Heard of catfishing? Disturbing trends from the world of online dating and how these dangerous scams are on the rise. Watch out for the red flags.



A 19-year-old university student from South Africa, Tom Harris (name changed to protect identity), is urging people to be more cautious when it comes to social media scams. After being caught last year, he says “more and more of my friends are being catfished [online romance scams]”.



He claims even amongst teens who know what to look out for, the number of those getting caught out by unscrupulous scammers is on the rise. This could be more amongst older populations who might not be as savvy online. It’s a growing global problem and perpetrators are using advancing technologies to stay one step ahead.



Interpol’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2024 estimates there’s been a 23% year-on-year increase in the number of weekly cyber-related crimes in Africa, including catfishing and ‘pig butchering’ – a scheme that combines aspects of catfishing and cryptocurrency investment fraud, where scammers use fake online identities to build trust with victims before convincing them to invest in crypto-currency scams and then disappearing with the funds.



Many of the fraudsters are reportedly from West Africa. The ‘Ghana scam’ is a well-known tactic to deceive victims into believing they are in a relationship. Once trust has been built, the tricksters manipulate victims into sending them money. South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Cameroon are also home to cybercrime syndicates, the losses of which are estimated in hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars. In Nigeria, the rise in scamming is largely due to a boom in cybercafes, a series of economic crashes from the 1980s, and the resulting joblessness amongst young people. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, ‘Nigerian Prince’ emails became infamous. As per online reports, they “typically involved someone claiming to be royalty and asking for money they promised to pay back with a hefty commission added”. The ‘Nigerian letter’ followed – a type of computer fraud “that aims to underhandedly get access to a user’s bank account or to extort money from them in a different way”. According to the United States’ Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Business Email Compromise (BEC) fraud reports have skyrocketed, with attempts to steal nearly $9 billion from American financial institutions since 2016. Here, the scammer uses email to trick someone into sending money or divulging confidential company information. The culprit poses as a trusted figure, then asks for a fake bill to be paid or for sensitive data they can use in another scam.



Then there’s the ‘419 scheme’, named for the violation of Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code. It combines “the threat of impersonation fraud with a variation of an advance fee scheme in which a letter, email, or fax is received by the potential victim”.



The syndicates work across the continent. Shane Theunissen, Managing Director of private security company, Special Ops 99, in Johannesburg, says the groups rent apartments in affluent areas. “Ten guys rent one unit and work out of it. We’ve arrested a lot of them and confiscated a lot of laptops with regards to 419 scams,” he tells FORBES AFRICA. “All these guys do is sit at home all day. They all drive fancy cars. They never go to work. That raises suspicion.” Theunissen says after his static security teams monitor strange activities in neighborhoods, his security teams pass the information on to the company’s tactical task team that then works closely with commercial crime units and crime intelligence to investigate. Confiscated laptops are sent to forensics for processing.



Tracing these criminals across borders is not easy.



Theunissen says his company works with international tracing agents and task teams, but the culprits are not easy to catch because they use sophisticated methods to cover their tracks. These include burner phones that can’t be traced, as well as VPNs. These are secure private networks that use encryption to hide their location. While they’re not foolproof, in many cases, criminals can continue their ruse for sometime as the VPN essentially sends out false location information.



The Nigerian ‘Yahoo Boys’ have been quick to exploit deepfake technology in their romance scams. Similar to traditional catfishing, they begin by luring victims through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter). These initial contacts are usually made through direct messages, where the scammers use manipulation to gain the victim’s trust. As the conversation progresses, they move the interaction to messaging apps like WhatsApp, making the communication feel more personal and frequent.



The crucial next step in their scheme is video calling. Here, the scammers employ deepfake technology to alter their appearance and voice in real time, allowing them to present themselves as the person depicted in the photos from earlier interactions. Victims, believing they are truly speaking with the person they have come to trust, continue to build the emotional connection.



Once the trust is established, the scammers implement the final part of their plan: defrauding the victim of money. By then, the victim is deeply invested in the relationship, making them more likely to fall for requests for financial help. Many of these techniques are reportedly borrowed from Chinese romance scams. Increasingly, scammers are turning to crypto to bypass safety checks. Hacked Facebook and Twitter accounts are bought with crypto or cash and then 15- and 16-year-olds are hired to generate content and create a profile. Sometimes a full persona is set up using Clip Art or photos from other social media accounts.



Building trust can take months.



When the money comes, the boss gets 60% and the young men take home the remaining 40%.



So how do we protect ourselves against these fraudsters? South African Harris found himself caught in the dangerous web of catfishing and blackmail after he met a woman named “Chloe” on Instagram. What began as seemingly innocent messaging soon spiralled into a nightmare when Chloe, who had convinced Harris to share intimate photos, threatened to expose him unless he paid her a fee.



