Unlocking Africa

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 centralised representative body to communicate their agenda and retail trade concerns to government agencies.

What We Discuss With  Wambui Mbarire

• What do we need to know about the formal retail sector in Africa?
• How has Kenya's formal retail industry evolved over the past few years?
• Informal retail continues to account for a large portion of retail in Africa. What impact has the growth of formal retail had on informal retail in Africa?
•  What are some of the challenges that formal retailers face in Africa?
• Can you tell us about some of the work you're doing to lobby and influence government policy in order to create an enabling environment for formal retail to thrive in Kenya?
• And much more...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Can Nigeria Become a Global Superpower in the Next 20 Years? Nation Building in Nigeria with Andrew Nevin? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu

Connect with Wambui on LinkedIn at WambuiMbarire, and Twitter  @Wambui_Mbarire 

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

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, he is one of Nigeria's leading voices in unlocking the enormous potential of Nigeria's young people
- Co-creator of the Self-Organising Naija concept (www.selforganisingnaija.org) 
- Founding Governor of the Financial Centre for Sustainability (FC4S) Lagos
- Advisory Board Member of the Aig Imoukhuede Foundation
- Trustee of HH Muhammadu Sanusi II SDG Challenge 

What We Discuss With  Andrew Nevin 

• I've seen it mentioned that you're 'Nation building in Nigeria'. What has nation building in Nigeria entailed during your ten years in the country?
• How will the upcoming election affect Nigeria's economic outlook or growth in 2023?
• What steps must be taken to ensure that the Nigeria's enormous potential is realised in the near future?
• Despite the numerous challenges that Nigeria and Nigerians face. Based on your research so far, why is Nigeria not a failed state?
• How can we grow the Nigerian economy by utilising "Nigerian Brain Exports"?
• And much more...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How UK and African Nations Can Strengthen Economic Ties in a Post-Brexit World. UK-Africa Trade with Daniel Kawczynski? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu

Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn at AndrewNevin, and Twitter @nevinomics 

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

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 potential?
• In early 2020, the UK government was positioning the UK to be the preferred investment partner for African businesses and governments. Is this still the case for the current government?
• What steps is the government taking to increase British representation and engagement with Africa?
• Do you believe that trade relations between the United Kingdom and Africa are equitable, and can more be done?
• How can the UK leverage the African Diaspora to strengthen bilateral trade ties between the UK and Africa?
• And much more...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Empowering Cameroonian Athletes through the Sport of Rugby League. Opportunities and Challenges with Khalil Njoya? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu

Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn at  DanielKawczynski, and Twitter @OfKawczynski

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

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, investing in programs for young players, and providing training for coaches and referees to uphold the highest standards of safety, fairness and professionalism.

What We Discuss With Khalil Njoya

• Why have you made it your mission to bring Rugby League to Cameroon and increase its presence in Africa?
• Talk us through what you had to do to build the infrastructure that you now have in order to grow the sport.
• How has the success of rugby, or sports in general, benefited local communities, and to what extent?
•  What initiatives are being implemented at the grassroots level to nurture and support the growth of aspiring Rugby players in Cameroon? 
• In the future, what are your priorities for supporting and developing rugby in Cameroon and Africa?
• And much more...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How a South African Investment Firm Is Using Innovative Ways to Unlock Capital for Women-Led Businesses with Maya Burney? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu

Connect with Khalil on LinkedIn at KhalilNjoya, and Twitter @KhalilNjoya

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

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 as entrepreneurs. Womvest is a platform for ambitious women to connect, collaborate and share experiences. Womvest seeks to encourage the next generation of women to invest in themselves and in one another. 

What We Discuss With Maya Burney

• How much work remains to be done to address women's underrepresentation in Africa's investment ecosystem and underfunding of women-led businesses?
• What kinds of business requirements are usually satisfied when businesses turn to you for these loans? What are their main concerns?
• Can you explain what working capital is and what an affordable rate looks like in South Africa?
• Why do South African women-led businesses come to you rather than more traditional or established financial institutions?
• Has the global economic downturn altered your approach or how you conduct business?
• And much more...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss  Why Africa’s Animation Scene Is Booming and Positioning the Continent as the Next Animation Hotspot with Ferdy Adimefe? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu

Connect with Maya on LinkedIn at MayaBurney, and Womvest

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

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 industry. The studio has contributed to capacity expansion by developing a training and fellowship programme for people interested in animation and game development.

