Entrepreneurship platform Under 40 CEOs has launched How We Made It in Africa: Volume 2, a publication spotlighting 52 accomplished African business leaders, including singer-turned-entrepreneur Banky Wellington, rapper Jude ‘M.I’ Abaga, and makeup mogul Banke Meshida-Lawal.
According to a statement, the unveiling of the publication was part of the activities to mark Under 40 CEOs’ 10th anniversary. The unveiling, which took place in Lagos, drew a crowd of industry leaders, innovators and members of the Under 40 CEOs community.
Executive Director of Under 40 CEOs, Familusi Babajide, said the book captures not just personal journeys but a collective narrative of growth and impact across the continent.
Babajide said, “We’ve spent the last ten years building something that matters, not just to the people featured in our stories, but to the continent as a whole. This book is a symbol of our journey so far and a reminder that we are just getting started.”
According to the organisers, one of the chapters focuses on the co-founder of Empire Mates Entertainment, Banky Wellington, “whose story reflects a powerful balance between passion and strategic planning.”
Wellington, describing how he launched the label from his university dormitory, said, “When you’re passionate about something, you will find a way.”
The Under 40 CEOs platform began in 2015 as a television series. The organisers stated that it has since evolved into a pan-African ecosystem providing mentorship, funding, training, and community to young business executives. The platform added that it has impacted over 1,000 young leaders across Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda and South Africa.
Guests at the event also witnessed the premiere of the Under 40 CEOs Legacy Video, which chronicled the organisation’s transformation over the years and showcased landmark collaborations such as ‘Drive Your Ambition’ with Mitsubishi Motors and ‘They Said I Couldn’t’ with Sunlight Nigeria.
Chief Executive Officer of Dutum Construction, who was featured in the book, Temitope Runsewe, described the initiative as a call to purpose-driven entrepreneurship, stating, “Africa is not just a place to build businesses; it’s a place to build legacies.
Runsewe added that platforms like Under 40 CEOs remind everyone that choosing to build in Nigeria is choosing to shape the future. “The opportunities here are endless, and the impact you can make goes far beyond money,” he added.
The launch also spotlighted other initiatives by the platform, including the Jumpstart Fund, the Learning Hub, and the Under 40 CEOs Junior Club, which collectively serve to nurture the next generation of African entrepreneurs.
Organisers said more activities will follow throughout the year as part of the platform’s decade-long celebration, with a major event planned to cap the anniversary.
