The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has stressed that Nigeria must shift from crude oil dependency and embrace agriculture as the real engine of diversification, job creation, and inclusive growth.Speaking at the 2025 Annual Fair Symposium… Read on blog or Reader SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS Read on blog or Reader LCCI pushes agriculture as Nigeria's next big business frontier By Busola Bamidele on September 9, 2025 The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has stressed that Nigeria must shift from crude oil dependency and embrace agriculture as the real engine of diversification, job creation, and inclusive growth. Speaking at the 2025 Annual Fair Symposium of the Agriculture and Allied Group in Lagos, LCCI President, Gabriel Idahosa, represented by Vice-President Abimbola Olashore, said agriculture must be repositioned as a wealth-creating, technology-driven, and globally competitive sector. He noted that while agriculture contributes over 25% to Nigeria's GDP and employs 35% of the labour force, the sector remains under-optimized as the country still spends billions importing food. "The 21st century is about data-driven farming, drones, blockchain in food supply chains, and agripreneurs attracting venture capital like tech startups," he said. Read also: LCCI pushes agriculture as Nigeria's next big business frontier Tesla unveils 'Megablock' to cut energy storage costs Shops need business rates fix, trade body tells chancellor Oyo farmers to benefit from upgraded roads, markets under RAAMP New tax laws to ease pressure on Nigerians, SMEs – Oyedele Chairman of LCCI's Agric and Agro-Allied Group, Tunde Banjoko, added that the chamber is working to change perceptions of farming, making it an attractive, modern profession for young people. "Agriculture should be sexy — a career that fulfills aspirations while leveraging innovation and technology," he said. The symposium themed "Agri-Business in the 21st Century: Changing the Narrative" highlighted the need to embrace digital agriculture, precision farming, and agro-value chain integration as Nigeria prepares for a population surge expected to exceed 400 million by 2050.

SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS © 2025. Unsubscribe or manage your email subscriptions. Get the Jetpack app Subscribe, bookmark, and get real‑time notifications - all from one app! Automattic, Inc. 60 29th St. #343, San Francisco, CA 94110

Tesla has introduced a new utility-scale battery platform, the Megablock, which it says will slash construction costs for utilities while speeding up installation. The innovation was revealed at an event in Las Vegas, where the company highlighted i… Read on blog or Reader SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS Read on blog or Reader Tesla unveils 'Megablock' to cut energy storage costs By Busola Bamidele on September 9, 2025 Tesla has introduced a new utility-scale battery platform, the Megablock, which it says will slash construction costs for utilities while speeding up installation. The innovation was revealed at an event in Las Vegas, where the company highlighted its potential to support growing global electricity demand. The Megablock is a pre-engineered system that arrives with much of the assembly already done in the factory. This approach allows for installation that is 23% faster, which Tesla claims can translate into up to 40% savings on construction costs. For utilities, this could make large-scale battery storage more affordable and scalable. Designed as a plug-and-play solution, Megablock integrates both hardware and software to help utilities meet surging power needs. Demand is being driven by data centers, electric vehicles, manufacturing, and electrified households, making energy storage a critical infrastructure investment. The system runs on the new Megapack 3, which Tesla also unveiled at the event. This latest version simplifies its thermal bay with 78% fewer connections to minimize failure points, while incorporating a powerful heat pump technology inspired by the Model Y. The company described it as "the Tesla Model Y heat pump on steroids." Tesla confirmed that production of Megapack 3 will begin in Houston late next year. However, the company will continue to rely on major Asian suppliers, BYD and CATL, for its battery cells, reflecting the ongoing global interdependence in clean energy supply chains.

SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS © 2025. Unsubscribe or manage your email subscriptions. Get the Jetpack app Subscribe, bookmark, and get real‑time notifications - all from one app! Automattic, Inc. 60 29th St. #343, San Francisco, CA 94110

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to introduce critical reforms in the Autumn Budget to ease the mounting cost pressures on local shops.According to ACS, rising business rates, National Living Wage increases,… Read on blog or Reader SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS Read on blog or Reader ACS presses chancellor for urgent business rates reform By Busola Bamidele on September 9, 2025 The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to introduce critical reforms in the Autumn Budget to ease the mounting cost pressures on local shops. According to ACS, rising business rates, National Living Wage increases, and changes to Employers' National Insurance Contributions will add £612m to sector costs this year alone, threatening jobs and investment. Findings from the 2025 Local Shop Report show declining sales and shrinking investment across the convenience sector, highlighting the urgent need for support. In its letter, ACS outlined measures including: lowering the Retail and Hospitality rate multiplier by 20p, raising thresholds for small business rate relief, extending investment relief from one to three years, and excluding CCTV systems from rate valuations. ACS chief executive James Lowman warned that without action, shops face further strain in April when new revaluations kick in. "We are calling on the chancellor to make clear that this government supports local shops and recognises their potential as engines of local growth," he said.

SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS © 2025. Unsubscribe or manage your email subscriptions. Get the Jetpack app Subscribe, bookmark, and get real‑time notifications - all from one app! Automattic, Inc. 60 29th St. #343, San Francisco, CA 94110