Innovation Village Newsletter
Posts
✈️ Nigerians Get Visa-Free Travel to St Kitts & Nevis

✈️ Nigerians Get Visa-Free Travel to St Kitts & Nevis

Plus: 🎵 Spotify founder Daniel Ek steps down as CEO

Innovation Village
October 01, 2025

In partnership with

Good morning valued subscribers👋

Happy Wednesday and a special Happy Independence Day to our Nigerian readers. Midweek feels can go either way, but we are here to keep you plugged in with stories that matter and just enough fuel to push you closer to the weekend.

So wherever you’re reading us from today, take a moment, scroll through, and let’s make this Wednesday count.

Let’s dive in.👇

Today’s Menu ☕️

✈️ Nigerians Can Enjoy Visa-Free Travel to St Kitts and Nevis Starting 2025
🗼Nugi Group to Build Tier 4 Data Centre in Calabar, Challenging Lagos’ Digital Monopoly
📶 MTN Group commits to advancing African language datasets for AI development
💵 Norfund commits €20M investment in Côte d’Ivoire’s leading poultry producer SIPRA
🛒Top 10 Online Stores Nigerians Trust for Quality and Fast Delivery
🎵Spotify founder Daniel Ek steps down as CEO

✈️TOURISM

Nigerians Can Enjoy Visa-Free Travel to St Kitts and Nevis Starting 2025

Nigeria and St Kitts & Nevis have signed a historic visa-free travel agreement, allowing Nigerians with ordinary, official, or diplomatic passports to enter the Caribbean nation without visas. The deal, announced at the AfriCaribbean Investment Summit in Abuja, is Nigeria’s first visa waiver with a non-African country outside ECOWAS.

The agreement is expected to boost tourism, trade, cultural exchange, and investment opportunities between both nations. For Nigerians, it opens access to leisure, business, and educational prospects in St Kitts & Nevis, while the Caribbean nation anticipates increased tourism and economic ties........…continue reading

The Business Brief Executives Actually Trust

In a world of sensational headlines and shallow analysis, The Daily Upside stands apart. Founded by former bankers and seasoned journalists, it delivers crisp, actionable insights executives actually use to make smarter decisions.

From market-moving developments to deep dives on business trends, The Daily Upside gives leaders clarity on what matters — without the noise.

That’s why over 1 million readers, including C-suite executives and senior decision-makers, start their day with it.

No fluff. No spin. Just business clarity.

Subscribe free.

🗼DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Nugi Group to Build Tier 4 Data Centre in Calabar, Challenging Lagos’ Digital Monopoly

The facility will use renewable energy sources—hydropower, solar storage, and natural gas—to ensure resilience, aiming for 99.99% uptime. Nigeria currently has fewer than 20 Tier 3 and Tier 4 centres, mostly concentrated in Lagos and Abuja, forcing many businesses to host data abroad.

The Calabar project is expected to create jobs, boost fintech and banking reliability, and potentially encourage global platforms like YouTube and Netflix to host more data locally. Beyond infrastructure, Nugi Group’s move signals a push to decentralize tech investment in Nigeria, positioning Cross River as a new player in the nation’s digital backbone..........…continue reading

📶 TELECOMS

MTN Group commits to advancing African language datasets for AI development

CEO of MTN GROUP, Ralph Mutipa

MTN Group has pledged to support the development of African language datasets, answering Nigeria’s call for greater AI investment. Announced at the UN General Assembly, the initiative tackles the underrepresentation of Africa’s 2,000+ languages in AI systems, ensuring inclusion in digital services like education, healthcare, and commerce. The move builds on Nigeria’s N-ATLAS project, which is digitizing over 500 local languages.

MTN positions itself as more than a telecom provider, stepping into a strategic role as a technology enabler in Africa’s AI ecosystem. Unlike short-term efforts by global tech giants, MTN brings corporate scale and long-term commitment..........…continue reading

💵INVESTMENTS

Norfund commits €20M investment in Côte d’Ivoire’s leading poultry producer SIPRA

Norfund has invested €20 million in Côte d’Ivoire’s SIPRA, one of West Africa’s largest poultry companies, to boost food security and agribusiness growth.
The equity funding will expand SIPRA’s production capacity, improve efficiency, and strengthen partnerships with smallholder farmers. SIPRA’s fully integrated poultry value chain—from feed production to processing and distribution—positions it to meet rising regional demand for affordable protein.

Norfund says the investment will create jobs, deepen supply chains, and enhance sustainable development, reinforcing SIPRA’s role as a key driver of West Africa’s agribusiness and food security.......…continue reading

🛒E-COMMERCE

Top 10 Online Stores Nigerians Trust for Quality and Fast Delivery

Online shopping is reshaping how Nigerians buy everyday goods, driven by traffic, long queues, and rising living costs. Millions now turn to e-commerce platforms for groceries, fashion, gadgets, and household items, fueling rapid growth in the sector.

Jumia and Konga lead the market with vast product ranges and trusted services, while newcomers like Temu attract price-sensitive buyers. Jiji thrives as a peer-to-peer marketplace, and platforms like PayPorte, Kara, SLOT, Supermart.ng, Deluxe Nigeria, and Zima Fashion cater to specific needs ranging from electronics to groceries and fashion...........…continue reading

🎵MUSIC STREAMING

Spotify founder Daniel Ek steps down as CEO

The company will shift to a co-CEO model, with Gustav Söderström (Chief Product & Technology Officer) and Alex Norström (Chief Business Officer) taking over. Both have played key roles in Spotify’s growth and strategy since becoming co-presidents in 2023.

Ek said the move reflects how Spotify already operates, allowing him to focus on long-term strategy, board relations, and regulation. He compared his new role to “a player becoming a coach.”

Beyond Spotify, Ek continues to invest in deep-tech ventures, including health startup Neko Health (valued at $1.8B) and investment firm Prima Materia, which backs projects like defense AI company Helsing.......…continue reading