Business
Focus on specific needs, female entrepreneurs advise SMEs at UBA Business Series
Focus on specific needs, female entrepreneurs advise SMEs at UBA Business Series
Focusing on meeting specific needs of the people will grow a small business fast, successful female entrepreneurs have advised Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operators and would-be business owners.
They spoke at the Women’s Day edition of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Business Series hybrid event tagged ‘Her Story’ held on Thursday at the bank’s head office in Lagos.
The entrepreneurs also emphasised the need for the SMEs to invest in themselves and have a proper working business structure as tips to build and grow their businesses.
Co-founder and CEO of Good Hair Ltd, Chioma Ikokwu; Founder of African Naturalistas, Atilola Moronfolu; Founder of Hello Perfect, a leading skin aesthetics and laser clinic in Nigeria, Onyeka Michael-Ugwu and Actress/Founder and Chief Executive Officer, NOUA Skin, a luxury boutique skin studio based in Lagos, Oshuwa Tunde-Imoyo, were panellists at the special women’s edition of this quarter’s UBA Business series.
Ikokwu spoke on the need for meaningful partnerships and collaborations in business saying, “It is important to start by solving a problem, you have to separate your lifestyle from your business and ensure that you are intentional about what you put out there.
“Also, get straight to the point about what you are offering your customers, no need beating about the bush.”
Michael-Ugwu corroborating the point told business owners and would-be entrepreneurs to surround themselves with the right people who could help grow the business.
“I always tell people, build a team that can give their best to your business. When you treat your team right, they will put their all into growing your business,” she said.
Moronfolu underlined the advantage of a proper business structure to one’s business. She said, “Get your structure right, you need to have a standard operating procedure that works whether you are physically present or not.
“Also, it is very important to separate your personal finances from your business finances. That way, your business learns to thrive on its own.”
On her part, Tunde-Imoyo spoke about education and investing in oneself, as she added that business owners need to hone their skills, and should not be afraid to ask for help when they need it.
“I agree with Atilola and Onyeka about collaborations and I also subscribe to learning new things by investing in educating yourself, this will translate into better business decisions,” she said.
UBA’s Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, commended the panellists for taking time off their busy schedules to share their knowledge.
According to her, UBA organises the business series frequently as they go a long way towards equipping customers, especially the women with the strategies to help build successful businesses.
“We believe that SMEs, especially those run by the females, are the engine of growth in any economy. And so, at UBA, we invest in educating our customers and small business owners on tips that will help them run successful businesses that can impact the world,” Ladipo said.
United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees’ group wide and serving over 35 million customers globally. Operating in 20 African countries and in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.
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Business
NNPC Profit Rises to N7.2tn Despite Revenue Decline
NNPC Profit Rises to N7.2tn Despite Revenue Decline
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) recorded a N7.2 trillion profit after tax in 2025, representing a 33.3 per cent increase from the N5.4 trillion it reported in 2024, despite a significant decline in revenue.
NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, disclosed the figures on Tuesday while presenting the company’s audited financial results for the 2025 financial year in Abuja.
The company recorded N34.5 trillion in revenue in 2025, down from N45.1 trillion reported for 2024. Despite the revenue decline, profit increased as NNPC attributed the stronger bottom-line performance to improved operational efficiency and financial discipline.
Ojulari said lower international crude oil prices and reduced petroleum product sales, following changes in the downstream petroleum market, put pressure on revenue during the year.
However, improved operational performance helped cushion the impact, allowing NNPC profit to rise to N7.2 trillion.
The company also reported N22.33 trillion in taxes, royalties and other remittances to the Federal Government, representing a 39 per cent increase compared with the previous year.
The results also showed stronger production performance across the company’s upstream operations.
According to NNPC, crude oil and condensate production reached an average peak of 1.77 million barrels per day in 2025, the company’s highest level in five years.
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Domestic gas supply also rose to a three-year high of 7.2 billion standard cubic feet per day, reflecting increased gas production and supply to the Nigerian market.
NNPC said the financial performance demonstrated the impact of efforts to improve asset management, increase production and strengthen efficiency across its businesses.
The company’s latest results come as Nigeria continues to seek higher crude oil production, increased domestic gas supply and greater investment across the petroleum value chain.
NNPC, which became a commercial company under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in 2022, has been pursuing a strategy focused on increasing oil and gas output, expanding gas monetisation and strengthening its downstream operations.
The company said its future growth strategy would require continued investment in infrastructure, workforce development and operational capabilities.
NNPC also highlighted investments in digital capabilities and artificial intelligence as part of efforts to improve efficiency and strengthen its workforce.
More than 1,000 newly recruited professionals joined the company in 2025 and underwent a one-year internship and training programme before being deployed across its operations.
The company also reported that women now occupy more than 23 per cent of its leadership positions, compared with an industry average of 17 per cent.
The 2025 results come against the backdrop of major changes in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, including the removal of petrol subsidy and increased private-sector participation in fuel supply.
NNPC said the improved profitability had strengthened its capacity to invest in operations, contribute to government revenue and support Nigeria’s energy security.
The company’s performance will continue to be closely watched as Nigeria seeks to raise oil production, expand gas utilisation and increase the economic contribution of the oil and gas sector.
