Unlocking Africa

Episode 181 with Aly-Khan Jamal, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Lagos, and co-author of the landmark report Scaling Blended Finance: Practical Tools for Blended Finance Fund Design. Aly-Khan Jamal brings deep expertise in development finance, capital mobilisation, and impact investing to this conversation on how blended finance can be a game-changer for Africa’s su...

Episode 180 with Dr Nyakatawa who is a multifaceted business consultant with more than 20 years’ experience working in financial services, specifically wealth management in large financial services companies in South Africa and across Africa. She joined Jersey Finance in 2021 and is responsible for market development in Africa, currently with a primary focus on South Africa. An international speak...

Episode 179 with Warren Myers, CEO and co-founder of AURA, a life-saving technology platform revolutionising emergency response in Africa and globally. Warren is on a mission to make safety accessible to all by building the world’s first global emergency response “clearing house” that instantly connects people in distress to the nearest vetted security or medical responders, anywhere in the world....

Episode 178 with Estelle Dogbo, systems strategist, healthcare executive, and founder of BioVana Research. Estelle has spent her career at the intersection of biotechnology, digital health, and pharmaceutical development building adaptive health systems across African markets and beyond. From commercial leadership roles at Sanofi and Roche to co-founding 54gene and Syndicate Bio, Estelle has been...

Episode 177 with Jo Maiden, founder and CEO of SOKO Kenya, a trailblazing ethical fashion manufacturer driving social and environmental impact from the heart of rural Kenya. Jo is a visionary entrepreneur transforming the global fashion landscape by proving that high-quality, sustainable production can thrive in Africa and uplift communities in the process. Founded in 2009, SOKO Kenya employs over...

Episode 176 with Dr Samuel Kembou, Global Co-Lead for Learning and Evidence at the Jacobs Foundation, a Swiss-based philanthropy advancing the learning and development of children worldwide. With a presence in Africa for over 35 years, the Foundation is known for its long-term commitment to strengthening education systems through rigorous research, strategic partnerships, and evidence-informed pol...

Episode 175 with Desmond Koney, CEO and Founder of Complete Farmer, a Ghanaian agritech company which empowers African farmers to conduct their work in a much more sustainable and profitable way. Complete Farmer provides farmers with AI and data-driven technology to allow for "precision agriculture" so farmers can optimise their resources. The platform connects farmers with global market...

Episode 174 with Faizal Bhana and Claire Machin, who are recognised voices in global finance and private wealth, working at the forefront of family governance, cross-border investment, and wealth structuring. Faizal serves as the director for the Middle East, Africa, and India at Jersey Finance , while Claire is the group director and head of private wealth at Suntera Global . Together, they bring...

Episode 173 with Edwin Tambara, Director of Global Leadership at the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF). Edwin shares AWF’s groundbreaking approach to the biodiversity economy, an innovative model that integrates conservation and economic development, driving both environmental preservation and community prosperity. AWF has played a pivotal role in supporting Zimbabwe’s biodiversity economy, from n...

Episode 172 with Abiola Jimoh, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of XchangeBox, the company behind PayRep, a platform supporting payments, collections, and access to financial products for SMEs, farmers, and traders across Nigeria. XchangeBox focuses on improving access to financial services for underserved communities through its PayRep platform. By offering services such as health insurance, pension savings...

Episode #171 with Dami Olawoye, CEO of Rivy (formerly Payhippo) and leader in renewable energy financing across Africa. Dami Olawoye is at the forefront of making clean energy accessible across Africa through Rivy, an AI-powered lender focused on enabling homes and businesses to switch to solar power. With Rivy’s recent rebrand and a $4M pre-Series A funding round, the company is expanding its eff...

Episode #170 with Stephanie Sarr Dioh, Tech and Finance Business Leader, Gender Lens Investor and Board Executive at Women’s Investment Club (WIC). Stephanie SARR is driving inclusive economic transformation in West Africa through her pioneering work with WIC Capital, the first investment fund in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire dedicated exclusively to supporting businesses led by women. As a prominent...

Episode #169 with Dare Odumade, CEO of Chekkit Technologies and contributor to the recently published book Thrive: Mastering E-commerce the African Way published by the Africa Retail Academy at Lagos Business School. Dare Odumade is at the forefront of supply chain innovation in Africa through his work with Chekkit Technologies, a company on a mission to protect consumers, build brand trust, and e...

