Startupinsight

          Nigerian highlife star Flavour is set to headline the LOUD IN AFRICA Concert Series in New York City on August 14, 2026, as organisers prepare for what is expected to be one of the biggest African music events of the summer. The concert will take place at Racket NYC, bringing together music lovers from across the African diaspora for an evening celebrating African music, culture and entertainment. Popularly known as the "King of Highlife," Flavour has built a global reputation with his blend of highlife, Afrobeats and contemporary African music, earning a loyal fan base across Africa, Europe and North America. The event will also feature performances by Naomi Achu, Prince Bright of Buk Bak, Bruck Up (Mr. Excitement), 2Cent, Unathi Nkayi, while Nollywood actress Mercy Macjoe is expected to make a special guest appearance. Speaking ahead of the concert, Founder of LOUD IN AFRICA, Abass Mubarak Akeju, described the event as part of a broader effort to pro...

      Often, people say Lagos may be one of Africa’s fastest growing cities, but alongside its housing deficit lies another growing concern: the increasing demand for homes that offer more than just four walls and an address. As the city expands, many homebuyers and investors are seeking spaces that combine functionality, intentional design, and long term value. Responding to this need, D’Lodge Apartments has been introduced as a premium residential development in Lekki Peninsula II, positioned within reach of key business districts, schools, and lifestyle destinations. Comprising thoughtfully designed one and two bedroom apartments, D’Lodge reflects a vision of creating spaces that place equal emphasis on comfort, functionality, and everyday living experiences. With features such as open plan kitchens and expansive panoramic balconies, the development has been designed with modern homeowners, young professionals, growing families, and investors in mind. D’Lodge is more t...

What began as a lockdown hobby in early 2020 has grown into a thriving real estate company helping Nigerians achieve home ownership and build wealth. The founder of Adifua Real Estate and Construction started his journey during the COVID-19 lockdown, frequently viewing properties across the capital. With guidance from a supportive boss, real estate quickly became more than a side interest. While still operating without a formal team, he also ventured into the hospitality sector, successfully establishing Flenjo, a popular restaurant and grill. Today, the company has built a reputation for helping individuals grow their wealth through strategic real estate investments. Many clients have reportedly become millionaires thanks to well-chosen properties. Adifua Real Estate and Construction is particularly focused on affordability and long-term value. The company only promotes properties with strong appreciation potential and currently offers FCDA-approved lands and homes in prime and emergi...

    Fikun Aluko, an AI, Cybersecurity and Technology Leader and Chevening Scholar, delivered a presentation at the 6th International AI in Business Summit on the 1st of June, 2026, challenging business leaders on why most organisations are using AI but almost none are leading with it. Speaking to founders, investors, engineers, researchers, and enterprise leaders, he opened with a provocation. "Almost every organisation is using AI. Almost none are leading with it," he said. McKinsey research found 88% of organisations are using AI, yet only 6% qualify as genuine high performers.¹ The WRITER 2026 Enterprise AI Survey found 75% of executives admit their AI strategy is more for show than actual guidance, and 48% called AI adoption a massive disappointment.² A Leadership Problem, Not a Technology Problem Drawing on his experience leading enterprise-wide AI adoption across 5 business divisions at a leading EMEA business services firm, Aluko said the most critical work happened be...

  By Pat Josh Dexta Africa has announced that it is on course to deliver its maiden residential development, D’Lennox, in 2026, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to raising the standard of luxury housing in Nigeria. The announcement comes nearly two years after the company entered the real estate market with a promise to provide Nigerians with thoughtfully designed homes built with exceptional quality, functionality, and attention to detail. With Nigeria, particularly Lagos, continuing to experience a significant housing deficit and growing concerns over construction quality, Dexta Africa stated that its vision extends beyond simply building houses to creating homes that offer comfort, functionality, and long-term value. Located in the prestigious Lekki Peninsula II, D’Lennox is an exclusive development comprising seven ultra-luxury four-bedroom terrace duplexes with boys’ quarters (BQ). The project is strategically positioned less than two minutes from Ur...

              For many entrepreneurs, success is measured by profit margins and business growth. But for Mballoh Fofana, founder of Le Mandingue African Restaurant in Philadelphia, the true measure of success lies in overcoming adversity, preserving culture and creating opportunities for others. Fofana's story is one of resilience after tragedy. In 1998, she lost one of her legs in an accident an experience that could have ended her entrepreneurial aspirations. Instead, she turned the setback into motivation, rebuilding her life through determination, faith and hard work. More than 22 years later, she has established Le Mandingue African Restaurant as one of the Philadelphia region's longest-serving African restaurants, earning a reputation for authentic West African cuisine and warm hospitality. Beyond the restaurant business, Fofana has also expanded into real estate, building a portfolio of commercial and residential properties across the Philadelph...

They Didn't Meet at a Startup Accelerator. They Met Because They All Hit the Same Wall. Inside the technical build, the founding story, and the deliberately phased rollout strategy behind ChatPay, Nigeria's newest bet on conversational banking.  No accelerator. No shared employer. No prior investor introduction. The three founders behind ChatPay found each other the way most durable startups actually start, by independently running into the same problem and searching for people who could help solve it. What's notable about ChatPay isn't just the pitch, banking inside WhatsApp, the app more than 50 million Nigerians already use monthly, it's the discipline behind the build: a phased rollout gated by licensed banking-partner certification, rather than a rush to claim full functionality before it's ready. ChatPay, operated by CP Technology Limited and headquartered on Ikorodu Road in Maryland, Lagos, is built to close that gap: send money, buy airtime, pay bills an...