Business council celebrates Africa’s business, visionary writers
The Business Council for Africa (BCA), in collaboration with BrandComms and African Business, has announced the shortlist for the third edition of the BCA Business Book of the Year Awards.
The annual awards celebrate powerful business narratives that spotlight Africa’s socio-economic transformation.
It honours visionary authors and publishers whose works capture stories of bold entrepreneurship, resilient leadership, and strategic transformation across the continent.
This year’s shortlist reflects the diversity and depth of Africa’s business landscape, with themes ranging from manufacturing and capital market reforms to African economics, infrastructure, and intra-Africa travel.
Other shortlisted include digital transformation through comedy skits, gas as an alternative feedstock for industry, and Africa’s resilient response to COVID-19.
According to Arnold Ekpe, Chairperson of BCA and Chair of the Judging Committee, ‘We have seen research that quantifies the cost of the risk premium we are paying. This is because we are simply not good at telling our stories—especially our business stories.
“Although more business books are being published, the numbers remain modest given the remarkable businesses emerging across the continent.
“Africa is leading in many sectors, from tech to fashion, film, finance, and mining—yet our stories remain largely untold.”
The BCA Board of Directors, which provides strategic direction to the Council, is comprised of visionary leaders with deep expertise in African and global markets:
They include Arnold Ekpe- Chairman: A retired international banker who led major African banks, including Ecobank and UBA.
Clive Carpenter – Deputy Chairman (Executive): An international banker with over 50 years of experience spanning Kenya, Nigeria, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Jeremy Sivyer – Company Secretary: A seasoned commercial lawyer with expertise in global markets, having served as Head of the Commercial Group at Simmons & Simmons and at Russell-Cooke.
Dr Alim Abubakre- Founder & Non-Executive Chair of TEXEM, UK: An educator, strategist, and advocate for leadership development with global teaching experience.
Terhas Berhe – Founder and Managing Director of Brand Communications: A seasoned strategist with over 25 years of experience in brand design and financial marketing.
Dr Knox Chitiyo – Africa Associate Fellow, Chatham House: An expert in African security, diplomacy, and diaspora relations.
Ethel Kuuya – Founder & CEO, Advisory Kulture: A visionary leader with two decades of experience driving organisational transformation across 12 African countries.
Michael Monari – Founder, Longitude Finance: A corporate executive with 30 years of experience in African banking.
The Awards Ceremony is scheduled to hold on July 4, at the Institute of Directors, 116 Pall Mall, London, United Kingdom.
The winner will receive a trophy and 10,000 dollars, while the second and third-place winners will receive 5,000 dollars and 2,500 dollars, respectively.
Last year’s winners included “How Africa Trades by Professor David Luke; Africa is Not a Country by Dipo Faloyin and Ethiopian Airlines: The African Aviation Powerhouse by Jozef Mols
The 2025 Shortlisted Books: “A West African Entrepreneur’s Challenging Path to Financial Freedom” by Ike Onyema Obi and Janine de Nyssche
“Africonomics: A History of Western Ignorance and African Economics” by Bronwen Everill
“Essentials of Leadership in Africa” by Bella L. Galperin and Caren B. Scheepers
“In Her Hands: Shaping the Future of Manufacturing in Africa” by Demi Samande
“Africa’s Global Infrastructures” by Jana Honke, Eric Cezne, Yifan Yang
“How Nigeria’s Comedy Skit-Makers Are Redefining Africa’s Digital Content Landscape” by Bell Ihua, Ph.D.
“The Traveller: Crossing Borders and Connecting Africa” by Thebe Ikalafeng
“All Hands on Deck for Capital Markets Reform” by Arunma Oteh
“Riding the Storm: The Untold Story of Africa’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic” by Toni Kan.
“The Rise of Gas” by Engineer Charles A. Osezua
For more information on the Awards Ceremony, visit: https://bcafrica.org/book-awards/. (NAN)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz