I’m no one to comment on the Nigerian elections. But I do have one observation to make: the elected President is 72. How many people run for President (and win the election!) at this age? I bet not many. Africans have . Let’s compare a company to a forest. A forest contains trees and other living organisms, […]
Access to Electricity in Africa
While in Lagos, I experienced what it means not to have a regular power supply. So I was happy to hear about “repurpose schoolbags“, schoolbags with a solar panel that charges while kids are in school. In the evening, they can be used as a study lamp. This indigenous innovation was created by two South African women. […]
Launching Consumer Brands in sub-Saharan Africa
“GDP is not the best way to determine whether or not to go into an African country“, the founder of a successful Nigerian company with operations across the continent told me. This wisdom also applies to launching a consumer brand in Africa. Nielsen’s recent report “Africa: How to navigate the retail distribution labyrinth” confirms this. […]
A Young Population, a Youthful Mentality
“Africa is young, Europe is old“. That was one of the first conclusions I reached after a few weeks in Lagos. I wasn’t thinking just in terms of the age of the population, more in terms of the spirit and outlook I saw there. Africans are bursting with youth and energy which is why I […]
Africa Meets Poverty Reduction Targets
During my stay in Lagos, I met a woman who asked me what my impressions were. I told her I found it hard to look at the poverty there, which surprised her, “Where do you see poverty?” she asked, pointing out the many signs of development there. As a matter of fact, poverty and wealth coexist […]
