How we made it in Africa II: Actual tales of entrepreneurs turning alternative into revenue, the newest guide by Jaco Maritz, has been recognised on the 2026 BCA African Enterprise Guide of the Yr Award, taking the second runner-up prize at a ceremony held on the Institute of Administrators in London on Friday, 3 July 2026.
The guide was praised for its accessibility, its relevance to SMEs and entrepreneurs, and its broad illustration of African enterprise success tales – lots of them lesser recognized – that spotlight the realities of constructing companies on the continent.
Now in its fourth yr, the BCA African Enterprise Guide of the Yr celebrates essentially the most compelling enterprise writing that examines and shapes Africa’s financial creativeness, from management memoirs and sectoral deep-dives to daring analyses of the continent’s future.
The Kay Whiteman Memorial Lecture, held alongside the award ceremony, was delivered by Arunma Oteh OON, Nigerian-British economist, Chair of the Royal African Society and former Director Basic of the Securities and Change Fee of Nigeria and Vice President and Treasurer of the World Financial institution.
Her lecture centered on the African alternative and the way Africa holds a disproportionate share of the options to the world. In her phrases: “There isn’t any model of a sustainable future that doesn’t run via Africa.”
This yr’s award was supported by the Africa Finance Company (AFC), Africa’s main infrastructure options supplier, and was judged by a panel made up of revered African enterprise and thought leaders, alongside high media executives: Arnold Ekpe, Chairperson of BCA, and chair of the Judging Committee; Chris Ogbechie, former Dean of Lagos Enterprise College; Terhas Berhe, Managing Director and Founding father of Model Communications; Omar Ben Yedder, Writer of African Enterprise and New African magazines; Moky Makura, CEO of Africa No Filter; and Anver Versi, Editor of New African and African Banker magazines.
Commenting on the importance of the awards, Arnold Ekpe mentioned: “At a time when Africa’s function within the international economic system is altering quickly, severe and knowledgeable writing on enterprise has by no means been extra necessary. The Africa Enterprise Guide Awards exist to champion excellence on this discipline, to raise African views, and to make sure that the achievements, alternatives, and challenges of African enterprise obtain the eye they deserve.”
Talking on the occasion, Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of AFC famous: “These awards matter as a result of we need to rejoice authors who do greater than doc historical past. We need to rejoice authors who doc what Africans have constructed as a result of nothing builds conviction like proof of execution … Books that seize these tales do greater than protect historical past, they construct confidence.”