Based on how catfishing works, it’s fair to assume that Chloe didn’t even exist. She threatened to send Harris’ intimate photos to his friends and family if he didn’t comply. He paid, hoping the nightmare would end.



“I was terrified,” Harris recalls. “She said she’d post my pictures everywhere, send them to my friends, my family… I thought paying her would make it stop. But that wasn’t the case.”



Chloe demanded more, and more money.



Emma Sadleir, South Africa’s leading expert on social media law, advised him to stop all communication, deactivate all social media accounts, and refrain from responding to any further messages. Sadleir notes that paying an extortionist only fuels the situation and encourages further demands. The best course of action, she says, is to block the perpetrator, gather evidence, and, if necessary, report the incident to the authorities. “Honestly, I thought I was going to be exposed. I thought she would send the photos out. But it didn’t happen. Maybe it’s because I blocked her and shut everything down. I don’t know for sure, but I’m relieved it’s over,” says Harris. Sadleir tells FORBES AFRICA: “What I’m finding more and more is that it’s just such a difficult crime to deal with because people are so very embarrassed to come forward. They often feel ashamed that they’ve sent these nudes to people they don’t know.” Among the red flags to look out for: scammers often make unsolicited contact; they may quickly express deep feelings; create emotional bonds, or fabricate sob stories like medical emergencies or family crises to ask for financial help; poor grammar and spelling; urgency and pressure to push you into making quick decisions; and background that cannot be verified. While the stakes are high, the cost of giving in can be higher.

Love scam and romance fraud with fake profile online. Dating website catfish. Scammer man with phone. Money deception with stolen identity on internet.

Falling Hook, Line And Sinker: Have You Been A Victim Of Catfishing?

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



Pope Francis had a restful night Saturday, the Vatican said Sunday morning, after the 88-year-old leader of the Catholic Church suffered a respiratory crisis, putting him in critical condition following his week-long hospitalization for a lung infection.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



“The night passed quietly, the pope rested,” The Vatican said in a brief statement early Sunday, as quoted by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-pneumonia-06324d49846f26a24acec1da5fc74ab2" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Associated Press</a>.



It then followed up later Sunday saying Francis is conscious and tests are still being conducted on him, and he is also receiving supplemental oxygen.



The Vatican said Saturday Francis suffered a “long asthmatic respiratory crisis,” days after he was hospitalized for pneumonia.



Francis “continue[d] to be alert” Saturday, but was more ill than he was Friday, the Vatican said.



Francis has also received blood transfusions following tests that indicated a condition associated with anemia, the AP reported, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-pneumonia-hospital-b211a400c4cedc1f419d932447cfc189" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">doctors expect</a>&nbsp;he will remain hospitalized through the next week.



The pope’s medical team previously said Friday his condition is not life-threatening, but that he is “not out of danger.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">Crucial Quote</h2>



The Vatican released an Angelus&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2025/documents/20250223-angelus.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;from Pope Francis on Sunday, in which the pope remarked on the upcoming third anniversary of the war in Ukraine and thanked the public for their messages of support about his hospital stay, asking people to “pray for me.” “I am confidently continuing my hospitalization at the Gemelli Hospital, carrying on with the necessary treatment; and rest is also part of the therapy!” Pope Francis said, as translated by The Vatican. “I sincerely thank the doctors and health workers of this hospital for the attention they are showing me and the dedication with which they carry out their service among the sick.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">What To Watch For</h2>



A more detailed update on Francis’ condition is expected later Sunday.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-do-we-know-about-the-pope-s-health">What Do We Know About The Pope’s Health?</h2>



The pope has pneumonia in both lungs, as well as bacterial, viral and fungal infections, according to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-pneumonia-hospital-b211a400c4cedc1f419d932447cfc189" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">doctors</a>. His doctors have given him supplemental oxygen when necessary, and they are treating him with a drug therapy they say Francis is responding to. Doctors also prescribed Francis “absolute rest,” and several of his public events have been canceled. Doctors have said the primary threat to Francis’ health would be the onset of sepsis, a serious condition that could arise from pneumonia complications, though Francis has not shown signs of sepsis so far.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">Key Background</h2>



Francis, 88, has led the church as pope for 12 years since his election in 2013. Francis has been hospitalized several times in recent years, including one hospital stay in July 2021 for a narrowing of his large intestine, and another in 2023 for bronchitis. Francis has chronic bronchitis and a history of respiratory issues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">Further Reading</h2>



<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-pneumonia-hospital-b211a400c4cedc1f419d932447cfc189" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Pope Francis isn’t out of danger but his condition isn’t life-threatening, medical team says</a>&nbsp;(Associated Press)

Vatican Pool Images 2024

Pope Francis Had Restful Night After Reports Of Critical Condition

Nigerians don’t just sip ruby-red cocktails — they tell stories with them. And in the country’s bustling party capitals, those stories are getting more exciting by the day, and night.



