Nigerian energy tycoon and billionaire Femi Otedola secured a major institutional nod outside the corporate boardroom, as his business memoir, “Making it Big,” was named the BCA African Business Book of the Year for 2026.
The prestigious pan-African award celebrates literature that provides actionable, deeply authentic roadmaps for scaling enterprises across the continent’s complex macroeconomic landscape. Responding to the recognition, the Executive Chairman of FirstHoldCo Plc expressed deep appreciation to the Business Council for Africa (BCA) selection committee, emphasizing that the book was authored to provide an unvarnished chronicle of high-stakes African capitalism.
Demystifying the Billionaire Journey
Otedola noted that the core thesis of “Making it Big” was to demystify the realities of building multi-billion-dollar conglomerates in emerging markets—focusing heavily on market shocks, operational setbacks, and the sheer resilience required to survive systemic shifts.
The publication has rapidly gained traction among institutional asset managers, policymakers, and tech-driven startup founders across Africa. By pulling back the curtain on his highly publicized corporate turnarounds, debt restructurings, and sector-switching strategies, Otedola’s narrative offers a rare case study in risk management that conventional Western business textbooks often fail to capture.
Inspiring a ContinentÂ
The BCA recognition underscores a broader cultural trend within African capital markets, where iconic first-generation industrialists are increasingly documenting their institutional memory to foster internal capacity.
While offering warm congratulations to fellow category nominees, Otedola noted that the true ROI of the publication lies in its ability to inspire tactical persistence among early-stage builders.
Beyond capital accumulation, the billionaire reiterated his advocacy for strategic philanthropy, urging the next generation of African conglomerates to integrate continental wealth creation with robust social impact and giving back.
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