Business Briefings
AI Ventures Accelerator Offers $10,000 Equity-Free Funding for Women-Led African Startups
African startups led by young women have been invited to apply for the AI Ventures Accelerator, a programme offering equity-free funding and technical support to early-stage innovators. The initiative is organised by Technovation in partnership with Generation Unlimited and targets founders between the ages of 19 and 24 developing technology-driven solutions.
The accelerator runs for twelve weeks and combines training in artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and product development with mentorship from industry professionals. Participants are expected to learn how to build machine learning models, curate datasets, design digital products and develop scalable business strategies.
At the end of the programme, the top ten teams will share a funding pool of $100,000, with each selected team receiving seed capital intended to support product development, customer acquisition and hiring. Organisers said the programme is designed to strengthen innovation capacity among young women in developing economies while addressing real community challenges through technology.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate a clear problem statement, evidence of market relevance and commitment to participating fully in the programme. Teams of two to four are preferred, though individual applicants may also be considered.
The initiative reflects a broader push to strengthen Africa’s AI ecosystem, following similar programmes such as the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, which continues to support growth-stage startups across the continent.
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NGX Extends Trading Hours to 4pm to Boost Market Liquidity
The Nigerian Exchange Limited has announced an extension of its daily trading hours to 4:00 p.m., in a move aimed at enhancing liquidity and deepening investor participation in the capital market. The change, disclosed in a statement, will take effect from April 27, 2026, following approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Under the revised…
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Airlines threaten shutdown, marketers say fuel prices overstated
By: Amarachi Okonkwo The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) has pushed back against claims that aviation fuel is selling for as high as N3,300 per litre, urging airline operators to explore alternative suppliers while attributing recent price pressures to global supply disruptions and rising logistics costs. The position comes amid escalating tensions between…
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Afreximbank profit hits $1.15bn as assets soar to N56.7tn
By: Amarachi Okonkwo The African Export-Import Bank has delivered a strong financial performance for the 2025 fiscal year, posting significant profit growth and an expanded balance sheet as it deepened support for trade financing across Africa and the Caribbean. The multilateral lender recorded a net profit of $1.15bn (about N1.5tn), marking an 18 per cent…