Author: Emmanuel Udoye
Metals have played a crucial role in shaping economies of countries, industries, and even global trade. While many metals are commonly used in everyday applications, some are exceptionally rare and valuable, commanding high prices due to their scarcity and industrial significance. This article explores the five most expensive metals in the world and the countries that dominate their production. 1. Rhodium – South Africa Rhodium, a lesser-known but highly valuable metal, has witnessed a significant price surge, exceeding its 2008 peak of $10,000 per troy ounce. The primary driver of this increase is its use in catalytic converters, which reduce toxic emissions…
NIGERIA is in trouble economically. Therefore, those in charge at the federal, state, and local government levels should buckle down and tackle the cost-of-living crisis tormenting Nigerians. The new numbers from the IMF graphically resonate with the misery of the populace. In its report, the IMF says Nigeria’s GDP per capita has fallen to its lowest level of $835.49 in 2025 from $877.07 in 2024, indicating a 4.74 per cent dip. The GDP per capita is a country’s economic output per person and is calculated by dividing the GDP value of a country by its population. Over the past decade,…
Executive Vice President, Intra African Trade and Export Development Bank, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Mrs. Kanayo Awani, has argued that Africa’s critical minerals are a major pathway to the continent’s industrial development and economic prosperity. Awani spoke at the just concluded African Mining Indaba 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa on the theme, “Redefining Critical Minerals – Critical for Who?”. A statement from the bank said Awani envisioned “a future where Africa’s mineral wealth empowers its people and drives sustainable development”. She noted that while the continent abounded in mineral resources and accounted for about 30 per cent of all…
By Emmanuel Addeh Year-on-Year, Nigeria’s crude oil production rose about 5.7 per cent in January 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, as the country continues to battle oil theft, asset vandalism and revamp oil wells that have been dormant for years. New data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) showed that while oil and condensate production was 1.643 million barrels in January 2024, it grew to 1.737 million bpd as of January 2025. According to the NUPRC data, in January this year, production came mainly from Bonny (7.57 million barrels); Brass (1.050 million barrels); Qua Iboe…
Billionaire Aliko Dangote has described his $23bn Dangote Refinery project as the “biggest risk” of his life, acknowledging the challenges he faced in bringing the venture to fruition. In an exclusive interview with Forbes on Monday, Dangote opened up about the risks involved in such a massive undertaking. “It was the biggest risk of my life. If this didn’t work, I was dead,” he said. Despite the refinery’s groundbreaking capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and its status as Africa’s largest, Dangote revealed that the journey to completion was fraught with uncertainties. Dangote also spoke about the hurdles he faced…
By Kevin J. Delaney As AI rapidly integrates into organizations, leaders face a fundamental shift in how they manage people, structure work, and define strategy. On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, a panel of business leaders and experts—including Francine Katsoudas (Cisco), Parker Mitchell (Valence), Amy Edmondson (Harvard Business School), and Klaus Moosmayer (Novartis), in conversation with Kevin Delaney (Charter)—explored how leadership must evolve when everyone has AI. The discussion was hosted by Charter in partnership with Valence and The Washington Post’s WP Intelligence unit. Watch a video of the discussion here. Here are key takeaways: 1. AI Will Be in Your Org Chart—Sooner Than You Think The idea…
The President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote is now the 86th richest man in the world as his wealth rose to $23.9bn. This is coming a year after the $20bn Dangote Petroleum Refinery commenced operations in Lagos. According to Forbes on Tuesday, which ranks the Nigerian entrepreneur as the wealthiest person in Africa, Dangote rose from 144th position in 2024 to become the 86th richest man in the world as his wealth increased from $13.4bn to $23.9bn. Forbes estimated Dangote’s net worth at $23.9bn, primarily due to his 92.3 per cent stake in the Dangote refinery. The 67-year-old…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has assured depositors and other stakeholders of Keystone Bank, that the institution remained safe and operational. CBN’s position followed the court order that the bank’s shares held by the former shareholders be forfeited to the federal government. The apex bank, in a statement by its Ag. Director, Hakama Sidi-Ali, admitted that the development could have raised concerns among depositors and other stakeholders of the bank, but that it has taken steps to protect the depositors and ensure the smooth operation of the bank. The statement reads in full, “Following the court order that the…
Klak, a leading B2B SaaS provider, has launched its innovative cash flow management and finance automation platform designed to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) streamline their financial operations and optimize cash flow. The company explained that this new solution aims to address common challenges in B2B payments, improve financial visibility, and reduce time spent on manual financial tasks. IEveryday financial and treasury operations are manual, time-consuming, and complex. Tasks like monitoring a company’s cash position in real-time across multiple legal entities, regions, financial institutions, ledgers, and payment gateways are extremely labor-intensive and time-consuming. “The fragmented data caused by a lack of…
By Obas Esiedesa, Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has described a claim in a viral video posted on social media that its petrol was inferior to those refined by rival Dangote Refinery as false and misleading. NNPC in a statement on Saturday by its Chief Communications Officer, Mr Olufemi Soneye said the assertions in the video were baseless. In the video, a man was seen conducting a “comparison test” with petrol, which he claimed to have purchased from NNPC and Dangote outlets. At the end, the Dangote petrol was said to have lasted 30 minutes longer. But…