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With a coveted 5-star rating and rising global demand, Nigerian billionaire and philanthropist Femi Otedola’s memoir, Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business, has climbed to the top of Amazon’s business category. This highlights both its reach and its relevance in today’s conversations about business, where African stories are increasingly finding an audience.
The book’s latest success builds on its strong early showing. Published on Aug. 18, Making It Big quickly appeared on Amazon’s UK bestseller list, reaching No. 3 in the business biography and memoirs category within 48 hours. That early surge signaled strong sales and set the stage for its current position as a leading global business title. Its rise reflects Otedola’s influence not only as a business leader but also as a writer whose lessons carry weight beyond boardrooms.
Inside Otedola’s path to global business
Part personal story and part practical guide, Making It Big traces Otedola’s path from a young Nigerian with big ambitions to one of Africa’s most prominent business figures. The chapters cover his early dreams, the calculated risks that defined his ventures, and the ups and downs that shaped his life as both entrepreneur and philanthropist.
What makes the book stand out is its candor—Otedola writes openly about setbacks as well as victories, giving readers a rare look at the realities behind building and sustaining wealth on a global stage. At a time when African business literature is still limited, his reflections offer valuable insight into the mindset of a self-made billionaire from the continent.
The book has already won praise from across Africa and beyond. Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, and Nigerian business mogul Samuel Adedoyin have publicly endorsed it, alongside global leaders like World Trade Organization Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, who both called it “important” and “a must-read.” Their support underscores the book’s relevance not just in business circles, but also in broader policy and development discussions.
An African story told with power
Otedola’s account goes beyond business milestones to capture the principles that have guided his career. Today chairman of Geregu Power and First HoldCo, the parent company of Nigeria’s oldest lender, he has built a reputation for transforming companies, from turning around Forte Oil to expanding his investments in energy and finance.
His memoir reflects on those experiences while also revisiting his early goals, including his dream of business ownership before the age of ten and reaching his first billion by 41—a journey once captured on the cover of Forbes Africa and now told in fuller detail.
Priced at £14.99 ($20.20) in paperback and also available digitally, Making It Big sits comfortably among leading business titles while distinguishing itself with its authenticity and cultural perspective. Its climb to the top of Amazon’s rankings is not only a measure of strong sales but also a sign of growing interest in books that combine personal narrative with useful business lessons.
Otedola now joins a select group of business authors whose work shapes global discussions, while at the same time giving African entrepreneurship a stronger place in mainstream publishing.
Otedola sets global stage for African business literature
The success of Making It Big marks more than just a personal achievement. It represents a wider moment for African business literature, where stories once confined to boardrooms and local markets are now reaching international readers.
By sharing his journey, Otedola has offered a roadmap for aspiring leaders across Africa and beyond—one that balances ambition with resilience and personal vision with broader impact. His story is not just being read; it is becoming part of the larger conversation on what it means to build lasting success.
