London: The Business Council for Africa (BCA), in collaboration with BrandComms and African Business, has announced the shortlist for the third edition of the BCA Business Book of the Year Awards. The annual awards aim to celebrate influential business narratives that highlight Africa’s socio-economic transformation and honor visionary authors and publishers who capture stories of entrepreneurship, leadership, and strategic changes across the continent.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Arnold Ekpe, Chairperson of BCA and Chair of the Judging Committee, emphasized the importance of storytelling in reducing the risk premium associated with doing business in Africa. He noted that while more business books are being published, the numbers are still modest compared to the remarkable businesses emerging across various sectors such as tech, fashion, film, finance, and mining.
The BCA Board of Directors, which guides the strategic direction of the Council, includes leaders with expertise in African and global markets. Among them are Arnold Ekpe, a retired international banker; Clive Carpenter, an international banker with extensive experience; Jeremy Sivyer, a seasoned commercial lawyer; Dr. Alim Abubakre, an educator and strategist; Terhas Berhe, a brand communications strategist; Dr. Knox Chitiyo, an expert in African security and diplomacy; Ethel Kuuya, a leader in organizational transformation; and Michael Monari, a corporate executive in African banking.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for July 4 at the Institute of Directors in London, with a trophy and cash prizes for the top three winners. This year’s shortlist includes titles addressing various themes, such as manufacturing, economic history, leadership, digital transformation, and Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Notable shortlisted books include “A West African Entrepreneur’s Challenging Path to Financial Freedom” by Ike Onyema Obi and Janine de Nyssche, “Africonomics” by Bronwen Everill, and “Riding the Storm” by Toni Kan.
For further information on the awards ceremony, visit the BCA website.