Innocent Chukwuma turned a Nnewi market stall into Nigeria's only indigenous carmaker
Rejected by engineering school, he bet that Nigeria could build the cars it kept importing. Decades later, Innoson is the proof of that wager.
West and Central Africa
Indian billionaire Sunil Mittal closes $2.9 billion swap, locking in 79 percent of Airtel Africa
The Indian telecom group has settled the swap it announced in May, folding a 16.3 percent block of its African unit directly onto its books.
Cletus Ibeto built a $3.8 billion empire before earning his school certificate
Cletus Ibeto built a $3.8 billion empire spanning cement, petrochemicals and auto parts in Nigeria before earning his school certificate at age 48.
Cosmas Maduka dropped out at six and turned a 1977 N300 bet into a $500 million fortune
Cosmas Maduka dropped out of school at six, was dismissed with N200 by his uncle and built a $500 million empire from a single spare parts stall.
Anthony Joshua built a $150 million fortune from boxing and is now betting on DAZN, Alpine F1 and real estate
Anthony Joshua built a $150 million fortune from boxing, DAZN equity, Alpine F1 and endorsements worth $15 million annually.
Ghanaian tycoon Daniel McKorley's name surfaces in controversy over ministers paying for awards
Daniel McKorley's name has surfaced in Ghana's cash-for-awards controversy as President Mahama moves to ban ministers from private award ceremonies.
How Jim Ovia's $5.5 million bet on Moniepoint built a billion-dollar unicorn
A $5.5 million Series A cheque from Jim Ovia's investment firm helped build Moniepoint from a bank software startup into a billion-dollar unicorn.
Ghana's AG sues business tycoon Joseph Siaw Agyepong over $2 million gap in a $178 million contract
Ghana's AG sued Jospong founder Siaw Agyepong and his firm Plantpool over $2 million in alleged overpayments on a $178 million road contract.
Nigerian tech tycoon Leo Stan Ekeh opens $365,000 AI center at his alma mater, a first in Eastern Nigeria
Zinox founder Leo Stan Ekeh commissioned a N500 million AI center at his Owerri alma mater, the first of its kind in Eastern Nigeria.
Nigerian energy tycoon Olakunle Williams’ Tetracore signs UK tech deal for 5,000 BPD gas-to-liquids plant in Ogun
Tetracore GTL has signed a technology agreement with UK-based Velocys to develop a 5,000 BPD gas-to-liquids plant in Atakabo, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Femi Otedola pushes his First HoldCo stake toward 20% with a fresh N43 billion purchase
Femi Otedola has made a fresh N43 billion open-market purchase of First HoldCo shares, his biggest single acquisition since taking the chairman's seat in 2024.
The bicycle parts trader from Burkina Faso who built a $9 billion banking empire
Idrissa Nassa started out trading bicycle parts and consumer goods in Burkina Faso. He now controls a $9 billion pan-African banking empire.
Tetracore Energy secures Nasarawa's first power licences as gas-to-power push expands
Tetracore Energy Group has secured Nasarawa's first electricity generation and distribution licences, anchoring a 60MW gas-fired IPP that scales to 150MW
Bloomberg says Abdul Samad Rabiu is Africa's 2nd richest man at $19.1 billion while Forbes ranks him 4th at $15.3 billion. Here is why both are right
Bloomberg ranks Abdul Samad Rabiu as Africa's second richest man at $19.1 billion, ahead of Johann Rupert, while Forbes puts him fourth at $15.3 billion. The gap comes down to how each counts his Nigerian stock market wealth.
Nigerian businessman Denzel Akogwu's Elipse International signs 4,000-ton copper plant deal in Nigeria
Denzel Akogwu's Elipse International signs a 4,000-ton copper flotation plant deal, marking Nigeria's push to value-added mineral processing.
Nigerian energy tycoon Olakunle Williams' Tetracore Energy starts power generation at Atakobo IPP, delivering 20MW to Ogun State industries
Tetracore Energy Group has commenced power generation at its Atakobo IPP in Ogun State, delivering 20MW in Phase I of a 100MW gas-to-power project.