Minding Your Business Africa

In this episode of Minding Your Business Africa, we sit down with Christian Ngabo, the 26-year-old founder of the Isokko App, an e-commerce platform helping people in Kigali order groceries and everyday essentials from local stores, while creating flexible income opportunities for young people through Isokko agents.Christian’s journey started with pure curiosity and grew into building tech products used by thousands of people, navigating regulatory challenges, and eventually returning to Rwanda to solve a problem many people see every day but don’t act on.We talk about what the realities of startup life in Africa, and his ambition to create 10,000 jobs in Rwanda before the age of 35.

On this episode of Minding Your Business Africa, I sit down with Christopher O. H. Williams to talk about what success really looks like for young Africans navigating corporate spaces.Christopher shares his journey from growing up in Sierra Leone to studying and building a career in the United States, rising through global institutions, and eventually stepping away to focus on something deeper, purpose.We talk about self worth, confidence, and what it takes to survive and thrive in environments that were not built with you in mind. We also explore courage, leadership, and why helping the next generation of African youth matters more than titles or promotions.This is an honest conversation about ambition, identity, and making your success count for something bigger than yourself.

Sports media plays a major role in shaping public conversation and culture, but it has historically been dominated by male voices. For many women in sports broadcasting, entering that space means pushing against long standing expectations about who belongs and who is taken seriously.In this episode of Minding Your Business Africa, Fola Folayan sits down with Chief Suo Chapele, a trailblazer in African sports media, to unpack her journey from growing up in Warri to becoming one of the most recognizable female voices in sports commentary. Suo shares how language, culture, and confidence have played a role in carving out her path, and how she learned to stand firmly in her voice in an industry that has not always made room for women.In this episode of Minding Your Business Africa, I sit down with Chief Suo Chapele, a trailblazer in African sports media, to unpack her journey from growing up in Warri to becoming one of the most recognizable female voices in sports commentary. Suo shares how language, culture, and confidence have played a role in carving out her path, and how she learned to stand firmly in her voice in an industry that has not always made room for women.

Building a successful food brand in Nigeria is about patience, systems, and learning the market one decision at a time.In this episode of Minding Your Business Africa, Olagoke Balogun, co founder and CEO of So Fresh Nigeria, shares the real story behind building So Fresh from a small fruit and vegetable store into one of Nigeria’s most trusted healthy food brands.We talk about listening to customers, surviving the early years of slow growth, managing fresh produce in a tough operating environment, building systems that scale, and why hustle can start a business but structure is what keeps it alive.This episode is for anyone trying to understand what sustainable entrepreneurship really looks like.

In this episode of Minding Your Business Africa, Fola sits down with Aissa Cyiza, one of Rwanda’s most recognizable radio personalities and the CEO of Royal FM.Aissa opens up about her journey from the studio microphone to the executive office, the challenges and breakthroughs that shaped her career.She shares the lessons she has learned along the way, how she continues to grow personally and professionally, and the vision she has for the future of Rwandan broadcasting.

In this episode, Fola sits down with Dr. Waithera Wambugu, a Kenyan scientist and founder of Kasi Desert Circuit, who is merging motorsport and clean technology to power Africa’s sustainable future.From polymer chemistry to the racetrack, Waithera’s work challenges how we think about science, innovation, and who gets to lead Africa’s next big breakthroughs. She shares her journey as a young founder, the challenges of building in Africa’s clean tech space, and her vision for a more inclusive, African-led innovation ecosystem.

In this episode, I talk with Oyindamola Abbatty, popularly known asYorubaChic, whose creative storytelling on social media is changing how people see and understand Yoruba culture.She shares how a love for her heritage turned into a digital movement — one that challenges stereotypes, corrects misinformation, and inspires pride among Yoruba people everywhere. From conversations about identity and language to the realities of being a cultural advocate online, Oyindamola opens up about what it means to protect tradition in modern times.A thoughtful and uplifting look at culture, creativity, and the power of telling your own story.

In this episode, I sit down with Shema Reagan — a Kinyarwanda teacher, creative writer, and passionate cultural advocate — for a conversation about how language connects us to who we are.We talk about what it really means to learn Rwanda through its language — from the subtle ways Rwandans greet each other, to the cultural meanings tucked inside everyday words. Shema shares how teaching Kinyarwanda became his way of preserving culture and helping others see Rwanda beyond translation.It’s a warm, funny, and deeply reflective conversation about language, identity, and the beauty of understanding people through the words they speak.

