Author: Broader

Africa’s agricultural sector, a cornerstone of livelihoods and economies across the continent, is undergoing a profound transformation. Driven by a new generation of tech-savvy entrepreneurs, AgriTech is blossoming, offering solutions to enhance productivity, improve market access, and build resilience against climate change. These three individuals are at the forefront of this revolution, leveraging technology to cultivate growth and ensure a more food-secure future for Africa. 1. George Boateng – Farmerline (Ghana) At the heart of Ghana’s cocoa belt, George Boateng co-founded Farmerline in 2013 with Alloysius Attah, driven by a mission to empower smallholder farmers with the information and resources…

Sustainable development on the African continent is being driven not by theoretical frameworks, but by individuals who are building, funding, and scaling solutions that improve daily life. The five entrepreneurs highlighted here combine technical ingenuity with a deep understanding of local realities, delivering practical, scalable, and community-rooted solutions for energy, water, healthcare, and the circular economy. Strive Masiyiwa — Distributed Power Africa / Econet Strive Masiyiwa is one of Africa’s most prominent business leaders and philanthropists. In addition to founding Econet and Cassava Technologies, he has placed significant emphasis on renewable energy through Distributed Power Africa (DPA), a Cassava Group…

The retail landscape across Africa is undergoing a profound transformation. A new wave of entrepreneurs is dismantling long-standing inefficiencies, whether in payments, supply chains, or data insights; by introducing agile, tech-driven solutions that empower retailers and brands across urban and informal markets. Below are three visionary leaders driving this change in 2025 1. Onyekachi Izukanne – TradeDepot Founded by Onyekachi Izukanne, TradeDepot is a Nigerian B2B e-commerce platform that is revolutionizing the informal retail sector by digitizing the supply chain for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs). The platform directly connects consumer goods brands to a vast network of informal retailers, bypassing…

Walk through Lagos on any given day and the story of African retail reveals itself in plain sight. Small kiosks selling sachet milk and bottled drinks, open-air stalls piled with yams, and market women weaving through traffic with baskets balanced on their heads. This isn’t an alternative to retail. It is retail. The International Labour Organization estimates that more than 80 percent of non-agricultural employment in sub-Saharan Africa is informal, with even higher proportions in many countries outside Southern Africa. For generations, these networks have fed families, employed millions, and circulated the bulk of consumer spending. Yet they are still…

In early 2023, Nigeria’s economy experienced one of its most severe financial disruptions in decades. The naira redesign collided with an election season and fuel scarcity, creating a perfect storm that rewired how Nigerians spend, trade, and trust money. Cash disappeared almost overnight, and queues outside banks stretched for hours. Automated Teller Machines became battlegrounds. Transfers through legacy banking apps failed as servers choked on unprecedented traffic. For millions, it was the first time in their lives that they had money in the bank but couldn’t access it. The informal economy, where most Nigerians live, trade, and survive suddenly had…

In the bustling cities of Lagos, Nairobi, and Accra, the informal economy isn’t just a sideshow, it’s the main act. With an estimated 85.8% of employment in Africa coming from the informal sector, according to the International Labour Organization, these enterprises ranging from roadside vendors and mechanics to mobile money agents have built a resilient ecosystem that fuels livelihoods and urban economies alike. While often dismissed by policymakers and economists as unscalable or risky, informal entrepreneurs are master tacticians. They have developed homegrown business strategies born out of necessity, community dynamics, and deep market understanding, lessons that formal startups and…

In the fast-moving world of African startups, success stories often come with the familiar buzzwords: hustle, innovation, resilience, and scale. But there’s a quieter force often overlooked that consistently separates enduring ventures from those that burn bright and fade quickly. Operational discipline, though rarely romanticised, is proving to be one of the most decisive levers of longevity and scale for startups across the continent. “Execution eats strategy for breakfast.” It’s a line that’s made the rounds in global business circles, and nowhere is it more relevant than in emerging markets. African entrepreneurs face complex logistical challenges, weak infrastructure, inconsistent policies,…

In the ever-evolving landscape of global business, African founders are navigating uncharted territory. They are building ventures in volatile economic conditions, across fragmented markets, and with infrastructural challenges that demand tenacity. But they are also tapping into a continent rich in opportunity, talent, and cultural ingenuity. As the startup ecosystem matures from Lagos to Nairobi, there is immense value in looking beyond the continent for playbooks, particularly from global CEOs who have successfully steered companies through complexity, growth, and globalisation. The goal is not imitation. It is an intelligent adaptation. While African founders face regional hurdles that global players rarely…

Across the diverse and dynamic continent of Africa, leadership cannot be treated as a one-size-fits-all concept. From the entrepreneurial pulse of Lagos to the tech-driven energy of Nairobi and the resource-led economies in Southern Africa, leadership styles that thrive here are deeply informed by context, community, and culture. As global businesses expand into African markets and more African companies scale beyond their borders, understanding the leadership approaches that resonate on the continent has never been more important. Effective leadership in Africa blends tradition and modernity. It responds to communal values while navigating the pressures of a globalised business environment. It…

When launching a company, especially in a fast-moving environment like Africa or other emerging markets, it’s easy to underestimate just how critical your early leadership hires will be. The temptation is to focus solely on survival, hitting product milestones, raising capital, and closing your first big client. But behind every resilient business is a leadership team that understands the mission, complements the founder, and grows with the company. Building that team from scratch is no small feat. Founders often juggle uncertainty, limited resources, and an evolving vision. Still, the best time to lay the foundation for your leadership team is…