The Business Council for Africa (BCA), in partnership with BrandComms and African Business, is proud to unveil the shortlist for the highly anticipated 3rd Edition of the BCA Business Book of the Year Awards. This prestigious competition, now firmly established in its third year, continues to spotlight powerful business narratives that are redefining Africa’s socio-economic landscape. The Awards celebrate stories of bold entrepreneurship, resilient leadership, and strategic transformation across the continent, bringing together trailblazing authors, visionary publishers, and influential business leaders to honour Africa’s dynamic growth journey.
This year’s shortlist captures a rich spectrum of themes, including manufacturing, capital market reforms, African economics and infrastructure, intra-Africa travel, digital transformation through comedy skits, gas as an alternative feedstock for industry, and Africa’s resilient response to COVID-19. These stories reflect Africa’s strategic innovation, bold entrepreneurship, and the transformative impact of its industries on the global stage.
The judging panel is composed of distinguished business and thought leaders, each bringing unmatched expertise and strategic foresight to the evaluation process. The Business Council for Africa is led strategically by an illustrious board comprising of:
- Arnold Ekpe – Chairman: Renowned international banker and former CEO of Ecobank and UBA, Arnold established Citibank Africa’s corporate and structured trade finance business. He currently serves on multiple global boards that are committed to impactful investments across Africa.
- Clive Carpenter – Deputy Chairman (Executive): With over five decades of international banking experience spanning Africa, the Netherlands, and the UK, Clive has been instrumental in driving private sector development. He serves as the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director at UBA (UK) and Chairman of Longitude Finance in Kenya.
- Jeremy Sivyer – Company Secretary: An experienced commercial lawyer with deep expertise in global markets, Jeremy serves as the Honorary Legal Adviser to BCA and is a key member of the City of London Law Society’s Commercial Law Committee.
- Alim Abubakre, MBA, PhD, FIOEE, SFHEA, CMBE: An award-winning academic, strategist, and founder of TEXEM, UK, committed to inspiring strategic leadership and transformative growth. Recognised among the UK’s top 100 entrepreneurs by Virgin Media, he also serves on advisory boards at London Business School Africa Society and Extractive 360
- Terhas Asefaw Berhe: As the Founder and Managing Director of Brand Communications, Terhas champions African companies to global prominence. Recognised among the Top 25 Innovators – EMEA by Holmes Report, she is a thought leader in brand design and financial marketing.
- Dr. Knox Chitiyo: A Zimbabwean-born strategist with a focus on African security, diplomacy, and diaspora relations, Dr. Chitiyo is the Africa Associate Fellow at Chatham House and serves on the Diaspora Division of the African Union.
- Ethel Kuuya: The visionary CEO of Advisory Kulture, Ethel drives organisational transformation across multiple African countries. She is a speaker, author, and thought leader on African leadership and sustainable development.
- Michael Monari: With three decades of experience in African banking, Michael is a champion of financial inclusion and sustainable economic growth. He is the founder of Longitude Finance, empowering SMEs across Africa.
Commenting on the awards, Arnold Ekpe, Chairperson of BCA and Chair of the Judging Committee, stated:
“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 we are seeing more business books 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 winner and runners-up will be unveiled at an exclusive Awards Ceremony scheduled for July 4th, 2025, at the Institute of Directors, 116 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5ED, United Kingdom. The winner will be awarded a trophy and $10,000, while the second and third-placed recipients will receive $5,000 and $2,500 respectively.
Last year’s winners included:
- How Africa Trades by Professor David Luke
- Africa is Not a Country by Dipo Faloyin
- Ethiopian Airlines: The African Aviation Powerhouse by Jozef Mols
The Shortlisted Books (in no particular order):
- 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 details about the Awards Ceremony, visit: https://bcafrica.org/book-awards/
