Tag: Producer

AVCA spotlights the African diaspora, practical pathways to exits and private credit as multipliers shaping African growth

The African Private Capital Association hosted its sixth Venture Capital (VC) Summit on Monday, kicking off the industry association’s 22nd Annual Conference in Nairobi from 27 – 30 April. AVCA’s annual global gathering brings founders, venture capital investors, corporate venture arms, philanthropic foundations and policymakers together to deepen Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape.

Abi Mustapha-Maduakor, Chief Executive Officer, AVCA, opened the summit by commending the VC industry’s fortitude and ability to execute during tough economic cycles. Abi acknowledged that despite a challenging fundraising environment, “venture-backed exits reached a record high in 2025,” highlighting a pivotal shift in the ecosystem: “The centre of gravity is moving toward local capital, local expertise, and local conviction.”

A defining moment of the day was the keynote fireside chat between Boris Kodjoe, Actor, Director, Producer, Investor and Philanthropist, and AVCA CEO Abi Mustapha Maduakor. Boris underscored the role of storytelling in shaping how markets are understood and how capital flows, stating that: “Storytelling is economic architecture – those who control the narrative shape valuation, and perception is what drives investment.”

The summit then turned to the structural questions underpinning venture capital in Africa. During the panel entitled From Hype to Fundamentals: Resetting the African VC Story, panellists, including Tidjane Dème, General Partner, Partech Partners; Sapna Shah, Partner, Novastar Ventures; Fatoumata Bâ, Founder and Executive Chair, Janngo Capital, and Mohamed Eissa, Global Head, Venture Capital and Direct Investments, International Finance Corporation (IFC) exchanged views on whether imported VC models ever fully fit the continent’s realities, reflecting candidly on where expectations diverged from outcomes and assessing what has and has not worked in the market.

Outlining the roadmap for onward growth, veteran VC investor Tidjane Dème, General Partner at Partech Partners, quoted Ido Sum, entrepreneur and Partner at TLcom Capital, saying: “African venture capital isn’t broken – it’s just young.” He added that: “A decade ago, we saw around 30 deals a year; today, that number exceeds 500. We’re still building, and we can’t compare ourselves to a 50-year-old U.S ecosystem just yet. We have time.”

Mohamed Eissa, Global Head, Venture Capital and Direct Investments, International Finance Corporation (IFC), expressed that: “This ecosystem is still very young, but it has grown from about $400 million of annual investment to roughly $4 billion in just over a decade, clear evidence that the capital base is expanding, even if it’s still not enough.”

The summit featured interactive sessions on pathways to exits, with collaboration identified as key to improving liquidity. Industry leaders, including Patricia Rinke, Investment Director, AfricInvest; Ibrahim Sagna, Executive Chairman, Silverbacks Holdings; and Andreata Muforo, Partner, TLcom Capital, outlined the need to look beyond Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and assessed the role of strategic acquisitions and Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) as deliberate liquidity strategies.

Building on the sentiments of Boris Kodjoe, who outlined the importance of African diaspora investors participating in the continent’s growth story, Alex Rumanyika, Head, Strategy and Performance, at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) in Uganda, issued a call to action to African institutional investors to play a more active role in scaling African businesses,

stating: “If we don’t get into this space, it is going to be an existential threat for NSSF and many pension funds. We need to diversify away from overexposure to government assets and into the sectors where jobs are actually being created.”

The VC conference was followed by a dedicated Private Credit Summit introducing leading investors who are expanding the region’s private capital ecosystem with new financing tools, reshaping how the continent competes for global capital. Nathaniel Micklem, Co-Head, Emerging Market Alternative Credit, Ninety One, said, “Private credit is one of the most exciting parts of our asset management platform – but it cannot be built using imported public equity or private-equity instincts. What works in Africa is deploying into stronger, more resilient businesses and sectors, not earlier-stage ventures or smaller SME exposures.”

Walid Cherif, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, BluePeak Private Capital, concluded by saying: “Private credit is especially suited to African markets because companies continue to perform even when exits are hard to achieve. It is an easier conversation today than it was years ago.” He expressed that underwriting must remain thoughtful and selective as managers need to resist pressure to move too fast, because credibility with Limited Partners (LPs) comes from having executed the strategy over time and returned capital, not simply from a compelling market story.

