Maximizing Returns, Minimizing Risk. The Importance of Mitigating Political and Credit Risk in Africa with Amir Hussain

Episode #72 with Mélanie Keïta, who is the CEO and Co-Founder of Melanin Kapital,  which is a climate fintech platform that provides a last-mile carbon financing solution to finance the green transition of African businesses. Their goal is to finance the clean-energy equipment that SMEs need to scale while simultaneously reducing their carbon footprint. They finance electric transportation, renewable energy equipment, waste management facilities, and green cooking equipment. What We Discuss With MélanieWhat are some of the biggest challenges that African SMEs face when it comes to accessing green equipment and financing for sustainable projects?What are some of the biggest challenges that you’ve faced setting up the fund?How does Melanin Kapital leverage carbon credits and climate financing to help these SMEs access the funding they need?Could you provide examples of successful SMEs that have benefited from Melanin Kapital's services? How has the financing they received helped them drive sustainability and foster business growth?What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs who are looking to drive sustainable innovation and impact in their businesses? And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss How to Harness the Investment Potential of Africa’s Middle Class to Drive Economic Growth with Subomi Plumptre? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with  Mélanie  on LinkedIn at Mélanie Keïta, and Twitter @melani_n_keitaSupport the show

Episode #71 with Subomi Plumptre, who is the CEO of Volition Cap, which is a game-changing and SEC-licenced asset manager for Africans and Diasporans. Since 2018, they have been at the forefront of investments for individuals and businesses.They created a $30 million fund for agriculture and real estate projects in Africa, pioneering the first structure to leverage traditional cooperatives.  What We Discuss With SubomiWhy do you feel it is important to increase financial prosperity for the African and diasporan middle classes? What challenges do the African and diasporan middle classes encounter when trying to build financial prosperity?Typically, in which sectors and markets do you invest when you've raised money from institutional investors for investment purposes? What challenges do you encounter when attempting to invest funds in African markets? What activities are you involved in to empower the African and diasporan middle class in building financial prosperity and meaningful wealth? And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Fruitful Endeavours. How Reel Fruit is Unleashing the Potential of Nigeria's Fruit Industry with Affiong Williams? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Subomi on LinkedIn at Subomi Plumptre, and Twitter @subomiplumptreSupport the show

Episode #70 with Affiong Williams, who is the founder and CEO of Reel Fruit, whose vision is to be Nigeria's largest end-to-end fruit processing company. The company is unlocking the value in Nigeria's fruit value chain by building an end-to-end fruit processing company.We all know that fruit should be a staple in our daily diet, but it’s not always easy or convenient to eat fresh fruit. ReelFruit® is 100% (preservative-free) fruit, dried to lock in all the nutrients and goodness of fresh fruits, packaged in snack sizes for snacking on-the-go: at work, at school, in traffic, anywhere! What We Discuss With Affiong What are some of the challenges in Nigeria’s fruit value chain?  What difficulties have you encountered in building connections with farmers and making investments in farms to bolster and reinforce Nigeria's fruit value chain? How does ReelFruit ensure that the fruits it sources are of high quality and meet the company's standards for processing? What were some of the challenges you faced building your factory in terms of financing, finding the right machinery, quality standards and control, etc.? You’ve been able to successfully export your products to the US and Europe. How much opportunity is there to sell made in Nigeria products globally? And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Paving the Way for Women in Corporate Africa. TheBoardroom Africa's Impact with Marcia Ashong? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Affiong on LinkedIn at Affiong Williams, and Twitter @AffiongWilliamsSupport the show

Episode #69 with Marcia Ashong, who is CEO of TheBoardroom Africa,  which is an organisation that promotes exceptional female talent to boards across the continent. TheBoardroom Africa breaks down barriers to help organisations realise the benefits of increased diversity on boards. They’re accelerating the placement of female leaders by connecting peer-endorsed, board-ready women with CEOs and board executives across Africa and beyond. What We Discuss With Marcia What is the current state of women in boardroom positions in Africa?  What are the biggest challenges that women face when it comes to securing board positions, and how does The Boardroom Africa help to address these challenges? What is the importance of having women or a diverse representation of people at boardroom level? How do you work with companies to help them understand the importance of gender diversity on boards, and what strategies do you use to encourage them to take action? What advice do you have for women who are aspiring to break into board positions, and what steps can they take to position themselves for success? And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Breaking Down Barriers. Making Investment Opportunities Accessible to All Africans with Kola Oyeneyin? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Marcia on LinkedIn at Marcia Ashong, and Twitter @marciakayieSupport the show

Episode #68 with Kola Oyeneyin, who is CEO of Opportunik Global Fund (OGF), which is a private wealth fund designed by Africans for Africans.At Opportunik Global Fund, the belief is that everyone should have access to opportunities regardless of their location. To that end, OGF offers USD investments to middle-class and mass-affluent Africans and Diasporans with a starting capital of $5,000. Their rigorous asset selection process and dedicated team ensure that investors receive healthy returns.OGF is licensed by the Cayman Islands and managed by Accuvise, a registered fund administrator overseeing over $216 million in Assets Under Administration. This means that their investors face minimal currency or political risks.What We Discuss With KolaThe Opportunik Global Fund aims to break down barriers faced by Africans and the Diaspora. What barriers are you trying to break down, and why? You've created a private wealth fund run by Africans for Africans. What do you think the significance of this is, and what additional value does it provide?What challenges have you had to overcome in order to create this fund? What is your forecast for the size of the fund in the next one to three years? How does OGF differ from other investment options available to Africans and Diasporans, and what advantages does it offer? And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss The Journey of Medsaf. Revolutionising the Way Hospitals and Pharmacies Access Medication in Africa with Vivian Lawal? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Kola on LinkedIn at KolaOyeneyin, and Twitter @KolaOyeneyinSupport the show

