Billionaire Otedola’s ‘Making It Big’ Shortlisted for BCA African Business Book of the Year
The Business Council for Africa (BCA), in partnership with the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), African Business and BrandComms, has announced the shortlist for the 4th BCA African Business Book of the Year Awards, featuring Nigerian billionaire businessman Femi Otedola among the nominated writers.
Otedola, the billionaire chairman of FirstBank’s parent First HoldCo Plc, released his book titled ‘Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business’ in August last year.
Organisers said this year’s selection brings together a wide range of titles tackling leadership, finance, food systems, organisational culture and broader perspectives on Africa’s economic future — reflecting what they described as the continent’s growing confidence and depth in business and economic writing, including voices from the diaspora.
Backed by AFC,, the awards aim to recognise standout business books that examine and help shape Africa’s economic imagination, from leadership memoirs and sector-focused analyses to forward-looking arguments about the continent’s trajectory.
The judging committee is chaired by BCA Chairperson Arnold Ekpe and includes Arunma Oteh, Chris Ogbechie, Moky Makura, Terhas Berhe, Omar Ben Yedder and Anver Versi.
Ekpe said the committee was encouraged by the strength of entries this year, while urging more African business voices to emerge. “We are excited to have the Africa Finance Corporation join us this year as our headline sponsor,” he said, adding that documenting “first hand the business stories being created across the continent” helps deepen understanding of Africa’s evolving business landscape and economic transformation.
