Business
Sujimoto Pens An Open Letter To President Tinubu
“Government Has No Obligation To Support Businesses” – Sujimoto’s Open Letter To Mr President
Dear Mr. President,
In 1978, Steve Jobs raised over a million dollars from the garage of his house through the use of his intellectual collateral, not a property, to develop the largest technology company and the biggest firm in the world today by market capitalization.
The multi-trillion-dollar vision with a backbone of public research funding from the U.S. government was achieved based on the national importance of driving innovation and as a sign that government’s investment and its initial leg into great companies do not only present tax benefits but also profit the entire ecosystem.
Government creates greatness. In fact, renowned industrialists like John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Sakichi Toyoda, among a host of other business magnates who received firm governmental support, have today created empires that provide jobs for millions of people globally.
Your excellency, there’s no greater and more fascinating story than a flourishing economy that thrives on innovative businesses. Thus, intentional support for subsidising businesses and dreams is a strategic and intelligent thing to do as a nation.
In Nigeria today, no start-up or entrepreneur can raise one naira in pre-seed funding without having to provide an arm and a leg. A demand for physical collateral that cripples revolutionary ideas and quenches the visionary flames of entrepreneurship.
With over 200 million citizens and a pregnant economy that must be delivered through the surgical needle of proper restructuring, the Nigerian business landscape must recover from its 77 percent year-on-year funding decline, a sharp fall from the $2 billion that the startup ecosystem attracted between July 2021 and June 2022 to $470 million in the last year (July 2022 to June 2023).
Asiwaju, as the economy continues to find its feet, the hikes in food prices and transportation are slowly eating deep into the moral fabric of society. Uncommon entrepreneurs are forced to explore new terrains with the Jakpa syndrome, where countless of Nigeria’s brightest minds seek opportunities elsewhere, away from their homeland.
Even companies with over 100 employees are being forced out of business or in debt due to a series of negative funding. An employee who earns N200,000 as a monthly salary today still struggles with the skyrocketing cost of living, which takes up more than 70 percent of the income. This influences the decision of such staff to seek alternative ways of surviving while living in debt, even before salaries are paid (if paid on time or even ever paid after 3 months).
Father, Nigeria’s current economic situation is like a mosquito sitting on one’s scrotum; the slightest amount of anger or irritation will lead to excruciating social and economic unrest.
Although all hopes are not dashed, in fact, new ones are being created as businesses gradually move from brick-and-mortar into the digital space. In today’s fast-paced society, the criteria for support should shift from tangible to intellectual assets, where vision can be invested in with funding and monitoring timelines and milestones, creating an enabling environment where competence and integrity prevail over connections and deceit.
As it stands today, no Nigerian bank is able to give any entrepreneur, visionary businessman, or woman one naira without a property asset or fixed asset to be held as collateral.
Amidst innovative thinking, financial engineering has crippled the growth of radical entrepreneurs, who have no problem with the presence of vision but lack everything in the acquisition of tangible collateral.
For Nigeria to reclaim its position as the Jewel of Africa and maintain her stance as the economic heart of Africa, it is crucial to urgently take into consideration this:
7 Pillars to tackle economic deprivation in Nigeria:
Funding Opportunities: One of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs is access to capital. Funding remains the engine that propels innovation, generates new businesses, and brings fresh products and services to the market. As such, government has to encourage financial institutions to create an intellectual and creative collateral system for businesses with no alternative for physical collateral such as lands or properties.
Reducing the regulatory burden on entrepreneurs: To further promote the entrepreneurship culture, especially among youths, the current political dispensation has to reduce the bureaucratic red tape by simplifying and streamlining the process of starting and running a business. For example, the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index ranks countries like Singapore and the United Arab Emirates at the top of the list due to their business-friendly policies, while Nigeria is not even among the first one hundred.
Agricultural Exploits for Food Security: If you travel through the Lagos to Ibadan expressway, or the Kano-Zaria road, spans of land remain uncultivated, creating backlogs of agricultural deficits that won’t only tackle food scarcity if properly utilised but also create jobs for potential farm entrepreneurs while drastically reducing crime rates.
