Speaking at CNN Global Perspectives: Catalysing Africa’s Renaissance through Africapitalism
Good to speak at CNN’s Global Perspectives on Africa in London with my good friend Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild and moderator Eleni Giokos. Great that CNN chose Africa for their first Global Perspectives – there is no greater global priority. It was good to see my friends Richard Quest, Ozwald Boateng, Masai Ujiri, Zain […]
FII Riyadh 2025: A call for AI Accessibility to Drive Africa’s Financial Transformation
Earlier today at the Board of Changemakers: “Financial Markets” plenary at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, I discussed Africa’s readiness for AI adoption and ways it will transform financial markets. It was an engaging session discussing this with fellow panellists Tareq A. Al-Sadhan, CEO, Saudi National Bank (SNB), Jane Fraser, […]
Building Economies, Investing in Society, Transforming a Continent: My Message at the Abuja Business & Investment Summit 2025
My speech in Abuja, the heart of Nigeria, our nation’s window to the world, spoke of how far we have come and how much further we must go. There is so much to be optimistic about – but my optimism requires public and private sectors to unite, for good. I delivered the keynote remarks at […]
Africa and the Nordics: Building a New Model for Sustainable Investment
Africa and the Nordic countries share priorities. We came together this week to share, learn and partner. Both regions are rich in natural resources and face demographic challenges: Africa grapples with a young growing population, the Nordics face an aging demographic. These experiences and challenges are significant opportunities for equitable partnership: both regions can work […]
Heirs Energies: An African Champion
We hear a lot about African champions, African role models, African innovation and excellence. How we should demonstrate Africa’s potential. The potential we know exists. When we founded Heirs Energies, our vision was bold, yet simple: an African integrated energy business, grounded in excellence, execution, and enterprise, that could redefine what is possible in our […]
Brand Power: Why Every Leader must be their Chief Marketing Officer
It takes years to build a trusted brand and seconds to destroy it. When I speak with young entrepreneurs, I tell them that the power of brand is critical, it is the beginning of trust, the engine of loyalty, the foundation of that personal relationship between the consumer, the product and the business. And branding […]
15 Years of Africapitalism in Action: Executing Heirs Holdings’ Bold Vision for Africa
Heirs Holdings, the family-owned pan-African investment group created by Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, marks its 15th anniversary this month, celebrating a decade and a half of transformative, long-term investment in Africa. Established in 2010, Heirs Holdings was founded on a mission: to transform Africa, creating economic and social wealth; a demonstration of Tony Elumelu’s philosophy […]
From Pressure to Performance: The One Decision That Tested My Resilience
This weekend, Heirs Holdings Group’s senior management gathered. We had one objective – strengthening our resilience, probing our own capacity to be resilient, testing our responses as individuals and as a business. We wanted to leave stronger, more certain, more sure of our ability to respond to all that a volatile environment can throw out […]
Catalysing Africa’s Transformation Through Partnership, Capital, and Vision – Afreximbank at 32
Africa came to Abuja this week, hosted by the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, to mark a significant milestone: 32 years of Afreximbank, a pan-African institution that has shaped trade on the continent, and transformed lives through visionary capital deployment and strong public-private collaboration. When I say only Africans will build Africa, Afrexim leads in so many […]
The Power of Purpose, Hope, and Philanthropy
Sometimes we worry about the next generation. Are they up to the task? Will they lead and inspire? Most of us have heard something similar from our elders! A few years ago, I met a young man. He was humble and very sharp. He introduced himself as Rabiu Olowo. I was very impressed by his […]
