Ajay Wasserman — CEO & CIO, Fio Capital Family Office In recent years, a powerful shift has begun quietly reshaping Africa’s investment landscape — one led not by fast-moving venture funds, but by long-viewed family capital. Few observers understand this evolution more deeply than Ajay Wasserman, an African investment strategist and founder of Fio Capital, whose work sits at the intersection of patient capital, industry-building, and intergenerational stewardship. With decades of experience guiding families and enterprises across the continent, Mr. Wasserman is part of a growing movement redefining what meaningful investment in Africa should look like. In this piece, Wasserman…
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Tosin Eniolorunda — Co-Founder & Group CEO at Moniepoint As Co-Founder and CEO of Moniepoint, Tosin Eniolorunda has spent years building financial infrastructure for millions of everyday Nigerians—especially those whose livelihoods depend on the informal economy. His work takes him into the heart of communities often overlooked by data and policy, where real economic activity happens quietly but powerfully. Below, he shares one such story: a glimpse into the life and grit of Yietovie, a fish seller in Bayelsa State of Nigeria whose determination reflects the true engine behind Nigeria’s informal sector. “Lately, I’ve been reflecting a lot on Nigeria’s…
Ifedayo Agoro — CEO, Dang! Lifestyle [📸 Author] Every founder has a moment when grit meets instinct, and instinct meets a little bit of madness. For Ifedayo Agoro (CEO at Dang! Lifestyle) those moments became the fuel that took a Nigerian-born skincare brand global. In this candid reflection, she shares five bold, unconventional—and sometimes downright unhinged—decisions that shaped her journey. From betting big on herself to embracing visibility, chasing feedback, and moving across continents with nothing but conviction, her story is a reminder that growth isn’t always tidy. But with courage, clarity, and a willingness to try what others won’t,…
Cynthia Barnes — Founder & CEO, Black Women’s Wealth Lab™ What happened when Cynthia Barnes finally invoiced her church? It became a masterclass in pricing purpose, honuoring one’s gifts, and transforming “service” into sustainable impact. Here’s how it unfolded, in her words: “Yes, I invoiced my church $10K.The pastor’s jaw dropped. “But we’re doing God’s work.””So am I,” I said. “And God’s work deserves proper funding.”See, they’d been running community programs for 15 years. Free financial literacy. Free job training. Free business coaching. All led by Black women who tithed, served, and subsidized.The youth minister was teaching coding bootcamps after…
Citizen reporters Victoria Uwadoka (L) and her daughter Mmesomachi Uwadoka give us an insight into the novel ‘Streetwear Hub’ at GTCO Fashion Weekend 2025 — [📸Victoria Uwadoka] While flashbulbs popped and fashion elites swarmed the main runway at the just-concluded GTCO Fashion Weekend (November 8—9, 2025), something refreshingly grassroots was unfolding on the sidelines — a newly introduced, rather brilliant section called the Streetwear Hub pavilion. Here, a quieter kind of buzz was happening and the noise was different: tucked between racks of oversized tees, statement sneakers, and bold cultural mashups, lived a strong heartbeat of the weekend: small but…
Chidomere Ndubuisi — Founder of Pamtech Group Most people fear being broke. But what if going broke—strategically—is actually a sign you’re leveling up? Billionaires and bold entrepreneurs understand this paradox well: sometimes you must strip yourself of comfort to step into greater capacity. In this reflective piece, Chidomere Ndubuisi shares how repeatedly emptying his bank account to reinvest in new ventures—from petroleum distribution to automobile services—became the catalyst for Pamtech’s explosive growth. His story is a masterclass in calculated risk, discipline, and the courage to go “strategically broke” for exponential returns. đź’ˇ The Power of Being “Strategically Broke” — How…
Ilorin Innovation Hub are excited to announce applications are open for their very first Accelerator, powered by IHS Towers in partnership with Accelerate Africa [click here for program background.Africa’s digital and industrial future will be built not only on software, but on a deep integration between software and hardware + infrastructure. From telecom towers and energy systems to mobility devices and locally made electronics, the continent faces urgent challenges in scaling tools, energy, connectivity, and sensing infrastructure.These challenges create billion-dollar opportunities for startups to design, manufacture, and finance the hardware backbone of Africa’s economy — while enabling talent to build…
Eka Obaigbena – Founder, Toasties Fast-casual dining brand Toasties has quietly kicked off the soft launch of its flagship outlet in Ikoyi, Lagos, signaling a bold step in its scaling journey. Located at 113 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, the new store is open for limited hours during its soft-launch phase—typical hours range from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Toasties soft launch: Eka Obaigbena (L) [📸 Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes] Toasties continues its signature approach of high-tempo service, fresh ingredients and creative sandwich hybrids—rooted in local flavours and global technique. Says Adesuwa Okunbo-Rhodes (Founding Partner & CEO,Aruwa Capital Management – financial backers of…
Kwara is building the next wave of innovators — and this is your runway.At the Kwara AI Summit 2025 Hackathon, participants will build solutions that matter across three high-impact tracks:1. eGovernment2. Agritech3. Creative EconomyOrganisers give an insight into what to expect from the Hackathon: Build fast. Build smart. Build with vibes.Winners get cash prizes, access to the Ilorin Innovation Hub Accelerator, and the opportunity to pitch to IHS Towers. Date: November 27 & 28, 2025Location: Ilorin Innovation Hub. Ilorin. Kwara State. NigeriaAttendees outside of Iorin will be able to join virtually. To register, click here. Sponsored by Lovable
If you’re an African nonprofit driving gender equality in STEM, here is a funding opportunity you must seize. The FREE STEM Fund, a collaboration between Women Win and the Optiver Foundation, has opened applications, this time offering two-year grants to organisations advancing STEM education and training for adolescent girls, women, and young people across Latin America, Asia, and Africa (including North Africa). The FREE STEM Fund is committed to narrowing the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by empowering girls and women, especially from under-represented and marginalised communities to become confident leaders and changemakers. Applications close December 01,…