Jim Ovia biography: The man who built Zenith Bank
Few African entrepreneurs have demonstrated the power of building for the long term quite like Jim Ovia. He started his banking career as a clerk, learned the business from inside established institutions, and eventually founded a bank that would become one of Nigeria’s most significant financial institutions. But the most
Why African countries don’t trade enough with each other
Africa has spent decades trying to connect its economies, but trading with a neighboring country is still more complicated than trading with a market thousands of kilometers away. Imagine a manufacturer in Nigeria may find it easier to establish an international shipping arrangement than to distribute products consistently across several
Why Intra-African trade is still so low despite the AfCFTA
Africa is moving closer to a single continental market, but fragmented infrastructure, expensive cross-border payments, limited industrial capacity, and persistent regulatory barriers continue to prevent African businesses from trading more with one another. Africa has one of the world’s most ambitious regional integration projects. Yet a fundamental contradiction remains at
10 African UNESCO Heritage sites shaping the future of travel
Walk through Stone Town in Zanzibar, and you quickly notice that people are there for very different reasons. International tourists weave through narrow streets alongside local residents, photographers pause outside historic doors, restaurant tables fill as evening approaches, and travelers move between the old city and the island’s wider hospitality
The best digital tools to start and grow a business in Africa
Running a business in Africa has never been just about having a good product. Entrepreneurs must also figure out how to reach customers, collect payments, manage daily operations, and compete in markets where infrastructure and consumer behavior can vary significantly. For many small business owners, these responsibilities still depend on
The missing links holding back African supply chains
Africa has the raw materials, expanding consumer markets, and growing industrial ambitions to become a major force in global supply chains. Yet, moving goods between African countries remains one of the continent’s most persistent economic challenges. A manufacturer in Nigeria may find it easier to source certain inputs from overseas
How December travel became a business season in Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa
By early December, the city’s rhythm shifts. Airport arrivals increase, hotel lobbies become meeting points for families returning from abroad, founders scheduling end-of-year conversations, and creators looking for the next cultural story. Around Osu and Cantonments, restaurants extend their hours, event spaces prepare for packed calendars, and conversations move between
Yellow Card appoints former Monzo executive Ross Everett as first Group CFO
African stablecoin infrastructure company Yellow Card has appointed Ross Everett as its first Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as the company expands its global operations beyond Africa. Everett joins Yellow Card after serving as Group Financial Controller at UK digital bank Monzo. He has also held senior roles at financial
The structure of wealth creation in African markets
Africa’s wealth creation story is undergoing a structural transition. The continent is moving from an economic model dominated by commodities, informal trade, and external capital dependence toward one increasingly shaped by productivity, digital infrastructure, regional markets, financial innovation, and locally built companies. The central question for investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs
Remita launches consumer super app to combine banking, payments, loans and investments in one platform
Nigeria’s payment infrastructure company Remita has entered the consumer fintech market with the launch of a new mobile super app designed to bring banking, investing, payments, and financial management tools into one platform. The company unveiled the app on September 22, 2026, during Nigeria Fintech Week at the National Theatre
