Founders Frames

Earlier today, Mark Okoye, Managing Director of the South East Development Commission, led a visit to Terra Industries in Abuja, highlighting a growing wave of locally driven innovation in advanced technology and manufacturing.

The visit underscored the rising ambition among founders from Nigeria’s South East, who are increasingly building solutions not just for domestic needs, but for global relevance. At Terra Industries, this vision is reflected in their focus on applied technology and local production—key pillars for industrial advancement.

Discussions during the engagement centered on the role of innovation in strengthening critical infrastructure, scaling manufacturing capacity, and unlocking high-value job creation for skilled talent across the region. The emphasis was clear: sustainable industrial growth will depend on the ability to translate ideas into scalable, locally grounded solutions.

The Managing Director of the South East development commission stated that “It’s encouraging to see the level of ambition and capability being built locally in advanced technology and manufacturing. What stands out is not just the innovation, but the intent founders from the South East are building for both Nigeria and the global market.

If we are serious about industrial growth, strengthening critical infrastructure, and creating skilled jobs at scale, then this is the kind of thinking and ex*****on we must continue to support and amplify.”

Zenith Bank Expands Global Footprint with Manchester Branch Commissioning
..reinforcing its commitment to cross-border banking excellence and international expansion

In a defining moment for African banking on the global stage, Zenith Bank Plc officially commissioned its Manchester branch under its UK subsidiary, Zenith Bank (UK) Ltd, reinforcing its commitment to cross-border banking excellence and international expansion.

Delivering the opening remarks, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Adaora Umeoji, described the milestone as a strategic leap in deepening financial connectivity between Africa and global markets. The Manchester branch represents more than geographic expansion, it signals Zenith Bank’s sustained ambition to position itself as a key enabler of trade, investment, and financial inclusion beyond the continent.

The high-profile commissioning attracted a distinguished lineup of policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders from Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Among those in attendance were Ekperikpe Ekpo, Agbu Kefas, and Aisha Rimi, representing the office of Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Also present were Jumoke Oduwole, Florence Eshalomi, and the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, whose visionary leadership continues to shape the bank’s global trajectory.

Further reinforcing the significance of the event were key financial ecosystem players, including Jude Chiemeka, Taiwo Oyedele representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Adewale Adeniyi, alongside executive directors and senior leadership of the bank.

For founders and business leaders, this expansion underscores a powerful narrative: African institutions are no longer just participating in global markets—they are shaping them. Zenith Bank’s Manchester presence strengthens trade corridors, unlocks new financing opportunities, and builds institutional bridges that founders can leverage for international growth.

Young founders and innovators across Nigeria’s South East are beginning to see new policy-backed opportunities emerge.

Over the weekend in Owerri, the managing Director of the South East Development Commission, Mark Okoye, joined fellow young public officials appointed by Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Renewed Hope Youth Engagement Tour to interact directly with young people in the region.

The conversation focused on the future of innovation, youth opportunity, and economic development across the South East. A major highlight was the introduction of the South East Venture Capital Programme (SEVCP), an initiative designed to provide funding and strategic support for startups while strengthening the region’s growing digital and innovation ecosystem.

With the application portal now live, the program signals a growing effort to connect policy leadership with the entrepreneurial ambitions of young founders.

For emerging innovators and builders across the region, the message is clear: the ecosystem is evolving—and opportunities are opening.

At Founders Frames, stories like these reflect a broader shift: young leaders stepping into public roles, aligning governance with entrepreneurship, and opening pathways for founders to build, innovate, and scale within their own regions.

𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 — 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭

The CEO of Flovale, Opeoluwa Runsewenoted, “Cold chain infrastructure offers one of the most practical solutions to this problem. Cold chains refer to temperature-controlled systems that preserve perishable food from the point of harvest through storage, transportation and distribution...

Source: PremiumTimes

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