아프리카 혁신 성장|The One with Ms. Akaego Okoye - On the African Business Landscape and Community Building | Episode 6 (2025)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents:  Join us as we launch our March series spotlighting entrepreneurs who are driving a new era of growth, innovation, and African ownership. In this episode, we sit down with Akaego Okoye—lawyer, business strategist, and founder of African Business Stories—for a deep dive into the realities of building, scaling, and sustaining businesses in Africa. She unpacks common misconceptions, explores the power of regional trade, and explains why an "Africa First" mindset is critical for sustainable growth and self-sufficiency. Throughout our conversation, we highlight some of Africa’s biggest success stories, from Botswana’s free education model and Kenya’s fintech revolution to Rwanda’s thriving startup scene and Nigeria’s leadership in local content policies that ensure African ownership in key industries. Akaego also breaks down Africa’s aviation and infrastructure challenges, from long-haul travel delays to inefficiencies in cross-border payments, and discusses how solutions like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and Lobito Corridor could revolutionize trade across the continent. Beyond business, Akaego shares the hidden currency of success: networking, relationship-building, and storytelling. She reflects on how meaningful connections have shaped her career, how visibility empowers entrepreneurs, and why African women in business must take up space and own their narratives. She also delves into her pioneering work in business aviation, playing a key role in launching Nigeria’s first private jet terminal and reshaping corporate air travel in Africa. She emphasizes the importance of streamlined infrastructure and better connectivity for economic growth and trade across the continent. As Africa reclaims its economic identity, this conversation unpacks both the challenges and opportunities in intra-African trade, infrastructure gaps, payment solutions, and business ecosystems that prioritize African entrepreneurs. Tune in now for a robust conversation on Africa’s next chapter! Read the blog here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/african-business-landscape-and-community-building-82da14d6cc01