What We Discuss With Ferdy Adimefe

• How has the Nigerian and African animation industries evolved since your involvement?
• What were the difficulties in establishing a creative ecosystem for African storytelling?
• How do you go about finding and nurturing the talent needed to run and grow an animation company like yours?
• Is there enough opportunity for animation companies to scale and become extremely profitable in Africa?
• What are some of the difficulties in licencing African animations to companies like Disney and Netflix?
• And much more...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss African Arts, Sports and Culture. Africa's Soft Power: The New Driver of Change on the Continent with Obi Asika? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu

Connect with Ferdy on LinkedIn at FerdyAdimefe, and Twitter @ferdyadimefe

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

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 Africa, Calabar Rocks, Etisalat One Million Dollar Show, 100% Naija, and Naija Sings.

Among other things, Obi is a convener at the Africa Soft Power Project, a member of the board of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, and the co-founder of Social Media Week Lagos

What We Discuss With Obi Asika

• Are you surprised by the success of Nigerian music so far?
• Is it safe to say that Nigerian music, film, and culture are the continents most important exports right now, and do you believe we are fully leveraging their power to propel Africa forward?
• What does the term "soft power" mean to you?
• How can Africa strategically use the soft power of its creative, cultural, and knowledge industries?
• You are also a member of the Nigerian Olympic Committee's Board of Trustees. How did this happen, and what are the board's priorities in terms of supporting Nigerian competitors?
• And much more...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss The Boom in African Art. African Artists and Innovative Platforms Shaking up the Global Art Scene with Onyinye Anyaegbu? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu

Connect with Obi on LinkedIn at ObiAsika, and Twitter @obiasika

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

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 investment choice by developing the African art ecosystem through technology and co-ownership.

What We Discuss With Onyinye Anyaegbu

• What would you say about the current state of African art?
• What are the key distinctions between the new and old African art worlds?
• Do you think African art is fairly valued?
• How do you value art in general—and African art in particular—from your point of view?
• What, in your opinion, has sparked or driven the recent huge surge in interest in African art?
• And much more...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Using Intelligence and Analysis to Identify True Risks, Trends, and Business Opportunities in Africa with Robert Besseling? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu

Connect with Onyinye on LinkedIn at OnyinyeAnyaegbu, and Twitter @Artsplitglobal

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

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-terrorism, and military forces worldwide.

What We Discuss With Robert Besseling

• Is Africa as risky as it is frequently portrayed to be based on the work you do?
• What will Africa's risk profile look like in the near future?
• What risks does the continent face as a result of the global economic downturn, which is causing rising inflation, depletion of foreign exchange reserves, and depreciation of many African currencies?
• What countries or regions do you currently see as having the most positive future outlook, and what is driving that?
• How does Africa fare in terms of risk in comparison to other emerging markets?
• And much more...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Podcasting Is Taking Africa by Storm. The Future of Podcasting in Africa with Melissa Mbugua? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu

Connect with Robert on LinkedIn at RobertBesseling, and Twitter @PangeaRisk

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]

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 diaspora. They also conduct original research on the African podcasting ecosystem in addition to this.

What We Discuss With Melissa Mbugua

• What do you see as the future of African media?
• What role, if any, does podcasting play in the development of African new media?
• Why has podcasting grown rapidly in Africa in recent years?
• What are the challenges that African podcasters face that you would not face outside of Africa?
• What do you believe the true power of podcasting is in Africa?
• And much more...

Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notes

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Innovative Ways Africa Is Reimagining Remittance Flows. Migration, Remittances and Resilience in Africa with Michael Lawal? Make sure to check it out!

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!

Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu

Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn at MelissaMbugua, and Twitter @melmbugua

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
[email protected]