Nigeria is blessed with over 34 million hectares of arable land, a farming sector that has the potential to contribute above 23% to the nation’s GDP.
As a symbol of hope, Suji Farm Estate, a subsidiary of the esteemed Sujimoto Group, is taking on the mantle with a firm plan to allocate over 20,000–1,000,000 hectares before 2030, spreading across all geopolitical zones and all 36 states, for localised food production and mass employment opportunities designed to provide job security for over 10,000–200,000 citizens nationwide. With a clear plan for setting up a team of young, independent, and outstanding youth to supervise work, live, and play on the farm.
Suji Farm Estate will be built on an advanced farm estate system that incorporates housing, farm hospitals, hotels, and markets within an ecosystem, creating opportunities for agro-tourism and affordable housing.
In tackling food security, aside from creating thousands of farm entrepreneurs, the government must seek out innovative people—not only Sujimoto Farms but also numerous young agro-entrepreneurs across all 37 states—who have exceptional reputations, passion and technical know-how, encourage them, and fund them. It is in the government’s interest to intentionally fund businesses and projects with strong potential to impact our dare economy, which will eventually drive taxes and many other benefits for the nation.
An idle hand is the devil’s workshop: Nigeria currently sits on a keg of gun powder as the unemployment rate remains on the rise. The youth of the nation is our biggest asset, and it is alarming that over 42% of her population is out of work, a silent time bomb and a destructive tool vulnerable to use by terrorists, banditry, and other related vices. It is urgent that the youth start putting their expertise into farming and other lucrative ventures.
Government supports innovative enterprise: Yes, not all governments have the obligation to support businesses, but governments have a moral duty and obligation to partner with businesses because a thriving business is a thriving nation.
Great nations like Egypt and Singapore are intentionally encouraging localised production and promoting local enterprises. It is high time for the Nigerian government to create stimulus packages for businesses and local entrepreneurs to help them achieve their goals, promote job opportunities, and drastically improve foreign exchange. This should not come in the form of grants but in affordable and accessible loan packages for specified durations.
Sectoral Research and Development: If Elon Musk was in Lagos, he probably would have ended up in computer villages selling mobile devices, with his innovative ideas frustrated due to lack of funding. Steve Jobs also may have been a genius entrepreneur—he certainly had an eye for design—but his most successful product would not exist if it weren’t for the billions of dollars that the US government spends every year on research and development.
Just like SpaceX, although it is not yet in the full stage of generating revenue, the American government has also maintained a great share in funding the technological corporation because of its economic relevance and research impact on global society.
Nigeria can’t afford to think small. As the giant of Africa and the biggest nation in Africa with the biggest problem, the government needs to go out there and identify 10,000–50,000 outstanding entrepreneurs from all 36 states who have the capacity and reputation to do things differently, empower them beyond physical collateral, invest in their intellectual property,and create an enabling environment where competence and integrity prevail over connections and deceit.
Localised Production, Global Distribution: As of today, a 50-KG bag of rice costs N42,000 from the mills and about N52,000 from supermarkets, whereas the same bag of rice is worth N22,000 at Seme Border, Republic of Benin. The secret to reducing the price is by growing the paddy locally and setting up rice mills in individual states, drastically reducing the cost of rice and food.
This is what Suji Farms Estate aims to achieve in the next 24 months, where we will be able to grow our paddy, mill the paddy, and distribute it directly to supermarkets across the nation, drastically reducing the cost of a bag from N52,000 to N35,000. This will further improve our nation’s human capital development and deliberately improve the nation’s food security, but we are only one company, and we believe the government can partner with other innovative agro-entrepreneurs, providing them with accessible, affordable, and non-stressful capital.
With a clear blueprint to develop affordable housing, improve the agricultural sector, and foster job opportunities within the retail space, Sujimoto Group has over the years built a solid reputation in the luxury real estate sector and is positioning itself to drastically reduce the housing deficit and bridge the unemployment gap in the next 5 years with the 1,000,000-hectare Sujimoto Farm Estate nationwide project.