May 4, 2026
Goodnews Naija launches ‘Building in Nigeria’ series on entrepreneurs, real sector builders

Goodnews Naija Podcast, a digital platform dedicated to highlighting positive, uplifting stories and innovations from Nigeria, has launched Building in Nigeria, a documentary-style series aimed at spotlighting entrepreneurs and businesses contributing to economic activity and job creation across the country.

The series explores the realities of running and scaling businesses in Nigeria, featuring founders, operators, and innovators across sectors including manufacturing, services, agriculture, and sustainability. Through interviews and on-ground visuals from workshops, markets, factories, and small offices, the programme examines the operational discipline, challenges, and execution processes required to build viable enterprises in a complex business environment.

Damilola Kehinde, host of the series, said the programme focuses on entrepreneurs whose contributions to economic progress often receive limited visibility,

According to the producer, Memunat Oladepo, the series seeks to move beyond surface narratives by providing practical insights into how Nigerian businesses are started, sustained, and grown despite infrastructure gaps, funding constraints, and market volatility.

The organisers said Building in Nigeria is targeted at entrepreneurs, investors, and policy-interested audiences seeking grounded perspectives on enterprise development in the country.

The first season is scheduled to premiere on March 11, 2026, across Goodnews Naija’s YouTube channel, social media platforms, and podcast platforms, where it recorded over 24 hours of viewership within the first day of release.

March 6, 2026
Unstoppable Africa 2025: Africa’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ambitions and Digital Future Go Global

…Global Africa Business Initiative highlights groundbreaking projects shaping Africa’s digital and financial future

Major projects and initiatives that are set to position Africa at the heart of global innovation, notably the expansion of the continent’s AI infrastructure, were announced today at Unstoppable Africa 2025 in New York as CEOs convened to discuss Africa’s place in the global economy. This marks a significant step in enabling the continent’s stakeholders to develop local AI solutions designed to address some of Africa’s most pressing challenges.

Zimbabwean billionaire, Founder and Executive Chairman of Econet Global and Cassava Technologies, Strive Masiyiwa, announced that steps are underway to establish Africa’s first network of AI factories. Powered by NVIDIA GPUs, the facilities will be completed by the end of 2026, setting the stage for homegrown innovation and accelerating Africa’s participation in the global AI economy.

Another announcement came from Meta, presented by Kojo Boakye,Vice President, Public Policy Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey. The company signalled upcoming investment opportunities in Africa’s digital ecosystem, highlighting its confidence in the continent’s growing tech and AI potential.

These initiatives reflect a shift toward locally led solutions and long-term planning, with a focus on robust systems, adoption of advanced technologies, and capital investment to drive regional integration and global competitiveness.

The second day of Unstoppable Africa 2025, flagship event of the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI), united business leaders, African heads of state, global investors, and international institutions to accelerate the continent’s economic transformation. New commitments in infrastructure, advanced technologies and investment highlighted growing confidence in Africa’s private sector.

In the financial services sector, the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) in collaboration with African Pension and Social Security Institutions launched the ’Africa Savings for Growth’ initiative to explore ways to channel African institutional savings into longer-term investments that support inclusive growth. The continent-wide initiative builds on AFC’s 2025 analysis identifying at least $1.17 trillion in institutional assets across Africa, much of it still allocated to short-term, low-yield instruments.

The Global Africa Business Initiative launched two new GABI Action Pathways focused on digital transformation and healthcare aiming to connect businesses, governments, and innovators working in sectors critical to Africa’s competitiveness and resilience.

The Healthcare Action Pathway aims to improve access to medical services through digital tools, build stronger regional supply chains, attract investment, and support the growth of Africa’s healthcare workforce. The Digital Transformation Action Pathway focuses on upgrading government services, expanding internet access and digital infrastructure, training people for future jobs, helping small businesses with tech and funding, and promoting responsible use of AI and data.

Discussions on Day Two focused on new partnerships, Africa’s digital growth, and the continent’s thriving sports and creative industries, including music and fashion.

