Tekedia Institute has unveiled a new program called Tekedia Startup Masterclass: from Start-up to Unicorn.

Tekedia Startup Masterclass: from Start-Up to Unicorn is designed to help founders, entrepreneurs, and those generally working in the startup ecosystems, to master the mechanics of building category-king startups. The program runs for 8 weeks and it includes an hourly one-on-one Zoom session every week, per participant, with Tekedia Institute’s Lead Faculty, Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe.  In other words, each participant will have a total of eight one-on-one Zoom sessions, providing the opportunity to answer the participant’s questions.

This program is on-demand which means you can enroll and begin anytime. The goal is to help the participant master modern mechanics which are used to scale and blitzscale ideas into unicorns (startups with a minimum of $1 billion in valuation).

The cost is $400 or N180,000 naira per participant. Go here for the full curriculum and enroll.

A sample certificate which is awarded after completion.

Three weeks after missing its scheduled launch, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will unveil the e-Naira on Monday, October 25.

The unveiling of e-Naira, the much touted Nigerian Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) was shelved on October 1, after the CBN said the launch could not possibly go alongside key Independence Day activities.

The financial regulator cited Independence Day for the cancelation, although a cease and desist letter issued to the central bank over the name, e-Naira, later surfaced, suggesting that there could be another reason while the e-Naira launch was postponed.

Enaira Payment Solutions Limited, a business entity incorporated since 7th April 2004, had approached the court alleging infringement of trademark and violation of corporate name. The company had prayed to the court to stop the apex bank from unveiling the digital currency.

However, the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Taiwo Obayomi Taiwo, ordered that the unveiling should proceed in national interest and economic advancement. The court had expressed the view that the aggrieved company stands the chance to be adequately compensated in damages.

With the dust settled, a statement signed by CBN’s Director of Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi, said the e-Naira is now expected to be activated on Monday.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to formally unveil the Nigerian Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), known as the eNaira, on Monday 25 October 2021, at the State House, Abuja.

“The launch of the eNaira is a culmination of several years of research work by the Central Bank of Nigeria in advancing the boundaries of payments system in order to make financial transactions easier and seamless for every strata of the society.

“Following series of engagements with relevant stakeholders including the banking community, fintech operators, merchants and indeed, a cross section of Nigerians, the CBN designed the digital currency, which shall be activated on Monday, October 25, 2021.

“The eNaira therefore marks a major step forward in the evolution of money and the CBN is committed to ensuring that the eNaira, like the physical Naira, is accessible by everyone.

“Given that the eNaira is a journey, the unveiling marks the first step in that journey, which will continue with a series of further modifications, capabilities and enhancements to the platforms.

“The CBN will continue to work with relevant partners to ensure a seamless process that will benefit every user, particularly those in the rural areas and the unbanked population.

“Since the eNaira is a new product, and amongst the first CBDCs in the world, we have put a structure to promptly address any issue that might arise from the pilot implementation of the eNaira.

“Accordingly, following Monday’s formal launch by the President, the Bank will further engage various stakeholders as we enter a new age consistent with global financial advancement.

“The theme of the eNaira is: “Same Naira, more possibilities,” the statement said.

Femi Otedola has emerged as a key shareholder of First Bank Holdings, the holding firm of First Bank Nigeria, after acquiring a 5.07% equity stake: “that Mr Otedola Olufemi Peter and his nominee, Calvados Global Services Limited have acquired a total of 1,818, 551,625 units of shares from the Company’s issued share capital of 35,895,292791. Based on the foregoing, the equity stake of Mr Otedola Olufemi Peter and his nominee in the company is now 5.07%”.

The Nigerian billionaire, Femi Otedola, has emerged a major shareholder of First Bank Holdings, owners of First Bank Nigeria, after acquiring a 5.07 per cent equity stake, the company confirmed Saturday.

The holding firm had earlier denied knowledge of the takeover saying it had not received a notification of a significant holding by Mr Otedola.

In a follow-up communication to the Nigerian Exchange Limited Saturday, the firm said it received notification from APT Securities and Funds Limited that its client, “that Mr Otedola Olufemi Peter and his nominee, Calvados Global Services Limited have acquired a total of 1,818, 551,625 units of shares from the Company’s issued share capital of 35,895,292791.”

“Based on the foregoing, the equity stake of Mr Otedola Olufemi Peter and his nominee in the company is now 5.07%,” the notice signed by Seye Kosoko, company secretary, said.

First Bank is a prime target due to its history but over the next five years, assets will exchange hands in Nigeria. I am hoping that dews will fall in Nigeria from June 2023 and a nation will begin to rise again. More deals will happen. The news of kidnapping NYSC members today stresses me because I see no reason why these graduates should be exposed to these risks in places where soldiers are not even safe!

Pause NYSC until the land is safe! Meanwhile, congrats Otedola. Please let us keep and preserve the First.

Panic has set in among prospective corps members in Zamfara State following the abduction of some of their colleagues on their way to their orientation camp in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.

Although the police confirmed the abduction of two prospective corps members along the Sheme-Tsafe highway in the state, witnesses said about six others were missing from the incident that occurred on Tuesday.

The Tsafe hosts the National Youth Service (NYSC) orientation camp in Zamfara.

Good People, thanks for the kind words and congratulations. Most times, I write to inspire and encourage young people. While things are certainly tougher, specifically in Africa, I continue to challenge young people to look at areas which are opening up. You may not believe it  there are many opportunities young graduates have today that many of us did not experience many years ago.

Sure, we got jobs easily – but there was no investor writing a cheque of $50,000 to develop ideas. So, your season is different and I encourage you to live in your time. And get it from me – this is the best time to be a young person in Africa.

#believe with a plan. You will rise because the future is full of abundance.