To achieve this feat in an environment where funding is almost impossible and access to land is difficult, the present-day government must stretch its hand of collaboration, fund astounding projects, and tie performance bonds to them while monitoring project milestones and timelines. On the other hand, the funding isn’t for free, as government will also generate income through payback, business taxes, and employer income taxes.
“My dear President, I know that you have created a solid road map and a fantastic blueprint for the next 8 years, for I believe that the feat of achievement you attained in Lagos State and the successful entrepreneurs you’ve created between 1999 and 2007can be replicated again on a national scale.”
Thank you, your distinguished excellency.
Dr. Sijibomi Ogundele is the Managing Director of Sujimoto Group, the Czar of Luxury Real Estate Development, and the mastermind developer behind the renowned Giuliano. Our other audacious projects, such as the most sophisticated building in Banana Island, LucreziaBySujimoto, the grandiose Sujimoto Twin Tower, the tallest twin towers in Africa; the regal Queen Amina by Sujimoto, a monument to royal affluence; the magnificent high-rise LeonardoBySujimoto; Nigeria’s No. 1 most affordable luxury housing, Ìlú Titun, and Africa’s most exclusive waterfront townhouses, GiovanniBySujimoto, some of which have etched an indelible imprint on Nigeria’s skylines, a testament to their unrivalled mastery of modern day engineering.
Business
BUA Foods Records 91% Surge in Profit After Tax, Hits ₦508bn in 2025
BUA Foods Records 91% Surge in Profit After Tax, Hits ₦508bn in 2025
By femi Oyewale
Business
Adron Homes Unveils “Love for Love” Valentine Promo with Exciting Discounts, Luxury Gifts, and Travel Rewards
Adron Homes Unveils “Love for Love” Valentine Promo with Exciting Discounts, Luxury Gifts, and Travel Rewards
In celebration of the season of love, Adron Homes and Properties has announced the launch of its special Valentine campaign, “Love for Love” Promo, a customer-centric initiative designed to reward Nigerians who choose to express love through smart, lasting real estate investments.
The Love for Love Promo offers clients attractive discounts, flexible payment options, and an array of exclusive gift items, reinforcing Adron Homes’ commitment to making property ownership both rewarding and accessible. The campaign runs throughout the Valentine season and applies to the company’s wide portfolio of estates and housing projects strategically located across Nigeria.
Speaking on the promo, the company’s Managing Director, Mrs Adenike Ajobo, stated that the initiative is aimed at encouraging individuals and families to move beyond conventional Valentine gifts by investing in assets that secure their future. According to the company, love is best demonstrated through stability, legacy, and long-term value—principles that real estate ownership represents.
Under the promo structure, clients who make a payment of ₦100,000 receive cake, chocolates, and a bottle of wine, while those who pay ₦200,000 are rewarded with a Love Hamper. Payments of ₦500,000 attract a Love Hamper plus cake, and clients who pay ₦1,000,000 enjoy a choice of a Samsung phone or a Love Hamper with cake.
The rewards become increasingly premium as commitment grows. Clients who pay ₦5,000,000 receive either an iPad or an all-expenses-paid romantic getaway for a couple at one of Nigeria’s finest hotels, which includes two nights’ accommodation, special treats, and a Love Hamper. A payment of ₦10,000,000 comes with a choice of a Samsung Z Fold 7, three nights at a top-tier resort in Nigeria, or a full solar power installation.
For high-value investors, the Love for Love Promo delivers exceptional lifestyle experiences. Clients who pay ₦30,000,000 on land are rewarded with a three-night couple’s trip to Doha, Qatar, or South Africa, while purchasers of any Adron Homes house valued at ₦50,000,000 receive a double-door refrigerator.
The promo covers Adron Homes’ estates located in Lagos, Shimawa, Sagamu, Atan–Ota, Papalanto, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Osun, Ekiti, Abuja, Nasarawa, and Niger States, offering clients the opportunity to invest in fast-growing, strategically positioned communities nationwide.