The forum concluded by highlighting Ava DuVernay, acclaimed director, screenwriter, producer, and founder of ARRAY; 15 year-old Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun-Githae, Climate & Health Champion at Seeds for Leadership; Mpumelelo Tevin Mhlongo, Paralympic champion and triple world record holder; Marcus Samuelsson, chef, restaurateur, and author; and international singer-songwriter, Tiwa Savage, who also performed at the end of the event. Their inspiring contributions echoed the forum’s central message of empowerment, innovation, and sustainable progress across the continent.

Closing the forum, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed said, “When people say Africa is resilient, they’ve got a different definition to resilience than we have. Africa’s resilience is about how we build on what we have and how we strengthen our markets, our economies and our democracies and I believe that the values and principles that we all hold are important. Unstoppable Africa is a space to remind ourselves that this is who we are, it is our narrative, on our terms that we go forth.”

Unstoppable Africa is the leading African business forum held outside the continent. Hosted by United Nations Secretary General António Guterres and H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union, the event took place just ahead of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Unstoppable Africa aims to accelerate the continent’s economic transformation and empower Africa to take a leading role in shaping the markets of the future.

September 23, 2025
May, Obioma, Olugbile Emerge as Finalists of The Nigeria Prize for Literature, 2025
The journey to crown the winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literature has reached a fever pitch, as the Advisory Board on Thursday unveiled the shortlist of three.

The shortlisted novels, in no particular order, are:
1. Sanya by Oyin Olugbile
2. The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma
3. This Motherless Land by Nikki May
One of these authors is set to win the $100,000 prize of the NLNG-sponsored literary competition. The winner of the most prestigious prize in Africa will be unveiled at the grand award ceremony on October 10, 2025.

Reflecting on the announcement of the shortlist, the chairman of the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, described the process of adjudication as intense, rigorous and meticulous.

She described the earlier 11 longlisted books as excellent entries, adding that the challenges which the judges faced this year during adjudication were daunting and unprecedented.

Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo said, “The shortlist before us is exceptional. Each work distinguishes itself through masterful plotting, characterisation, and a good command of language that transports readers into imagined worlds. These are not merely stories; they are carefully woven realities. They are compelling in their beauty, stirring in their emotional resonance, and unflinching in their engagement with familiar yet urgent societal issues. The way the writers handled and resolved conflict highlights their skill and literary standing, making these works quite outstanding.

“Our task, therefore, is clear. It is to choose the most deserving laureate for The Nigeria Prize for Literature, 2025. This cycle has been one of the most competitive yet, with every entry showing an impressive level of excellence that stretched our judgement to the limit. Still, we remain committed to excellence, honouring outstanding writings and keeping alive the vital conversation around Nigerian literature.

“We commend all the authors who submitted their works this year. It has been inspiring to witness such creativity and passion. On behalf of Emeritus Professor Olu Obafemi, Professor Ahmed Yerima, and myself, I can say it is a privilege to be part of something so meaningful and honourable.”

Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo also commended the judging panel for their uncompromising evaluation, which ensured that only the most outstanding works were included in the shortlist of three.

This year’s panel of judges is chaired by Associate Professor Saeedat Bolajoko Aliyu of the Department of English, Kwara State University. Other members of the panel include Professor Stephen Mbanefo Ogene, Professor of Comparative Literature, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and Mr Olakunle Kasumu, writer, filmmaker, producer, and host of Channels Television’s Book Club.

According to the judges, the shortlist represents the best of Nigerian prose writing, exploring culturally-relevant themes and telling stories that are exciting, entertaining and instructive.

They noted: “Olugbile’s Sanya is a fascinating novel. From the cover to the plot that grabs attention, the author is unrelenting at keeping the story pacey and intriguing.

“The Road to the Country by Obioma masterfully explores alternative realities alongside a captivating story of love, brotherhood and a devastating war.

“This Motherless Land is emotionally charged and alluring. The writing is brilliant and the characters riveting. Nikki May successfully straddles the cultures of two different countries,” the judges stated.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates among four genres of literature: prose fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s literature.
August 29, 2025
Africa Avant Garde spotlights Nigerian cinema

The latest episode of CNN’s Africa Avant Garde follows filmmakers and organisers from the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos, Nigeria.

