Unlocking Africa

Episode #56 with Jonathan Said, who is an economist and has vast experience supporting African governments and their partners to implement modern industrial policies for job creation and inclusive and sustainable growth. What We Discuss With  Jonathan Said You published an intriguing article detailing how many African countries have neglected to implement the most crucial economic strategy of all:...

Episode #55 with Wambui Mbarire, CEO of the Retail Trade Association of Kenya and Vice-Chair of the KEPSA Devolution Sector Board, and is passionate about the future of retail in Africa and positioning the continent as a major hub for international retail. The Retail Trade Association of Kenya (RETRAK) is the retail industry's voice, with the primary goal of providing retailers with a central...

Episode #54 with Andrew Nevin,  who has vast experience as an entrepreneur, private equity investor, economist, and strategy consultant. Andrew Nevin is widely recognised and regarded as a nation builder and public intellectual in Nigeria, playing a number of key roles to advance Nigeria’s economy and society, including:  - Advisory Partner and Chief Economist at PwC Nigeria; as Chief Economist, h...

Episode #53 with Daniel Kawczynski, who is a British MP, and has served as a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and as Special Advisor to former Prime Minister David Cameron, and who is currently one of the Prime Minister's Trade Envoys. What We Discuss With  Daniel Kawczynski Which African countries has the UK government identified as having significant trade and investment poten...

Episode #52 with Khalil Njoya,  who is a former professional rugby player, and Head Coach of the Cameroon Rugby League National Team. As a passionate advocate for the sport of Rugby League, his mission is to promote its growth in Cameroon through targeted efforts in grassroots development and youth engagement. This includes establishing partnerships with local schools and community organizations,...

Episode #51 with Maya Burney,  who is Associate Partner at Caleo Capital, and Founder of Womvest, which is a network of women professionals, investors and entrepreneurs that create value for one another through connections, collaborations, mentorships and investment. At a time when the world needs women change makers, women remain underrepresented in the investment ecosystem and underinvested in a...

Episode #50 with Ferdy Adimefe, who is the Founder and CEO of Magic Carpet Studio. an innovation storytelling company committed to transforming the human consciousness by putting authentic African stories on the map. The studio is one of Africa's leading animation, game development, and metaverse studios, and it has played an important role in the development of the continent's animation...

Episode #49 with Obi Asika, who is well-known throughout the world for his contributions to Africa's creative industries, entertainment, events, social media, music, and sports. As a result, he has showcased his unique skills as an executive producer on several television shows, including but not limited to Big Brother Nigeria, Doctor's Quarters, Dragons Den Nigeria, The Apprentice Afric...

Episode #48 with Onyinye Anyaegbu, Executive Director of ARTSPLIT, which is an art trading technology company driven by one common goal; enhancing the investment status of African art by allowing users to co-own rare and valuable artworks on a platform that guarantees price discovery and market liquidity. Their mission is to position African art & artists as the preferred alternative investmen...

Episode #47 with Robert Besseling, Founder and CEO of Pangea-Risk, which is a specialist intelligence firm providing analysis and forecasts on political, security, and economic risk in Africa and the Middle East. Pangea-Risk has become a leading risk advisory and consultancy with a broad network of clients ranging from DFIs, banks, traders, corporates, and insurers, to governments, counter-terrori...

Episode #46 with Melissa Mbugua who is on a mission to build the new African media. Melissa is also the Co-Director of Africa Podfest. Africa Podfest is an organisation that inspires and elevates African podcasters by showcasing developments in African podcasting, convening community in the new media ecosystem, and increasing the production of high-quality podcasts on the continent and in the dias...

Episode #45 with Michael Lawal who is Founder of sendit.money. A platform that is providing an intuitive, secure, and inexpensive way to send & receive money. Sendit.money is a reverse remittance platform that specialises in transfers to and from immigrant communities in developed countries to emerging markets, and it is growing exponentially year on year. What We Discuss With Michael Lawal Wh...

Episode #44 with Arthur Chupeau who provides strategy, growth, product, technology, funding and business advisory to the best start-ups operating from Africa with African founders. Arthur is also Head of Ventures at the Baobab Network. The Baobab Network is an accelerator that backs early-stage technology start-ups in Africa, providing entrepreneurs with funding, support and a global platform to s...