Adron Homes reiterated that beyond the incentives, the campaign underscores the company’s strong reputation for secure land titles, affordable pricing, strategic locations, and a proven legacy in real estate development.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Adron Homes encourages Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to take advantage of the Love for Love Promo to enjoy exceptional value, exclusive rewards, and the opportunity to build a future rooted in love, security, and prosperity.
Business
Why Nigeria’s Banks Still on Shaky Ground with Big Profits, Weak Capital
*Why Nigeria’s Banks Still on Shaky Ground with Big Profits, Weak Capital*
*BY BLAISE UDUNZE*
Despite the fragile 2024 economy grappling with inflation, currency volatility, and weak growth, Nigeria’s banking industry was widely portrayed as successful and strong amid triumphal headlines. The figures appeared to signal strength, resilience, and superior management as the Tier-1 banks such as Access Bank, Zenith Bank, GTBank, UBA, and First Bank of Nigeria, collectively reported profits approaching, and in some cases exceeding, N1 trillion. Surprisingly, a year later, these same banks touted as sound and solid are locked in a frenetic race to the capital markets, issuing rights offers and public placements back-to-back to meet the Central Bank of Nigeria’s N500 billion recapitalisation thresholds.
The contradiction is glaring. If Nigeria’s biggest banks are so profitable, why are they unable to internally fund their new capital requirements? Why have no fewer than 27 banks tapped the capital market in quick succession despite repeated assurances of balance-sheet robustness? And more fundamentally, what do these record profits actually say about the real health of the banking system?
The recapitalisation directive announced by the CBN in 2024 was ambitious by design. Banks with international licences were required to raise minimum capital to N500 billion by March 2026, while national and regional banks faced lower but still substantial thresholds ranging from N200 billion to N50 billion, respectively. Looking at the policy, it was sold as a modern reform meant to make banks stronger, more resilient in tough times, and better able to support major long-term economic development. In theory, strong banks should welcome such reforms. In practice, the scramble that followed has exposed uncomfortable truths about the structure of bank profitability in Nigeria.
At the heart of the inconsistency is a fundamental misunderstanding often encouraged by the banks themselves between profits and capital. Unknown to many, profitability, no matter how impressive, does not automatically translate into regulatory capital. Primarily, the CBN’s recapitalisation framework actually focuses on money paid in by shareholders when buying shares, fresh equity injected by investors over retained earnings or profits that exist mainly on paper.
This distinction matters because much of the profit surge recorded in 2024 and early 2025 was neither cash-generative nor sustainably repeatable. A significant portion of those headline banks’ profits reported actually came from foreign exchange revaluation gains following the sharp fall of the naira after exchange-rate unification. The industry witnessed that banks’ holding dollar-denominated assets their books showed bigger numbers as their balance sheets swell in naira terms, creating enormous paper profits without a corresponding improvement in underlying operational strength. These gains inflated income statements but did little to strengthen core capital, especially after the CBN barred banks from using FX revaluation gains for dividends or routine operations. In effect, banks looked richer without becoming stronger.
Beyond FX effects, Nigerian banks have increasingly relied on non-interest income fees, charges, and transaction levies to drive profitability. While this model is lucrative, it does not necessarily deepen financial intermediation or expand productive lending. High profits built on customer charges rather than loan growth offer limited support for long-term balance-sheet expansion. They also leave banks vulnerable when macroeconomic conditions shift, as is now happening.
Indeed, the recapitalisation exercise coincides with a turning point in the monetary cycle. The extraordinary conditions that supported bank earnings in 2024 and 2025 are beginning to unwind. Analysts now warn that Nigerian banks are approaching earnings reset, as net interest margins the backbone of traditional banking profitability, come under sustained pressure.
Renaissance Capital, in a January note, projects that major banks including Zenith, GTCO, Access Holdings, and UBA will struggle to deliver earnings growth in 2026 comparable to recent performance.
