Financial advisor and investment banker, Financial Jennifer cuts through the noise to remind young professionals that the most important investments aren’t always the ones with the loudest returns. From personal brand and high-demand skills to mindset, relationships, and financial literacy, she reframes wealth as something built intentionally—long before it shows up in your bank account. This is less about chasing quick wins and more about positioning: who you become, what you can do, who knows you, and how well you understand money. If you’re serious about setting up the next decade of your life, these nine investments are not optional—they’re…
Opinion
Cynthia Barnes: Founder & CEO, Black Women’s Wealth Lab [Image: Author] Too many entrepreneurs underprice themselves because they confuse time with value and expertise with effort. In this sharp, real-world exchange, Cynthia Barnes dismantles that thinking—showing why transformational work should never be benchmarked against hourly professions, and why charging what you’re worth isn’t arrogance, it’s accuracy. This is a reminder that outcomes create value, not minutes logged. “Where do you get off charging $750 an hour? My lawyer doesn’t even charge me that much.”Brad asked me this last Tuesday.In front of the entire team.While my framework ran the meeting agenda.I…
Founded by Nigerian entrepreneur, Affiong Williams, ReelFruit is redefining what’s possible for Nigeria’s tree crop farmers. By reimagining traditional timelines and tackling one of the sector’s biggest barriers head-on, the company is proving that innovation in agriculture can deliver both sustainability and immediate economic impact. Their intercropping model demonstrates how smart farming can transform livelihoods — not years down the line, but from the very first year. Read the latest thoughts from ReelFruit: [📸 Reelfruit] What if farmers could earn within the first year of tree planting? The biggest discouragement for tree crop farmers is the long wait of 3–5…
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,…
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…
Cynthia Barnes – Founder & CEO, Black Women’s Wealth Lab™ [📸 Author] Cynthia Barnes used to earn less than $90,000 a year building systems that powered entire companies—until she realized her expertise was worth far more than a pay cheque. In this electrifying piece, she breaks down the mindset and math behind reclaiming your value: the same knowledge that once earned her $89K a year now commands $25K a day. With sharp wit and unflinching truth, Barnes challenges every professional—especially Black women—to stop letting employers rent their brilliance at discount rates and start charging the true market value of their…
Chika Uwazie – Co-Host, Afropolitan Podcast [📸 Author] For years, Ms. Chika Uwazie believed that good work would speak for itself—until she watched someone else get promoted for presenting her idea. In this powerful reflection, she dismantles the myth of quiet excellence and reveals the real formula for professional growth: visibility. With candid lessons and practical strategies, Chika shares how she went from overlooked to undeniable—not by being louder, but by being intentional about how her brilliance is seen and heard. “I have watched less qualified people get promoted because they were LOUDER.Not smarter. Not more capable. Just louder.I’d sit…
Meekam K. Mgbenwelu is Editor-at-Large at Numeris Media (Publishers of Bank & Entrepreneur Africa) Fintech Rising: How Africa’s Digital Money Revolution is Rewiring Economies If Afrobeats is Africa’s cultural export, then fintech is its economic rhythm. Across the continent, a revolution is reshaping how money moves – from Lagos traders tapping phones at roadside stalls, to Kigali taxi drivers accepting digital fares. Africa isn’t catching up; it’s innovating on its own terms, creating financial solutions born from necessity, not imitation. For entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders, understanding this shift isn’t academic, it’s strategic. Here’s what’s happening, why it matters, and…
Mayowa Olugbile – CEO, Itana Artificial intelligence (AI) is rewriting the rules of global competitiveness—and Africa stands at a crossroads. While the U.S., China, and Europe pour billions into AI infrastructure, talent, and applications, the continent’s innovators face systemic barriers that threaten to relegate Africa to the role of consumer rather than creator. In this essay, Mayowa Olugbile, CEO of Itana, examines the opportunities and challenges shaping Africa’s place in the AI revolution—and outlines what it will take to build a self-sustaining, globally relevant ecosystem. Africa and the AI race: Building from the ground up Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly…
Adebayo Ajibade – Founder, Loubby.AI Across Africa, a quiet revolution is underway. In his piece below, Founder at Loubby.AI, Adebayo Ajibade, tells how, at the latest Loubby AI Automation Bootcamp, more than 3,000 emerging talents began mastering the tools that power today’s digital economy—AI agents, no-code platforms, and workflow automation. In just weeks, these learners have built solutions that rival global startups: bots that resolve thousands of support tickets, HR workflows that cut hiring time dramatically, finance dashboards that reconcile reports daily, and healthcare tools that reduce patient wait times by 70%. This isn’t just training—it’s the blueprint for a…