Chioma Ude, the founder of AFRIFF, explains how the film festival benefits a whole range of individuals, “To just film lovers, it’s a place where they go in and watch films. To young people who want to be associated with stars, it’s a place where they can actually go see them. For filmmakers that need to partner, to learn, it’s a great place for learning.”

The week-long event screened 150 films. Ude describes that the most important aspect of the event is, “Having the filmmakers show their films to the rest of the world, the people that are there, and showing the film, taking the bow at the end and talking about your experience.”

Obi Emelonye, writer, director and producer of ‘Out of Breath’, the closing film of AFRIFF 2024, shows CNN around the festival, pointing out key sights such as VVIP Theatre. He explains the value of his film closing the festival, “It’s a huge profile that can be stepped upon for greater things for the film. So, film festivals are hugely important, and I think one other thing that film festivals, just like awards ceremonies, have done is to elevate filmmaking to just rise above commercialism. Now there’s an interest in critical acclaim, for awards, film festivals, official selection, and all of a sudden filmmakers are aspiring not just to make money but to have those accolades as part of their growth to get to bigger things.”

As well as up-and-comers, it’s important for big name creatives from outside the continent to attend the festival and show their films. Ude reflects on the creatives who are in attendance, “John Boyega coming […] is a good attraction for the younger people who want to be here. For Skepta, somebody from his team reached out and we got talking and I flew to LA to see his premiere in Africa, and we had a good discussion, and so we agreed to have it in the festival.”

Professor Awam Amkpa, the director of the film, “The Man Died”, based on the incarceration of Wole Soyinka, explains his film, “This is a language of the younger generation, and I think that’s one of the amazing opportunities that this festival in particular draws us to. And it’s important for Southern Africa to become mainstream, the rest of Africa and for the rest of Africa also to catch up with itself.”

Ampka ends with a view on the impression he hopes to leave, “We would also break that idea that we are just African filmmakers, we’re filmmakers. We happen to come from Africa, and we tell stories that are global stories.”

May 29, 2025
The 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature set to be fiercest– Advisory Board

The stakes have never been higher and the literary stage is set ablaze, as the Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by NLNG, announced on Tuesday that a record 252 entries have been received for the 2025 edition, setting a new level for the quality of entries and promising to be the fiercest competition in the Prize’s history.

At a press conference held in Lagos, NLNG’s General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, represented by Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, handed over the entries to the Prize’s Advisory Board, led by literary icon and past winner, Prof Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo.

The entries were subsequently presented to the panel of judges, officially marking the start of what promises to be an intense and highly competitive adjudication process. The number of entries not only surpassed the 2024 figure of 163 but also exceeded the 2021 Prose Fiction cycle, which saw 202 submissions.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Horsfall attributed the high number of entries to “a surge in literary creativity, demonstrating a reinvigorated passion for creative works and a deepened global awareness of Nigerian literature.

“This year’s record entries reaffirm the prize’s impact, proving that Nigerian literature is not only thriving but also commanding greater international recognition”, Horsfall said.

“Today’s handover ceremony is a proof of the ingenuity, dedication, and relentless drive of NLNG, our respected advisory boards and judges, and every writer who has entered either for the Literature prize or the Literary Criticism prize. Our commitment to advancing excellence in the quality of literature to improve reading and literacy appetite through these noble prizes is in consonance with NLNG’s aspiration of improving lives sustainably, ”she added.

Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chairperson of the Advisory Board, expressed optimism that the calibre and volume of entries submitted this year would significantly elevate the quality of the competition. She noted that the remarkable diversity and depth of literary works would not only make the adjudication process more compelling, but also reaffirm the prize’s unwavering commitment to literary excellence.

She urged the panel of judges to approach the process with the highest standards of integrity and objectivity, upholding the legacy of rigour and distinction that has become the hallmark of the Prize. According to her, the Advisory Board is fully engaged and anticipates every stage of the selection process with enthusiasm, as this edition may prove to be one of the most competitive in the history of the Prize.

