Billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has been shortlisted for the 2026 BCA African Business Book of the Year Awards for his book, ‘Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business’.
The shortlist, unveiled by the Business Council for Africa (BCA) in partnership with the Africa Finance Corporation, African Business and BrandComms, features books exploring leadership, finance, food systems, organisational culture and Africa’s economic future.
Otedola joins a diverse list of authors, including Jarco Martiz (How We Made It in Africa II), Joe Studwell (How Africa Works), Allete Vonk (Cultural Confluence in Organisational Change: A Portuguese Venture in Angola), Adeolu Adewumi-Zer (Afro-Optimism Unleashed), Adrian Saville and Bruce Whitfield (It’s About Tyme), Professor David Luke (How Africa Eats), and Landry Signé (Realising Africa’s Potential: A Journey to Prosperity).
The annual award, which is now in its fourth year, celebrates influential business writing shaping Africa’s economic story, from leadership memoirs to deep analysis of the continent’s future.
The judging panel includes leading African business figures and media executives such as Arnold Ekpe, chairperson of BCA and head of the judging committee; Arunma Oteh, former director-general of Nigeria’s SEC and chair of the Royal Africa Society; Chris Ogbechie, former Dean of Lagos Business School; Moky Makura, CEO of AfricaNoFilter; Terhas Berhe, founder of Brand Communications; Omar Ben Yedder, publisher of African Business and New African magazine; and Anver Versi, editor of New African and African Banker.
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Speaking on the awards, Arnold Ekpe praised the quality of entries and stressed the need for more African business stories to be documented.
“We are excited to have the Africa Finance Corporation join us this year as our headline sponsor. As AFC approaches its 20th anniversary next year, it understands the importance of narrative and the significance of documenting first-hand the business stories being created across the continent.
“These stories help deepen understanding of Africa’s evolving business landscape and economic transformation.”
According to the organisers, the winner and runners-up will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on July 3 at the Institute of Directors.
The overall winner will receive a trophy and $10,000 prize money, while the second- and third-place finalists will get $5,000 and $2,500, respectively.
Pinnacle Daily reports that last year’s winners included All Hands on Deck: Unleash Prosperity Through World Class Capital Markets by Arunma Oteh, Africonomics: A History of Western Ignorance by Bronwen Everill, and Riding the Storm: The Untold Story of Africa’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic by Toni Kan.
Founded in 1956, the Business Council for Africa is a non-profit organisation that promotes African enterprise, supports investors and connects African businesses to global opportunities.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X