Ventures
Africa has identified 3 Nigerians amongst 13 young Africans who have
contributed to shaping the future of the continent and the world at large;
through their activities and businesses, these global leaders, entrepreneurs,
CEOs and intellectuals are young, talented and with proven genius in their
distinctive fields. To cap it all, they are all under 35 years! In no
respective order, here are 13 Young African Business/Economic Leaders to look
out for in 2013
Nigerian
serial entrepreneur, Ladi Delano made his first millions selling liquor while
living in China. In 2004, at age 22, he founded Solidarnosc Asia, a Chinese
alcoholic beverage company that made Solid XS, a premium brand of Vodka. The
company later expanded with the launching of a dining and entertainment venue, The
Collection. Solid XS went on to achieve about 70 percent market share in China
and was distributed across over 33 cities in China, with revenue of over $22
million annually. After some time, with the global economic downturn, Solid XS
was sold to a rival liquor company for about $20 million.
However
before selling Solid XS, Delano had set up a real estate investment company focused
on mainland China – called Delano Reid Group. The company went on to raise over
$80 million for real estate investments in mainland China profiting from
China’s real estate economic boom. Apart from the real estate company, Delano
is also a founding partner in DRG CIN Energy and Global DRG Capital, providers
of global energy solutions.
In December
2011, Delano shifted focus from the Asia economic boom to establish his latest
venture, Bakrie Delano Africa (BDA), in Africa. This time, he partnered with Indonesia
conglomerate, the Bakrie Group under a joint venture partnership. His company
partnership with Bakrie Group was created to facilitate the expansion of the
South East Asia’s conglomerate, in Africa. Through the joint venture, the
Bakrie Group would invest about $1 billion over five years in Bakrie Delano
Africa (BDA) in areas as diverse as mining, oil & gas and agriculture.
An
entrepreneur true to his origin, Ladi believes “Nigeria is attractive to the
Bakrie Group as an investment destination for several reasons. Firstly, it is
experiencing excellent rates of economic growth, approximately 8 percent per
year, which is forecast by a wide cross-section of respected economic
commentators to continue over the medium to long term.” The young businessman
is definitely one to watch in 2013.
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| Eniola Mafe |
Eniola Mafe is the Africa Program Manager at Vital Voices
Global Partnership, a Washington, D.C.-based international non-profit that
works with women leaders to advance women’s human rights, political
participation, and economic empowerment. Recently described as a “Convener” in
the Diplomatic Courier’s Top 99 under 33 in 2012. Her role as the Program
Manager for Africa in Vital Voices Global Partnerships allows her to “bring
people together in creative ways to address a pressing international issue or
enhance the foreign policy community.”
With a special focus on organizational development,
entrepreneurship, and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa, Eniola
manages the Africa Businesswomen’s Network (ABWN), a partnership among local
African businesswomen’s organizations that enhances the management, business
development, and leadership skills of businesswomen. Eniola also manages other
programs focused on the growth of women-led small-and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs). According to her “Empowering women isn’t just about the women’s issues.
It is about enabling them to have a say in broader issues that have an impact
on their world.”
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| Yetunde Odugbesan |
Yetunde
Odugbesan is a young Nigerian blazing trail in Africa and the Diaspora. A
graduate of the United Nations Worldview Institute – an executive training
program for global business professionals, Yetunde is currently working on her
PhD in on political corruption and its effect on governmental performance and
social services being delivered by local and state government at the Division
of Global Affairs at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
25 year-old
Yetunde is not new to leadership roles. In high school, she served as a student
president, Student Ambassador, Captain of the Varsity Cheer-leading team,
Founder of the poetry club and most importantly – a consistent honor roll
student. Today, she sits on various boards that are aimed at alleviating many
of the social and economic issues in various African countries and with her
managing consulting company, Yetunde Global Consulting, she offers valuable
insight on how to develop and leverage strategic partnerships globally as well
as provide branding techniques that can help business and organization grow to
reach its full potential.
Yetunde also
formed the Young Women’s Guide, a mentorship organization that helps connect
girls with women leaders and groups that can best help them pursue their quest
for social change. She is a gifted public speaker and youth leader. Her
messages are sometimes on key ways to building a better nation. She has been
invited by Nigerian governments and the World Bank to speak at conferences and
summits. One of such conference includes the U.N. World Conference on the
Status of Women, advocating for programs that will empower girls in Africa to
realize their potential, even in the midst of poverty and political strife.
Credit: Venture Africa
