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It was merriment galore as the International Women's Organisation for Charity, organisers of the annual Small World put up their 15th fun-packed edition in Lagos with a theme, 'Sparkling Future' Thirty Two Million Naira was realised from sale of tickets, corporate sponsorships and donations especially from the Expatriate and Foreign Residents communities in Nigeria to support charities sponsored by the various communities. It was a night of national pride in flags parade and medley of cultures: choreography, costume, dance, drinks, food and fun as many look forward to the next edition, come February 2011. Would you be there?

Are you considering entering the emerging market of Nigeria? Do you seek agents and distributors for your products and services? Do you seek joint ventures partnership with a Nigerian business? Get your feet wet by attending one or more of the exhibitions and fairs holding in various locations in Nigeria in 2010. Our company, Infoplus/IBG Nigeria is with you all the way as you plan your market entry strategies; and would deploy our knowledge of the conditions of the Nigerian market in assisting you. Email ibgnigeria@gmail.com or call our office on +234 1 8782864 for more information. Below is a partial list of Exhibitions and Fairs approved by NACCIMA to hold in 2010. INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIRS 2010 Name: 31st Kaduna International Trade Fair Date: Friday, 19th – Sunday, 28th February 2010 Venue: Kaduna International Trade & Investment Centre, Kaduna 1 Organiser: Kaduna Chamber of Commerce & Industry KM 4 Kaduna-Zaria Road, Rigachikun Kaduna State Tel: 234-062-3

This is 2010 and I am sure you are thinking of where you can find help on investing in Nigeria. Do not look any further! The Federal Government has a one-stop agency set up to assist investors in the country. It is called the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC). Also, several investment incentives has been put in place for the stimulation of private sector investment from within and outside the country. While some of these incentives cover all sectors, other are limited to some specific sectors. The nature and application of these incentives have been considerably simplified. The incentives include: (i) COMPANIES INCOME TAX The Companies Income Tax Act has been amended in order to encourage potential and existing investors and entrepreneurs. The current rate in all sectors, except for petroleum, is 30 percent. (ii) PIONEER STATUS The grant of Pioneer Status to an industry is aimed at enabling the industry concerned to make a reasonable level of profit within its formative y

The New Year, 2010 started on a wrong foot. For what has become a way of life, many Nigerians entered the New Year in darkness. The 6000MW of electricity promised failed to materialize. Long queues at the petrol stations were carried over on to the New Year as rumors of increase in the pump price of petrol became rife. Shortly before the year 2009 ended, a new helmsman was announced as the Governor of the Nigerian Central Bank. His name is Mallam Lamido Sanusi. He introduced some radical reforms that witnessed the exit of several bank chiefs. The restructuring that followed in the commercial banks was met with massive sack of workers by banks. As if the pains mete out to families as a result of power outages, scarcity of petroleum products and retrenchment of workers were not enough, the nation was slapped with a label as a ‘country of interest’ by the US as a result of a botched attempt by citizen AbdulMutallab to bomb a US bound plane. This put the nation’s rebranding project in cris