Episode #168 with Dr Allan Pamba, Executive Vice President at Roche Diagnostics. Dr Allan Pamba is a global health leader and seasoned executive at the forefront of transforming healthcare systems through innovation, access, and sustainability. As Executive Vice President at Roche Diagnostics, the world’s largest biotech company and a global pioneer in personalised healthcare, he brings decades of...

Episode #167 with Adeolu Adewumi-Zer, who is a seasoned strategist, business leader, and author of the recently published book "Afro-Optimism Unleashed: Scaling African Excellence to the Global Stage  Adeolu Adewumi-Zer is at the forefront of redefining Africa’s business narrative through her transformative SCALE framework and deep-rooted belief in Afro-optimism. Drawing from decades of execu...

Episode #166 with Dr William Derban, Head of Programs and Partnerships at the Digital Innovations Group for Opportunity International, defining technical standards, developing business strategy, and negotiating collaborations across mobile money, mobile/cell-phone banking, and agent banking. Opportunity International is at the forefront of leveraging AI to bridge the gap between technology and sma...

Episode 165 with Bernard Laurendeau, who is Managing Director of Enkopa Lab, which is at the forefront of driving successful Japan-Africa investments by leveraging AI and technology. With a focus on market diversification, the firm helps Japanese companies navigate Africa's complex business landscape. Enkopa Lab on driving successful Japan-Africa investments through AI & technology Enkopa...

Episode 164 with André Moolman, CEO of Ener-G-Africa (EGA), a renewable energy company dedicated to expanding access to affordable solar power across the continent. With a focus on low-income households and small businesses, EGA is tackling Africa’s energy challenges through innovative, cost-effective solutions that go beyond electricity, driving economic growth, sustainability, and improved quali...

Episode 163 with Olu Alake, CEO of The Africa Centre, a cultural institution dedicated to celebrating and amplifying African and diaspora heritage. Since its founding in 1964, The Africa Centre has been a vibrant space for intellectual exchange, artistic expression, and community-building, evolving to meet the dynamic needs of the African diaspora in the UK and beyond. Under Olu’s leadership, the...

Episode 162 with Adesegun Adeosun (SMADE), CEO of SMADE Entertainment, Europe's leading Afrobeats music, live entertainment, and lifestyle promotions company. Since its inception, SMADE Entertainment has successfully planned, organized, and delivered some of the biggest Afrobeats concerts and festivals across the UK, Africa, and Europe. Their events have been headlined by global superstars li...

Episode 161 with Frazer Lang, CEO of the Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA), an organisation dedicated to promoting trade, investment, and business collaboration between Scotland and African nations. With a focus on tangible commercial outputs, SABA bridges the gap between African governments and Scottish businesses, making it easier for both sides to engage, execute opportunities, and ac...

Episode 160 with Luni Libes, a serial entrepreneur, investor, and impact-driven venture builder. Luni is the founder and CEO of Africa Eats, an innovative investment company tackling food insecurity and poverty across Africa by scaling profitable, for-profit agribusinesses. He also leads SEMX, a groundbreaking initiative unlocking public capital markets for African SMEs. Africa Eats invests in and...

Episode 159 with Boubacar Demba Coly, who is an inspiring ecosystem builder, business and entrepreneurship coach, and tech conceptor who is leading change in Gambia’s startup scene. As the project manager of the Gambia Tech Project, Boubacar is at the forefront of creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs and enabling a thriving tech ecosystem in a country often seen as challenging for busine...

Episode 158 with David Ogundeko, a poet, entrepreneur, and venture steward. David is the founder and CEO of Funema, a last-mile, impact-driven, alternative investment company with a presence in Pennsylvania, Lagos, and Cape Town. Funema is an impact venture building company investing cash-in-kind, providing a combination of capital and venture-building services to early-stage companies. These comp...

Episode 157, with Sonia Kherigi Nasfi and Nour El Imane Nasfi Founders of Deaf Square, which is an online career accelerator dedicated to bridging the gap between talented individuals who are hard of hearing and forward-thinking employers. They help hard of hearing people access high-quality education in the tech field, and job opportunities in leading industries.  Their platform also supports emp...