Episode #67 with Vivian Lawal, who is Founder of Medsaf, which is a curated medication marketplace for African hospitals and pharmacies. Medsaf is a global organisation with headquarters in the United States and a presence in Nigeria. They believe that quality medication is a fundamental human right. They focus on bringing high-quality medication manufacturers directly to pharmacies and hospitals, using our Medsaf platform. Their platform provides hospitals and pharmacies with access to credit, inventory management, and logistics. It’s a one-stop procurement service. What We Discuss With Vivian How does Medsaf differ from other medication marketplaces, and what unique value do you provide to your customers? What is the current state of the Nigerian pharmaceutical sector at the moment?Low-quality and counterfeit medicines are an issue throughout Africa. How do you keep counterfeit drugs out of your supply chain?  In your opinion, what are some of the biggest challenges facing the healthcare industry in Africa, and how is Medsaf helping to address these challenges? How have you managed to scale up your business in Nigeria while navigating numerous regulatory hurdles and compliance requirements?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Success Against the Odds: Building a Booming Property Business in Soweto with Nthabiseng Sejake? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamu Connect with Vivian on LinkedIn at VivianNwakahLawal, and Twitter @MedsafComSupport the show

Episode #66 with Nthabiseng Sejake, who is a rising star in the world of property investment. Nthabiseng is the founder of B Evolution, a rapidly expanding rental business based in Soweto. Despite having a portfolio with dozens of quality apartments on three sites in Soweto, Nthabiseng's business has been unable to secure funding from South Africa's formal banking sector. Nonetheless, her company has thrived in a market often overlooked by traditional investors. During this episode, she shares her insights on the challenges facing entrepreneurs in the property sector and how she has navigated these obstacles to build a successful business.What We Discuss With NthabisengWhat is the current state of South Africa’s property industry? How do individuals operating independently, like yourself, succeed in accessing and establishing a foothold in the highly competitive real estate industry? Soweto is an iconic place with a rich history and culture, but the western media has always depicted it as a low-income and high-crime area. What is the reality of living and building a business in Soweto? What tips would you give to other budding property entrepreneurs in Africa?  What do you think the importance of people from Soweto playing a big role in the development and regeneration of the area is? And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss From Paper to Practice. Achieving Lasting Change through Land Reform in Africa with Thierry Ngoga? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuSupport the show

Episode #65 with Thierry Ngoga who has 16 years of experience providing strategic and operational solutions to governments and development partners in relation to land management, agriculture, and urban development.His deep experience, which spans at least 17 countries across both Anglophone and Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, has often focused on designing low-cost, locally grown solutions to issues related to natural resource management, agricultural systems, and governance. What We Discuss With  Thierry What do we need to know about land management in Africa? You published a book in 2018 with the title Rwanda’s Land Tenure Reform: Non-existent to Best Practice’. Can you give us a snapshot of some of the key themes from that book? What obstacles must African governments overcome in order to successfully implement land tenure reform?What impact does effective land reform have on African agricultural output and food security? How have you gone about increasing governments' capacity and capability so that they can appropriately prioritise issues like land reform and agriculture? And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Insights into the Complexities of Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa with Pritish Behuria? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Thierry on LinkedIn at ThierryHozaNgoga, and Twitter @hozangogaSupport the show

Episode #64 with Pritish Behuria who is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester. The university boasts Europe's largest department dedicated to studying global and international development issues, making Pritish an ideal guest to speak on the topic. Additionally, he is a renowned expert in the fields of industrial policy and comparative developmental trajectories, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. His extensive experience and knowledge allowed him to provide valuable insights and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing this region in terms of economic development and industrialisation.What We Discuss With  PritishThe majority of your research focuses on African development strategies and trajectories, particularly Rwanda. Why Rwanda? What are some of the present-day challenges that Africa faces in terms of development in the 21st century?What are the typical vulnerabilities present in African economies that hinder the attainment of sustainable economic growth?I came across an intriguing article that you published not long ago, titled "The Political Economy of a Tax Haven: The Case of Mauritius". Would you mind highlighting some of the central themes explored in this piece?What advantages could an African economy potentially gain from implementing a tax haven strategy?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss How a Boutique PR Company Is Changing the Conversation About Africa’s Tech and Start-up Sectors with Jessica Hope? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Pritish on LinkedIn at PritishBehuria, and Twitter @pritishbehuriaSupport the show

Episode #63 with Jessica Hope,  who is Founder and CEO at Wimbart, which is a boutique public relations company with a heavy emphasis on Africa & emerging markets. They produce hyper-targeted, relevant & meaningful media campaigns for a range of international clients.They work across technology, start-ups, entertainment, social enterprises, entrepreneurs and consumer products, to deliver memorable press campaigns.What We Discuss With  Jessica Hope How have PR and communications evolved in Africa during your time working on the continent? What is the current state of PR and communications in Africa? Do you believe African businesses truly understand the power of PR and communications, both internally and externally?Do you believe there is a link between positive PR and communications and investment flows into Africa or specific companies?Is it still difficult to pitch stories on Africa to journalists outside of Africa, or has this changed?And much more...Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Connecting Talent to Opportunities. Overcoming Challenges in African Workforce Development with Noam Kan? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Jessica on LinkedIn at JessicaHope, and Twitter @WimbartSupport the show