Author: Elan

Keith Vincent, chief executive officer at Wilderness Holdings Limited (left), and Brydone Graham, deputy head of debt financing solutions at Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking.By Standard BankStandard Bank, Africa’s largest bank by assets, has partnered with Wilderness Holdings Limited on a landmark $175 million syndicated sustainable financing deal, as sole mandated lead arranger, underwriter and sustainability co-ordinator.The transaction comprises a five-year senior secured funding package, including a $125 million term facility and a $50 million revolving credit facility. The financing is designed to support Wilderness’s long-term growth trajectory while strengthening liquidity, extending debt maturities and providing a flexible capital…

The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider resigning from office, having failed woefully to fulfill most of his campaign promises and improve the standard of living of citizens. Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), in a statement signed by its spokesman, Ibrahim Umar, said Obi was reacting to the resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which he said was connected to complaints by British citizens about their deteriorating standard of living under his administration. POMR said the NDC presidential candidate advised Tinubu to emulate the British…

Investor discusses the operating environment and some of the region’s untapped business opportunities.

What if visiting a doctor were as simple as walking into your local pharmacy? That was the vision Dr. Shekhar Ramjutun had when he co-founded Doc2Us, turning it into a platform that connects 1,700 pharmacies to virtual doctors across Malaysia. A former commercial pilot turned tech CEO, he argues that digital healthcare is not about replacing traditional medicine – but about making it work harder for patients who cannot afford to lose half a day in traffic for a routine prescription. Tell us about your academic and professional journey. My journey has never followed a single runway. I pursued medicine…

Africa has never been friendly to crypto. Despite incredible adoption numbers on the continent, African governments have met almost every crypto discussion with bans or warnings.However, some of its largest economies have abandoned that approach and are working to introduce licensing regimes, stablecoin oversight, and compliance rules designed to integrate digital assets into the financial system.The shift in sentiment and action taken by governments is the answer to a change in what crypto has become on the ground, where it’s become less of an investment and more of a payment system that millions of people already use for remittances, savings,…

Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector has been built on informal relationships. A distributor builds a relationship with the manufacturer, and the retailer does the same with the distributor, who delivers goods to them weekly. On June 19, Omni used its seventh anniversary to argue that the status quo is changing, and that the company is building the infrastructure for that change. At the Omni Insights Forum in Lagos, Omni launched its FMCG Industry Report 2026, a study it describes as one of the most comprehensive deep dives into how goods, capital and data move through Nigeria’s consumer goods value…

For years, one name has dominated the SUV sales charts, earning a reputation as the default choice for families looking for practicality, efficiency, and reliability. That dominance, however, is being tested. Production challenges have limited availability at a time when competition in the SUV segment is fiercer than ever, creating an opportunity for rivals to gain ground. Automakers have spent the last few years aggressively improving their crossover lineups, offering everything from premium interiors and advanced technology to hybrid efficiency and impressive value. As a result, shoppers now have more compelling alternatives than ever before, and many buyers who might…

Babatunde Folawiyo is one of Nigeria’s most low-key billionaires… while he may prefer the shadows to centre stage, his business footprint spans major sectors of the Nigerian economy, including oil, energy, finance and sports. Published on June 21, 2026 at 11:30 am (GMT +1) In a 2021 interview with Architectural Digest, Reni Folawiyo, wife of the Nigerian billionaire Babatunde Folawiyo, described the dynamics when the couple is hosting a party on their epic Ikoyi penthouse terrace – complete with an infinity pool: “My husband is much quieter than me. He always hides in the corner.” 

Listen to this article Tokyo is redefining its engagement with Africa, transitioning from traditional aid-based approaches to strategic venture capital (VC) investments focused on long-term partnerships, innovation and capacity building. Several Japanese private companies are making Japan’s presence felt in Africa’s VC landscape, particularly in high-growth sectors such as fintech, climate tech and mobility. Growing demand for innovative, technology-driven solutions in Africa has drawn increasing interest from international investors. VC funding in Africa rose from over US$2 billion in 2019 to a peak of US$5.2 billion in 2022. Though investment declined to around US$3.6 billion in 2023, the continent’s start-up…

  Nigeria’s startup ecosystem has witnessed remarkable growth over the past five years, attracting billions of dollars in venture funding and producing some of Africa’s most recognised technology companies. Yet despite this progress, questions remain about capital accessibility, founder readiness, governance standards, and the sustainability of the ecosystem’s growth trajectory. In this interview with KENNETH ATHEKAME, a venture architect and investment strategist at Greylight, Adejumo Joba shares insights on the evolving investment landscape, the challenges facing founders seeking institutional capital, and why culture-driven ventures may represent Africa’s next major economic opportunity. Excerpts: You operate at the intersection of venture development,…