🛢️ Otedola: Dangote's 650,000 bpd Could Rescue Naira

TGIF👋

Nigeria has entered a strategic partnership with Singapore to introduce specialized Artificial Intelligence (AI) diploma programmes, marking a significant step in its push to strengthen digital skills and technological competitiveness. As AI continues to transform industries globally, the collaboration is aimed at equipping Nigerian students with industry-relevant expertise while modernizing technical education frameworks.

By aligning with Singapore — widely regarded for its strong technical education system and innovation-driven economy — Nigeria is seeking to bridge critical gaps in advanced digital training. The initiative signals a broader commitment to building a future-ready workforce capable of driving innovation across sectors and positioning the country more competitively within Africa’s growing digital economy.

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Today’s Menu ☕️

🛢️ Dangote Refinery at 650,000 bpd: Can It Strengthen the Naira Below ₦1,000/$1?
🤖Nigeria, Singapore Partner on AI Diplomas
🤝 Noah, Payd Enable Dollar Pay for African Workers
🛒 Jumia Sales Surge 82% on China Pivot
💵 Vantage Capital Exits Seaton Estates
🤖 Amazon Explores AI Content Licensing Marketplace

🛢️OIL AND GAS

Dangote Refinery at 650,000 bpd: Can It Strengthen the Naira Below ₦1,000/$1?

When Femi Otedola congratulated his “friend and brother,” Aliko Dangote, on the Dangote Petroleum Refinery reaching its full 650,000 barrels per day capacity, it was more than a personal tribute. It was a recognition of a structural shift in Nigeria’s economic story.

For decades, Nigeria produced crude oil only to import refined fuel. The contradiction was expensive, embarrassing, and destabilizing. Each cargo of imported PMS exerted pressure on foreign exchange. Each subsidy regime distorted fiscal reality. Each refinery turnaround maintenance headline reminded us of lost industrial capacity.

Now, at 650,000 bpd — supplying up to 75 million litres of PMS daily — the Dangote refinery is not merely operating; it is rewriting assumptions.........continue reading

🤖ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Nigeria, Singapore Partner on AI Diplomas

Nigeria has partnered with Singapore to introduce a two-year Diploma in AI Applications across its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. The agreement follows bilateral discussions between Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and Singapore’s High Commissioner, building on engagements initiated in 2025.

The collaboration involves ITE Education Services (ITEES), the international arm of Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education, which is widely credited with transforming Singapore’s workforce development model. A central component of the partnership is the adoption of Singapore’s Global Excellence Model for Skills Training (GEMSET), a quality assurance framework that evaluates institutions across leadership, planning, data management, staff development, curriculum processes, stakeholder satisfaction, and graduate outcomes...........….continue reading

  🤝PARTNERSHIPS

Noah, Payd Enable Dollar Pay for African Workers

Noah and Payd have formed a strategic partnership to enable over 30,000 African digital workers to receive international earnings instantly through stablecoin infrastructure. The integration allows users to generate Virtual IBANs (EUR) and US routing numbers (USD), making it possible to receive ACH and SEPA transfers directly from U.S. and European employers.

Instead of relying on slow and expensive correspondent banking systems, incoming funds are converted into stablecoins (USDC/USDT) and settled in real time into users’ Payd wallets. This eliminates delays of up to five days, reduces fees typically ranging from 3–8% (or higher due to FX spreads), and allows workers to hold earnings in digital dollars to hedge against local currency volatility.........….continue reading

 🛒E-COMMERCE

Jumia Sales Surge 82% on China Pivot

Jumia reported an 82% year-over-year surge in international sales in Q4 2025, largely driven by Chinese merchants, as it accelerates a strategic pivot toward affordability and volume-led growth. The company is leveraging Chinese supply chains to lower prices, target Africa’s lower-middle-income majority, and improve unit economics after years of losses.

Jumia now hosts around 24,000 China-based sellers and stocks over 2.2 million China-sourced items across African hubs, supported by a sourcing presence in Yiwu, China. While revenue rose 13% to $188.9 million, GMV increased 13.6% to $818.6 million, and order volume jumped 32%, operating losses narrowed only marginally, underscoring ongoing profitability challenges.......….continue reading

 💵 DIVESTMENTS

Vantage Capital Exits Seaton Estates

Vantage Capital has completed a full exit from its investment in Seaton Estates, a coastal residential development on South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, marking a successful close to a four-year mezzanine financing deal.

In January 2022, Vantage provided R360 million (about $23 million) in mezzanine funding to support early-stage infrastructure, prepare the estate for market entry, and give Collins Residential flexible capital without heavy equity dilution. The investment helped accelerate development momentum and attract early buyers...........….continue reading

🤖ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Amazon Explores AI Content Licensing Marketplace

Amazon is reportedly considering launching a centralized marketplace that would allow news and media companies to license their content directly to AI developers. The proposed platform would create a structured system for publishers to set pricing and usage terms, offering legally cleared data for training and powering AI systems.

The move comes amid growing legal disputes over AI firms scraping online content without compensation. A formal licensing hub could reduce copyright risks, introduce transparency, and establish clearer commercial agreements between publishers and AI companies.........….continue reading

OTHER STORIES

• Android Users Can Now Create Gmail Labels Without Desktop………continue reading

• Meta’s Threads Introduces “Dear Algo” to Personalize Your Timeline………continue reading

• WhatsApp Blocked in Russia as Kremlin Pushes New ‘Max’ Super App…continue reading

• Reshare or Else? The Growing Drama Around WhatsApp Status Culture…..continue reading

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