,” he said.
Asked whether he sold weapons to people who intended to use them to kill others, Kalu dismissed the suggestion, saying his motivation was to make money.
“No, no, no, no, no, no. I was selling guns to make money, whether they blow up it’s not my business,” he said
Business
Dividends: Airtel Africa To Pay Nigerian Shareholders USD N1,347.44 / Share
For London investors, the sterling equivalent was fixed at $1 to £0.7464
Airtel Africa Plc says it will pay its 3.1 US cents interim dividend at a dollar-to-naira conversion rate of N1,347.44.
That translates to about N41.77 per qualifying share for Nigerian investors.
The company disclosed the rate in a notice filed with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).
The interim dividend is 3.1 US cents per ordinary share, a 9.2% increase from the previous year’s payment.
The approved naira rate is about 7.5% lower than the N1,456 per dollar that applied to the corresponding 2025 interim dividend.
Both the naira and sterling conversion rates were derived from dollar exchange rates available on October 30, 2026.
For London investors, the sterling equivalent was fixed at $1 to £0.7464. That puts the payment at approximately 2.31 pence per share.
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