Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola's memoir is shortlisted for African Business Book of the Year
Femi Otedola's Making It Big has been shortlisted for the 2026 BCA African Business Book of the Year, with the winner announced in London on July 3.
West & Central Africa
Meet Sébastien Ajavon, Benin's exiled "king of chicken" who fell out with Patrice Talon
Beninese billionaire Sébastien Ajavon built West Africa's largest frozen poultry empire before falling out with Patrice Talon and going into political exile in France.
Meet Hélder Bataglia, the Portuguese-Angolan tycoon who built Escom and opened China's door to Angola
Portuguese-Angolan businessman Hélder Bataglia built Escom Group into Angola's most influential private investment platform before the collapse of his patron Espírito Santo Group in 2014.
How Congo-Brazzaville's richest man Willy Etoka sold the world a massive oil discovery that turned out to be a scam
Willy Etoka's company announced a massive Congo oil discovery in 2019. Investigators say the reserves were wildly exaggerated and the find likely a sham.
Aliko Dangote raises Ethiopia investment to $4 billion, making it the 2nd largest recipient of his continental spending
Aliko Dangote has raised the Dangote Group's investment in Ethiopia to over $4 billion, making it the 2nd largest destination of his African spending.
Tanzania's president met Dangote in Dar es Salaam after losing the oil refinery to Mombasa
Tanzania's President Suluhu met Aliko Dangote in Dar es Salaam on May 16, days after he told the FT he favours Mombasa over Tanga for his East African refinery.
Dangote sues Nigeria's government over fresh petrol import licences as the "mafia" fight reaches court
Dangote Petroleum Refinery filed a new lawsuit seeking to cancel petrol import licences issued to six marketers and NNPC despite the refinery supplying nearly 80% of Nigerian fuel demand.
Meet Claude Wilfrid Etoka, the Brazzaville tire trader who built a $500 million oil empire across Africa
Claude Wilfrid Etoka began importing tires in Brazzaville with a single company. Three decades later, he controls a $500 million oil trading empire across Africa.
Meet Patrice Talon, the cotton tycoon who became Benin's president and survived a 2025 coup attempt
Patrice Talon, Benin's eighth president since 2016, built a $400 million fortune in cotton before entering politics, and survived a coup attempt in December 2025.
Tony and Awele Elumelu make TIME100 Philanthropy list for seeding African entrepreneurs
Tony Elumelu and his wife Awele have made TIME's 2026 philanthropy list, recognized for seeding over 27,000 African entrepreneurs across all 54 countries on the continent.
Nigerian billionaire Abdul Samad Rabiu wins CEO of the Year at Africa CEO Forum and tells African leaders to get serious
Abdul Samad Rabiu was named CEO of the Year at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali and challenged African leaders to stop talking and start executing at scale.
Burkina Faso tycoon Appolinaire Compaoré, who made a fortune in tobacco, banking and telecoms, dies at 73
Appolinaire Compaoré, founder of Planor Afrique and one of Burkina Faso's most powerful businessmen, died on May 14 in Ouagadougou at 73.
Oando CEO Wale Tinubu says he would rather fire a loyal employee who stopped growing than one who makes mistakes
Oando Group CEO Wale Tinubu sparked debate by saying he would fire a loyal but stagnant employee rather than one who makes mistakes but keeps growing.
Aliko Dangote rejects NNPC bid to raise its stake in 20-billion-dollar Lekki refinery
Aliko Dangote has turned down NNPC's bid to lift its 7.25% stake in his $20 billion Lekki refinery, planning a public listing instead.
Nigerian billionaire Abdul Samad Rabiu says Africa is protecting the wrong people and his Mali sugar deal proves it
BUA Group chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu says African governments are protecting rent-seekers over producers, using a blocked Mali sugar deal as his evidence.
Nigerian tycoon Arthur Eze's Oranto Petroleum loses another block as Uganda rejects permit renewals over lack of work
Arthur Eze's Oranto Petroleum has lost block B3 in South Sudan after Juba refused to renew the permit over a lack of mandatory work on the site.