NNPC Profit Rises to N7.2tn Despite Revenue Decline
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Business
Crude Oil Prices Ease After Monday Spike, Fuel Price Cuts Loom
Crude Oil Prices Ease After Monday Spike, Fuel Price Cuts Loom
Global crude oil prices eased on Tuesday after a sharp rally triggered by renewed uncertainty over the possibility of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, offering some relief to an oil market that has remained highly sensitive to geopolitical developments.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell to about $105.04 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) declined to $92.24 per barrel, according to Reuters. The prices had risen sharply earlier amid concerns over possible disruptions to Middle East oil supplies.
The latest movement is particularly significant for Nigeria, where changes in international crude prices are increasingly reflected in the domestic petrol market following the removal of petrol subsidy and the operation of a largely market-driven downstream petroleum sector.
Nigeria has in recent weeks witnessed significant fluctuations in petrol prices as international crude prices rose on the back of Middle East tensions.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which has become a major source of domestic petrol supply, raised its gantry price to N1,350 per litre earlier in September before subsequently reducing it by N25 to N1,325 per litre as crude prices eased.
The impact has also begun to filter through to some retail outlets. Recent checks showed petrol selling at varying prices across the country, with some marketers reducing pump prices by between N20 and N25 per litre in response to lower wholesale costs.
In Abuja, for instance, MRS reportedly reduced its pump price from N1,395 to N1,370 per litre, while other marketers also adjusted their prices downward.
However, the latest fall in crude prices does not necessarily translate into an immediate or uniform reduction at filling stations.
This is because the price motorists pay is influenced by several factors, including the cost of crude, refining and wholesale prices, transportation and logistics, exchange-rate movements, and the margins of individual marketers.
Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil makes developments in the international petroleum market particularly important to the domestic economy.
Although the Dangote refinery has substantially increased local refining capacity and reduced reliance on imported petrol, international crude prices remain an important factor in determining the cost of feedstock and, ultimately, petroleum products.
The recent volatility has therefore kept motorists, transport operators and businesses on alert, with any sustained decline in crude prices potentially creating room for further reductions in petrol prices.
The latest crude movement followed reports of renewed diplomatic tension between Washington and Tehran.
Iran had reportedly proposed a seven-day truce, but US President Donald Trump rejected the proposal, triggering fresh concerns about the outlook for regional stability and oil supplies.
Crude prices surged during Monday’s trading session before retreating as investors reassessed the immediate supply risks and continued to monitor diplomatic efforts.
For Nigerian consumers, the key issue now is whether the downward movement in international crude prices will be sustained long enough to translate into broader and more significant reductions in petrol prices at filling stations.
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Auto
TCAN Honours Dangote Cement Transport for Safety, Logistics Excellence
TCAN Honours Dangote Cement Transport for Safety, Logistics Excellence
Dangote Cement Transport has been recognised for its contributions to the development of Nigeria’s transport industry, winning the “Champion of Transport Industry Development Award” presented by the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN).
The award, presented at the third Transport Summit organised by TCAN in Lagos, recognised the company’s efforts in improving road transport operations, strengthening safety standards and deploying more efficient logistics solutions to support industrial activities across the country.
Receiving the award on behalf of the company’s management, the Head of Dangote Cement Transport, Mr Murilo Silva, said the recognition was a reflection of the commitment of the company’s transport workforce, drivers, safety professionals, engineers and operational partners.
Silva said Dangote Cement viewed transportation as a critical component of industrialisation and economic development, stressing that the efficient movement of goods was essential to sustaining production, trade and national economic activities.
“We are deeply honoured to receive this award from the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria. This recognition reflects Dangote Cement Transport’s unwavering commitment to developing a safe, efficient and sustainable transport system that supports economic growth and national development,” he said.
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According to him, the company would continue to invest in technology, safety initiatives and operational improvements as part of efforts to raise standards across its transport operations.
“At Dangote Cement, we recognise that transportation is much more than moving goods from one point to another. It is a vital link in the nation’s economic ecosystem,” Silva said.
He added that the company would continue to deploy innovative solutions, strengthen its safety culture and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to improve road transport operations.
Silva dedicated the award to the thousands of drivers, transport professionals, engineers, safety personnel and logistics workers whose daily efforts support the movement of Dangote Cement products across its extensive distribution network.
“This award belongs to our drivers, our safety professionals and every member of our transport team who work tirelessly every day to ensure that our operations are safe, reliable and efficient,” he said.
The recognition underscores Dangote Cement Transport’s investments in fleet management, driver training, road safety programmes and technology-driven logistics solutions aimed at improving operational efficiency and reducing risks associated with road transportation.
The award was presented against the backdrop of growing calls for stronger collaboration between government and private-sector operators to tackle infrastructure and logistics challenges confronting the country’s transport industry.
The TCAN summit also featured discussions on port modernisation, rail integration and technology deployment, with stakeholders emphasising the need for coordinated action to improve freight movement, reduce logistics costs and accelerate innovation across Nigeria’s transport sector.
TCAN Honours Dangote Cement Transport for Safety, Logistics Excellence
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