Nigerian Billionaire Femi Otedola’s Memoir Shortlisted for Major African Business Prize

Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola is now among Africa’s top business minds after his memoir, Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business, was shortlisted for the 2026 BCA African Business Book of the Year.

The Business Council for Africa announced the shortlist on Monday. The winner will receive $10,000 at a ceremony in London on July 3.

From Oil Fields to the Page

Making It Big, published in 2025, follows Otedola’s journey through some of Nigeria’s toughest industries. He built Zenon Petroleum into a leading fuel supplier, expanded and sold Forte Oil, and later returned to finance by buying a major stake in FirstHoldCo, where he is now chairman.

The book openly addresses tough issues. Otedola discusses dealing with currency swings, fuel subsidy changes, policy shifts, and political pressure in Nigeria. His honesty has attracted many readers. Soon after its release, Making It Big reached number one in its Amazon category.

A Crowded and Competitive Shortlist

Otedola’s memoir is up against seven other books, including How We Made It in Africa II by Jarco Martiz, Afro-Optimism Unleashed by Adeolu Adewumi-Zer, It’s About Tyme by Adrian Saville and Bruce Whitfield, and Realising Africa’s Potential: A Journey to Prosperity by Landry Signé. Arnold Ekpe chairs the judging panel. He sits alongside former SEC director-general Arunma Oteh, former Lagos Business School dean Chris Ogbechie, AfricaNoFilter CEO Moky Makura, and publisher Omar Ben Yedder.

“These stories help deepen understanding of Africa’s evolving business landscape and economic transformation,” Ekpe said.

The award is sponsored by Africa Finance Corporation. Now in its fourth year, it has become one of Africa’s most respected prizes for books about business, investment, and economic change on the continent.

Expert View

Business analysts say the shortlisting shows a rising global interest in firsthand African business stories. Investors and organizations now want direct accounts, not just outside analysis, of how companies are built in real African markets. A memoir covering oil trading, power, and banking over three decades of Nigeria’s economic ups and downs gives this rare, detailed perspective.

FAQs

What is the BCA African Business Book of the Year? It is an annual prize, now in its fourth year, organised by the Business Council for Africa, that recognises books that explore Africa’s business climate, economic transformation, and investment landscape.

What does Femi Otedola’s book cover? Making It Big covers his career in oil trading through Zenon Petroleum, the rise and sale of Forte Oil, and his return to Nigerian banking through FirstHoldCo. It also addresses the broader challenges of doing business in Nigeria.

When and where does the winner get announced? July 3, 2026, at the Institute of Directors in London.

What are the prize amounts? First place receives $10,000. Second place gets $5,000. Third place receives $2,500.

Who are the previous winners of the award? Past winners include Arunma Oteh for All Hands on Deck, Bronwen Everill for Africonomics: A History of Western Ignorance, and Toni Kan for Riding the Storm, which covered Africa’s COVID-19 response.