Femi Otedola’s ‘Making It Big’ Named First Runner-Up at African Business Book of the Year Awards
Nigerian billionaire businessman and philanthropist Femi Otedola has earned international recognition after his memoir, Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business, was named first runner-up at the 2026 Business Council for Africa (BCA) African Business Book of the Year Awards in London.The prestigious awards ceremony, organised by the Business Council for Africa in partnership with the Africa Finance Corporation, African Business magazine and BrandComms, took place on July 3 at the Institute of Directors in London. Otedola’s memoir finished in second place among a shortlist of nine books that explored business, leadership and Africa’s economic transformation.Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business chronicles Otedola’s entrepreneurial journey, highlighting his experiences in Nigeria’s oil and gas, power, shipping, real estate and financial services sectors. The book also shares lessons on resilience, leadership, investment and overcoming business setbacks.The recognition adds to the growing list of accolades for the memoir, which has attracted praise from prominent business leaders and policymakers since its release. Earlier this year, the book was shortlisted for the BCA African Business Book of the Year Award, placing it alongside works by leading economists, entrepreneurs and authors from across the continent.
According to the organisers, the annual awards celebrate outstanding books that contribute to the understanding of African business, entrepreneurship and economic development. Winners are selected based on originality, relevance, research quality and their contribution to discussions on Africa’s business landscape.
Reacting to the honour, Otedola expressed appreciation for the recognition, describing it as an encouragement to continue sharing knowledge and inspiring the next generation of African entrepreneurs. He noted that the memoir was written to document his experiences and offer practical lessons to aspiring business leaders across the continent.The latest achievement further strengthens Otedola’s reputation not only as one of Africa’s leading business figures but also as an author whose work continues to gain international recognition. Industry observers say the success of Making It Big reflects the growing global interest in African business stories and leadership experiences.
