Axian’s Hassanein Hiridjee seals $63 million deal for Kenya’s Wananchi
Axian Telecom agreed to acquire Wananchi Group for $63 million, adding enterprise fibre and connectivity assets in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The Nigerian prince who quietly built Africa’s biggest private oil empire
Prince Arthur Eze parlayed state TV contracts, military friendships and a royal name into Atlas Oranto, a sprawling African oil empire now under scrutiny from reform-minded governments.
Ama Amo-Agyei’s Plantmade once raced to £11m sales — now the founder exits after administration
Plantmade, the viral hair-care brand founded by Ama Amo-Agyei, entered administration owing about £1.8 million and was sold for £30,000 in a pre-pack to Crown Holdings, which has invested to clear back orders and retain jobs. UK coverage previously put the brand on track for £11 million in revenue.
Bassim Haidar’s Optasia stake jumps to $260 million on JSE debut
Optasia rose on its Johannesburg debut after pricing at the top of the range. Founder Bassim Haidar’s BH Holdings owns 19.01% — about 234.8m shares — now valued at roughly R4.55bn ($260m). The AI microfinance firm partners with telcos and banks to deliver small-ticket credit at scale.
8 businesses owned by South African multimillionaire Iqbal Survé
South African entrepreneur Dr Iqbal Survé turned a tiny seed-capital investment into a sprawling holding company that spans media, technology, fishing, healthcare and events
Zimbabwean legendary banker Nicholas Vingirai warns nation’s financial sector faces collapse
Veteran banker Nicholas Vingirai says Zimbabwe’s financial sector has been “destroyed” by policy inconsistency and shrinking credit capacity, warning that local banks no longer fund productive business.
8 Nigerian multimillionaires who made a fortune in mining
After years of chaos and foreign plunder, Nigeria’s mines are stirring. Legit operators are turning gold, lithium and iron into fortunes as a long-overdue cleanup begins.
Multimillionaire Habib Kagimu backs farms and tourism, not oil, to power Uganda’s economy
Ugandan businessman and honorary consul Habib Kagimu argues the country’s most reliable growth lies in agriculture, tourism and tech—while oil remains optional upside.
Nigeria’s second-richest man gifts $250,000 lecture theatre to Adamawa University
Billionaire Abdul Samad Rabiu, founder of ASR Africa and chairman of BUA Group, has funded a 500-seat lecture theatre at Adamawa State University for ₦350 million (US$241,379), extending his structured philanthropy in Nigeria’s tertiary sector.
Nigerian oil tycoon Tein Jack-Rich urges Africa to bankroll its own energy future
Nigerian oil executive Tein Jack-Rich has called for African governments and investors to use the continent’s gas reserves, demographics and market size to build an energy system that is less exposed to foreign capital and imported fuel.
6 businesses owned by Nigerian multimillionaire Kashim Shettima Bukar
From banking to aviation and oil logistics, Nigerian businessman Kashim Shettima Bukar has built the Barbedos Group into a multi-sector empire.
Nigerian magnate Aderemi Makanjuola’s Caverton Offshore trims losses to $3.13 million, turns cash positive
After a sharp drop in revenue, Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc delivered a markedly reduced loss in its Q3 2025 interim results, under the leadership of founder-chairman Aderemi Makanjuola.
Kenyan real estate giant Lloyd Masika, Stanbic probed over suspicious valuation
Kenyan real-estate tycoon David Masika finds his firm Lloyd Masika Limited in legal limbo after a recent case exposed major valuation discrepancies and raises questions about due-diligence practices.
United Bank for Africa posts $363.5 million Q3 profit, deepens capital base
United Bank for Africa reported N538bn profit after tax for Q3 2025, with assets climbing to N32.5trn and shareholders’ funds up 26%, reflecting strong performance and robust capitalisation.
Nigerian billionaire Kola Karim says Nigeria should chase 5 million barrels of oil a day by 2030
Shoreline Group chairman Kola Karim has urged government to lift its oil ambition to 5 million barrels a day by 2030, arguing that security, financing and contract fixes can unlock brownfield and deepwater barrels far above today’s output.
Datatec CEO Jens Montanana to pocket $4.3 million dividend
JSE-listed Datatec lifted its interim dividend to R1.75 a share after headline earnings more than doubled, with Westcon and Logicalis driving margin gains and a swing to net cash.