In this episode of Minding Your Business Africa, I sit down with Zimbabwean media entrepreneur Nigel Mugamu, the founder of 263Chat. What began as a simple Twitter discussion grew into one of Zimbabwe’s most influential digital media platforms, shaping national conversations and challenging how African stories are told.Nigel shares his journey from being an accountant to becoming a storyteller, the sacrifices he made and the challenges of building independent media in a difficult political and economic environment. We talk about the legacy of 263Chat, the importance of dialogue, and why Africans must continue to tell their own stories.

What happens when activism meets politics? In this episode of Minding Your Business Africa, Ugandan lawyer, activist, and presidential contender Yvonne Mpambara shares her journey from grassroots advocacy to national politics. She talks about breaking barriers for women, empowering youth, and her bold vision for an inclusive Uganda.

Ebenezer Wikina went from Port Harcourt with just a basic phone to influencing global policy conversations. In this episode, he shares how he built Policy Shapers, led the Reform IELTS campaign, and why he believes young Africans hold the key to shaping the continent’s future.

Liboi grew up in Nairobi’s Kariobangi North, turning her experiences into powerful music that blends tradition with modern sounds. In this episode, she shares her journey as an artivist, using her voice to champion culture, social change, and mental health.

In this episode, I sit down with Ayo Adams — a Nigerian filmmaker, and digital creator whose work explores culture, identity, and social change. From his childhood in Ibadan to studying Theatre Arts and carving out a space as a culture influencer, Ayo shares his journey of creativity, self-discovery, and impact.

In this episode of Minding Your Business Africa, I speak with Ugandan theatre pioneer Philip Luswata. From his work in films like Queen of Katwe to founding Theatre Factory and creating community spaces like Wava Theatre, Luswata has spent over 20 years shaping Uganda’s arts and theatre scene. He shares his journey, the lessons he’s learned, and why theatre remains at the center of his life and work.

In September 2016, Omowunmi Kolawole founded founded Shoepify, an e-commerce fashion retail store, targeted at working women who want to be fashionable without having to break the bank.By offering quality fashion products at a relatively low cost, Shoepify has captured an attractive number of cost-driven online shoppersOn this episode, Omowunmi talked about her passion for retail, the challenges she faced while building Shoepify, her triumphs and her vision for the brand's future.

Farida Kabir is an exceptional manager with a wealth of experience across various sectors. With over a decade of expertise in both the private and public spheres, as well as the international development arena, Farida has truly left her mark on the world of tech Currently serving as the Group Head of Growth and Brand at Sudo Africa, Farida spearheads the expansion of the company's innovative products throughout sub-Saharan Africa across their group of companies. Her recent appointment to this position follows her role as a digital development consultant with the World Bank Group's Digital Development Global Practice, where she made a significant impact on the global stage. Beyond her professional endeavors, Farida is deeply committed to mentoring and empowering young girls and women. Her passion lies in utilizing technology as a conscious tool to uplift socio-economic development in developing countries, particularly in her home country, Nigeria. In areas like healthcare and governance, Farida envisions harnessing technology's potential to improve service delivery and promote transparency. Farida's groundbreaking contributions have not gone unnoticed, as she has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, both locally and internationally. In 2016, she received special recognition from the former French President, François Hollande, for her pioneering strides in Health Technology, making her the sole Nigerian among five distinguished Africans to be honored. In July 2022, Farida's expertise and vision led to her appointment as the Head of Growth at Nigerian fintech powerhouse, Sudo Africa. This dynamic startup, set its sights on conquering new markets under Farida's leadership. In this episode, we dive into Farida Kabir's driving force and motivations, her successful growth strategies, and her empowering leadership approach. Additionally, we explore the crucial role of women in tech, a subject close to Farida's heart, as she continues to blaze a trail for women in tech.

In 2017,South African media personality and travel blogger, Katchie Nzama, also known as The Solo Wanderer, backpacked from Capetown South Africa to Cairo Egypt, on her ownIt took her six months to travel across 21 countries in a trip she tagged #BreakingBorders.Since then she has visited 35 of Africa’s 54 countries.Following Katchie’s work through her very active social platforms, Her life sometimes looks like one big vacation and talking to her, she has stories for days.But Travel is more than a vacation for Katchie. It’s about helping Africans travel and explore the continent in affordable ways, promoting community based travel and finding ways for tourism to benefit African communities.On this episode of Minding Your Business Africa, Katchie talks about promoting intra-African travel and how important it is, to document our stories and our journeys from our perspective.