The Advisory Board also announced the receipt of 37 entries for The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism.

The Literature Prize carries a monetary award of $100,000, while the Literary Criticism Prize winner will receive $10,000.

This year’s panel of judges is chaired by Professor Saeedat Bolajoko Aliyu of the Department of English and Linguistics Studies, Kwara State University. Other members of the panel include Professor Stephen Mbanefo Ogene, Professor of English Language and Literature at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and Mr Olakunle Kasumu, writer, filmmaker, producer, and host of Channels Television’s Book Club.

Dr Grace Musila, an Associate Professor in the Department of African Literature at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, serves as the International Consultant for this year’s edition.

Notable past winners in the Prose Fiction category include Kaine Agary (Yellow Yellow, 2008), Chika Unigwe (On Black Sisters’ Street, 2012), Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (Season of Crimson Blossoms, 2016), and Professor Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia, whose novel The Son of the House clinched the Prize in the 2020/21 edition. The inaugural edition of the Prize for Prose Fiction in 2004 did not produce a winner.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates annually across four literary genres: Prose Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Children’s Literature.

With top authors contending for the top honour and the judges tasked with identifying the very best, the 2025 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Literature promises to be an epic literary showdown.

Regarded as Africa’s most prestigious literary prize, and one of the richest globally, The Nigeria Prize for Literature continues to set the standard for literary excellence.

April 15, 2025
Multi-Talented Artist “Asher Yelo” Teases New Single Ahead of the Highly Anticipated EP

Following the resounding success of his genre-defying debut EP – ‘Know Me’, the multi-talented ASHER YELO has proved beyond doubt, his passion for music and art, in his highly anticipated second EP, “Mr Understood”.

‘This’ll heal’ — the first single off the sterling EP, ‘Mr Understood, was released on July 8, 2022, ‘We are Complete’, released on July 15, 2send while ‘In This Ocean’ and ‘There Ain’t Nobody’ will both be released simultaneously on August 12, 2022, with all tracks available on all streaming platforms.

The phenomenal track, “Here With You” will be released on September 2, 2022 as part of the well-curated path towards the release of his and His EP “Mr Understood” on September 23, 2022, which promises a cascade of delightful sounds.

As a thorough producer, writer, singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and a model who has written and produced for top industry stars, ASHER YELO has self-written, produced and performed a debut solo project, ‘Know Me’ (2021) — which was added to over 3,000 playlists on Spotify alone, including New Music Friday, BBC Radio 1 UK Top 40, and more. His lead single “go backwards” was featured in Oprah Winfrey’s “Queen Sugar” and also received support from Australian radio.

In addition, ASHER YELO has walked in numerous fashion shows, including four Dolce & Gabbana runways during Milan and New York Fashion Week. With nine years of experience, honing his skills as a producer and writer, ASHER YELO also caught the attention of legendary Quincy Jones Productions, and signed to the company for management, shortly thereafter.

Through his musical storytelling journey, he has never shied away from sharing his struggles — whether large or trivial — in the hopes that his transparency can touch hearts and souls. As a completely independent artist, ASHER YELO’s mission isn’t just to be seen, but rather to help provide a voice for the unseen.

With his Nigerian and English roots — a huge reflection of his musical style of West African beats, his upcoming EP, ‘Mr. Misunderstood’ promises a testament of this incredible fusion.

ASHER YELO has been nominated for a 2022 Denniz Pop Award in the category of INTERNATIONAL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (handpicked by a jury of the likes of Max Martin, Rami Yacoub, Tove Lo & more). The Denniz Pop Awards Ceremony is Sweden’s version of the Grammys, you can VOTE for him HERE

His single “Go Backwards” was placed in Oprah’s Queen Sugar and he was selected by Instagram for an official collab with @Creators, for their onsite activation at Coachella 2022. His beats were not only placed in the Audible/Quincy Jones release 12 Notes: On Life & Creativity, it went ahead to receive millions of views on his weekly Reddit livestreams and was invited to be a part of the Reddit artist cohort. Dedicatedly posting weekly Instagram remixes gained attention from the likes of Brazilian artist Anitta for his cover of ‘Envolver’.

July 25, 2022