Episode #43 with Debo Omololu who is an Intrapreneur & Entrepreneur with two decades of experience in business development, market research & venture capital. He is also the CEO & Co-Founder at GetFundedAfrica. GetFundedAfrica's mission is to help Africa’s most promising startups find funding, grow & solve society’s greatest challenges. They do this through a media portal - Ge...

Episode #42 with Amne Suedi who is an Investment Adviser, International Lawyer, and Director of Shikana Group, a leading legal and investment advisory firm specialising in East African foreign investments. What We Discuss With Amne Suedi Do you believe Africa is as risky as it is sometimes portrayed? What are some of the nuances or challenges in East Africa's legal system that you won't...

Episode #41 with Olivier Vanden Eynde, who is Founding Partner and Executive Director at Close the Gap Kenya, which is a Circular Economy HUB In Mombasa. Close the Gap Kenya focuses on refurbishing and recycling laptops, computers, and a variety of electronic devices through a one-stop shop where they not only innovate, incubate, and manufacture, but also have an inspiring co-work space, makerspac...

Episode #40 with Brendan Mullen, who is Co-founder and Managing Director at Secha Capital, a lower-market impact private equity fund in Southern Africa employing an Operator-Investor model and investing in traditional industries making the green economy, tech-enabled, and/or post-COVID transition. Secha was founded in 2017. Its first fund invested in ten South African companies, creating 300+ jobs...

Episode #39 with Yaa Ofori-Ansah, who is an expert in African development, trade, sustainability & ESG, finance & policy, and founder of Talking Drums, a travel and tourism marketplace with a specialisation in Africa that prioritises sustainable tourism & culture & seeks to connect people with Africa. What We Discuss With Yaa Ofori-Ansah Can you tell us why it is critical to develo...

Episode #38 with Eric Annan who is Founder and CEO of AYA, a curated marketplace for early-stage startups and high growth businesses to access vetted African Web3 digital skilled talents. AYA helps early-stage startups and medium-sized companies find the right fit talents to supercharge their business. Eric is passionate about ensuring that there are as few barriers as possible for Africans to acc...

Episode #37 with Prof. Tal Edgars is Group Executive Chairman at GBSH Consult Group . Also, a multi-award winner, globally renowned business authority, seasoned diplomat and a cutting edge thinker and author with an outstanding record in planning, managing and executing highly successful private and public sector initiatives in Africa, Europe, America & Asia.  He has a background in academia,...

Episode #36 with Kendrall Felder and Larry Yon who are Co-Founders of CyberAlliance, which is a global technology solutions firm, with a Pan-African focus, creating strategies that advance digital transformation and accelerate cyber security.  CyberAlliance focuses on helping sub-saharan African countries implement technology and cyber security in a way that drives job creation, profitability, and...

Episode #35 with Jakkie Cilliers who is the author of Africa First !: Igniting a Growth Revolution, and Head of African Futures and Innovation at the Institute for Security Studies. An institute that builds knowledge and skills that secure Africa’s future. What We Discuss With Jakkie Cilliers What are Africa's development prospects and potential based on the data you've gathered? Is Afri...

Episode #34 with Samantha Lee who is an angel investor, venture capitalist and the founder of StoneSoup Partners, a firm that invests in African startups. StoneSoup Partners believe that it is possible and better to build companies that do well by doing good. They believe that financial value should be derived from social value. In the long run, they hope to reshape entrepreneurship so that it is...

Episode #33 with Phillip Nyakpo who is an author and former journalist. His most recent book, Absolute Radio , is a spellbinding true story of entrepreneurship, media, culture and tradition, all tastefully rolled into one! Absolute Radio is an authentic story of girls and boys who became women and men – and heroes – on the wings of a radio station. Running the course of 25 years, the story comes f...

Episode #32 with Patrick Palmi who is CEO and Founder of Palm TV ,  which is Africa's first ecommerce marketplace platform for affiliate creators. If you run an online community, Palm TV Store makes it incredibly simple to open an online store with exciting affiliate products to sell to your community at the best retail price. In the last three years, the Palm TV marketplace has generated ove...