Author: Victor Olayiwola

For years, African entrepreneurs have depended on popular mass-market platforms like AliExpress and, more recently, Temu to source low-cost goods from China. While these apps revolutionised access to affordable imports, they were never designed to meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses that require factory-level pricing, consistent supply chains, and customised manufacturing. That gap has created an opportunity for Midddleman, a Nigerian tradetech startup that now serves as a bridge between African SMEs and Chinese manufacturers—offering a structured, secure, and cost-efficient alternative for cross-border procurement. Nigeria’s long-standing commercial relationship with China illustrates the sheer potential of this market. In…

The BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) has strengthened its commercial influence in South Africa through a major new partnership with Samsung, which has been unveiled as the league’s Official Mobile and Consumer Electronics Partner. This collaboration marks a significant step for both organisations, bringing one of the world’s most prominent technology brands even closer to the pulse of elite rugby in Africa. The agreement falls under a broader partnership between Samsung and SA Rugby, creating a cohesive presence that spans the URC’s South African footprint as well as the national rugby structures. For the URC, the deal represents not only…

South Africa has officially welcomed the Selectour Congress, the well-known network of independent French travel agencies, to the city of Cape Town—marking yet another milestone in the country’s growing reputation as a world-class host for major international gatherings. Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille noted that this year’s congress arrives at a significant moment, following South Africa’s successful hosting of the G20 Leaders’ Summit just a week earlier. She emphasised that the back-to-back events demonstrate the nation’s proven capability to manage high-profile global conferences with efficiency, security, and strong infrastructure. De Lille confirmed that the international business events secured for 2025…

Edith Venter built her name in event planning long before the industry evolved into the highly structured business ecosystem it is today. What started as volunteer work for charities gradually transformed into a full-fledged career defined by her discipline, resilience, and unmatched flair for creating unforgettable moments.Today, an “Edith Venter Event” has become a recognised standard — a signature of precision, sophistication, and impeccable execution. In this conversation, she opens up about staying relevant in a fast-changing industry, the challenges that shaped her, and the principles that guide her work. From Social Figure to Entrepreneurial Powerhouse Although Edith Venter is…

The Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) 2026, taking place on January 24-26 in Tripoli, will showcase a renewed surge of U.S. participation as American companies re-engage with Libya’s oil, gas and infrastructure sectors. This year marks a significant moment for U.S. investment momentum, reinforced through expanded commercial programming and strategic dialogues, signaling renewed confidence in Libya’s oil, gas and infrastructure markets – and marking a strategic shift in the way American majors are approaching the region. A major highlight of the Summit will be a dedicated U.S.-Libya Roundtable and a U.S. pavilion, underscoring growing institutional and corporate commitment to…

Visa (NYSE: V) (https://www.Visa.co.in/), a global leader in digital payments, today announced the expansion of its stablecoin settlement capabilities across the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region (CEMEA) through a partnership with Aquanow, a global digital assets platform expert in liquidity and infrastructure solutions. The integration of Aquanow’s digital asset infrastructure with Visa’s world-class technology stack will enable Visa’s network of issuers and acquirers to settle transactions using approved stablecoins such as USDC, reducing costs, operational friction, and settlement times. With strong demand among financial institutions for faster and more cost-effective cross-border transactions, Visa is leveraging stablecoins…

The World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group (https://www.AfDB.org), with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), hosted the inaugural “Mission 300 Day” on the sidelines of the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) 2025 Market Days (http://apo-opa.co/4oeFycH) in Rabat, Morocco. The event highlighted countries’ National Energy Compacts showcased investment-ready opportunities, and galvanised action toward the shared goal of delivering electricity access to 300 million people across Africa by 2030. The special Mission 300 Day convened African government ministers, investors, and development financiers to spotlight national commitments, present…

Nigeria’s Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has called for stronger collaboration across African nations to accelerate growth within the continent’s tourism and creative sectors. Speaking through the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad, at the inaugural Africa Tourism and Creative Economy Expo in Abuja, the minister emphasised that Africa’s cultural and creative wealth remains one of its greatest yet underutilised assets. Musawa highlighted that the continent is home to world-renowned festivals, diverse artistic traditions, exceptional cuisine, rich fashion cultures, groundbreaking film industries, and a rapidly expanding pool of creative talent. She stressed that governments, private…

Motivated by a deep commitment to celebrating African identity, Tinu Smith — CEO of Datina Designs — has built a brand that seamlessly blends traditional African artistry with contemporary fashion trends. Her Afrocentric ready-to-wear label has become known for producing stylish, accessible, and high-quality outfits that highlight the vibrancy of African culture while maintaining global appeal. Smith, a graduate of the Women’s Entrepreneurship programme at Cornell University in the United States, offers creations that are both timeless and bold. Her fashion journey began in the 1990s, launched with an initial investment of just N50,000, carefully gathered from personal savings and…

African creators were given a powerful reality check at Entertainment Week Africa, where some of the continent’s most respected creative leaders urged young digital talents to shift their mindset from instant monetisation to long-term sustainability. During the panel discussion titled “Beyond the Scrolls: The New Rules of Creative Reach,” speakers emphasised that many emerging creators are entering the industry with unrealistic expectations and misplaced priorities. The session, moderated by Tech YouTuber Fisayo Fosudo, featured notable voices including Adaora Mbelu (Founder, Cre8tortium), Itohan Barlow Ndukuba (Editorial Board Member, Rolling Stone Africa), Oluwadunsin Sanya (Head of Editorial & Innovation, BellaNaija), and Boubacar…