In a real sense, the CBN is expected to lower interest rates by 400 to 500 basis points because inflation is slowing down, and this means that banks will earn less on loans and government bonds, but they may not be able to quickly lower the interest they pay on deposits or other debts. The cash reserve requirements are still elevated, which does not earn interest; banks can’t easily increase or expand lending investments to make up for lower returns. The implications are significant. Net interest margin, the difference between what banks earn on loans and investments and what they pay on deposits, is poised to contract. Deposit competition is intensifying as lenders fight to shore up liquidity ahead of recapitalisation deadlines, pushing up funding costs. At the same time, yields on treasury bills and bonds, long a safe and lucrative haven for banks are expected to soften in a lower-rate environment. The result is a narrowing profit cushion just as banks are being asked to carry far larger equity bases.
Compounding this challenge is the fading of FX revaluation windfalls. With the naira relatively more stable in early 2026, the non-cash gains that once flattered bank earnings have largely evaporated. What remains is the less glamorous reality of core banking operations: credit risk management, cost efficiency, and genuine loan growth in a sluggish economy. In this new environment, maintaining headline profits will be far harder, even before accounting for the dilutive impact of recapitalisation.
That dilution is another underappreciated consequence of the capital rush. Massive share issuances mean that even if banks manage to sustain absolute profit levels, earnings per share and return on equity are likely to decline. Zenith, Access, UBA, and others are dramatically increasing their share counts. The same earnings pie is now being divided among many more shareholders, making individual returns leaner than during the pre-recapitalisation boom. For investors, the optics of strong profits may soon give way to the reality of weaker per-share performance.
Yet banks have pressed ahead, not only out of regulatory necessity but also strategic calculation.
During this period of recapitalization, investors are interested in the stock market with optimism, especially about bank shares, as banks are raising fresh capital, and this makes it easier to attract investments. This has become a season for the management teams to seize the moment to raise funds at relatively attractive valuations, strengthen ownership positions, and position themselves for post-recapitalisation dominance. In several cases, major shareholders and insiders have increased their stakes, as projected in the media, signalling confidence in long-term prospects even as near-term returns face pressure.
There is also a broader structural ambition at play. Well-capitalised banks can take on larger single obligor exposures, finance infrastructure projects, expand regionally, and compete more credibly with pan-African and global peers. From this perspective, recapitalisation is not merely about compliance but about reshaping the competitive hierarchy of Nigerian banking. What will be witnessed in the industry is that those who succeed will emerge larger, fewer, and more powerful. Those that fail will be forced into consolidation, retreat, or irrelevance.
For the wider economy, the outcome is ambiguous. Stronger banks with deeper capital buffers could improve systemic stability and enhance Nigeria’s ability to fund long-term development. The point is that while merging or consolidating banks may make them safer, it can also harm the market and the economy because it will reduce competition, let a few banks dominate, and encourage them to earn easy money from bonds and fees instead of funding real businesses. The truth be told, injecting more capital into the banks without complementary reforms in credit infrastructure, risk-sharing mechanisms, and fiscal discipline, isn’t enough as the aforementioned reforms are also needed.
The rush as exposed in this period, is that the moment Nigerian banks started raising new capital, the glaring reality behind their reported profits became clearer, that profits weren’t purely from good management, while the financial industry is not as sound and strong as its headline figures. The fact that trillion-naira profit banks must return repeatedly to shareholders for fresh capital is not a sign of excess strength, but of structural imbalance.
With the deadline for banks to raise new capital coming soon, by 31 March 2026, the focus has shifted from just raising N500 billion. N200 billion or N50 billion to think about the future shape and quality of Nigeria’s financial industry, or what it will actually look like afterward. Will recapitalisation mark a turning point toward deeper intermediation, lower dependence on speculative gains, and stronger support for economic growth? Or will it simply reset the numbers while leaving underlying incentives unchanged?
The answer will define the next chapter of Nigerian banking long after the capital market roadshows have ended and the profit headlines have faded.
Blaise, a journalist and PR professional, writes from Lagos and can be reached via: [email protected]
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