The sun has barely set over Nigeria&#8217;s commercial capital Lagos, but the rooftop bar in Victoria Island is already alive with laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the hypnotic hum of Afrobeats.



A mixologist with a flair for theatrics, twirls a bottle of palm wine midair, before pouring a smooth stream into a glass rimmed with hibiscus dust. This isn’t just a drink; this is Lagos in a sip.



Cocktail culture in Nigeria’s party capitals — Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt—is undergoing a renaissance.



Beyond the classic mojitos and margaritas, bartenders and enthusiasts alike are infusing tradition, artistry, and innovation into their drinks.



From locally-inspired ingredients to experiential mixology, here are five cocktail trends taking over the scene:



Palm Wine Cocktails: A Nod To Tradition



No longer just a staple at village gatherings, palm wine has found its way into the high-end bars of Lagos and Abuja.



This naturally fermented drink is now the base for creative cocktails, often mixed with tropical fruits, honey, and even a splash of gin for an extra kick.



The ‘Palm Royale’, featuring palm wine, passion fruit, and prosecco, is a favorite among those looking for a taste of nostalgia with a modern twist.



Zobo-Infused Spirits: The Hibiscus Revolution



Zobo, a beloved Nigerian hibiscus drink, is no longer just for street vendors.



Mixologists are experimenting with zobo-infused rum, vodka, and even whiskey, creating deep, ruby-red cocktails with a tart and floral undertone.



The ‘Zobo Spritz,’ a mix of zobo-infused gin, tonic, and a dash of bitters, is fast becoming a go-to for sophisticated palates.



Smoke &amp; Fire: The Rise Of Spicy Cocktails



Nigerians love their spice, and now it’s making its way into their drinks.



Cocktails infused with scotch bonnet peppers, smoky suya spice, and even ginger-infused tequila are adding an adventurous edge to the nightlife.



The ‘Pepper Punch’ — a blend of mezcal, lime, and a scotch bonnet syrup — is not for the faint of heart but is a guaranteed conversation starter.



Sustainable &amp; Zero-Waste Mixology



With sustainability on the rise, Nigerian bartenders are making use of every part of their ingredients.



From repurposing pineapple skins for syrup to dehydrating fruit peels for garnishes, eco-conscious cocktails are becoming a movement.



One of the most creative is the ‘Eco Tonic’, a gin and tonic made with upcycled citrus scraps and locally sourced botanicals.



High-Tech Mixology: Molecular Cocktails



For those who love a bit of spectacle, molecular mixology is making waves in Nigeria’s upscale bars.



Imagine sipping on a ‘Cloud Martini’ with a floating citrus foam or watching a cocktail transform colors before your eyes.



Using techniques like liquid nitrogen and edible bubbles, bartenders are turning drinks into an experience that’s as Instagrammable as it is delicious.



As the party never stops, expect even more bold innovations in the glasses of the country’s trendsetters.

After party at Lagos design and fashion week 2013

Nigeria’s Party Capitals Raising The Bar With Top Five Cocktail Trends

This marks a shift from six rate hikes in 2024.



Nigeria&#8217;s central bank has opted to maintain its benchmark lending rate at 27.50%, as announced by Governor Olayemi Cardoso.



The bank made the decision at its 299th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting concluded today.



This development comes on the heels of the rebasing exercise by the west African nation statistics agency recently, revealing a significantly lower annual inflation rate of 24.48% last month from 34.80% in December last year.



The rate hikes in 2024 cumulatively totaled 875 basis points, aimed at reining in inflation.

Nigeria’s Dying ATMs Leave a Cash-Shaped Hole Filled by Agents

Nigeria Holds Benchmark Rate Steady At 27.50% Amid Lower Inflation

There’s a new compact electric vehicle that holds the title of “cheapest EV” in South Africa, or “least expensive”, whichever way you look at it.



The Dayun S5 Mini SUV EV became available in January for R399,900 ($21,668), dethroning the BYD Dolphin at R539,900 ($29,254). It was announced in July 2024 as the Dayun Yuehu S5 but has since been renamed.



The Dayun S5 Mini SUV is a Chinese import, sold by Enviro Automotive, a Pretoria-based importer and distributor of EVs, and heavy-duty electric trucks and bakkies.



Despite its positioning, it still incurs a higher import duty of 25% when compared to the 18% on internal combustion engine vehicles.



The S5 Mini SUV has a closed-off front grille, LED lights, a 7-inch infotainment screen next to an 8-inch instrument cluster, climate control, Bluetooth and a USB-A port.



Other standard features include driver and passenger airbags, ABS brakes, traction control, hill start assist and cruise control.



The S5 Mini also comes in a “VIP” option for R449,900 ($24,375), which includes a SmartLink app access with additional remote features, larger wheels, and ultrasonic radars for its parking cameras.



The company provided FORBES AFRICA with a loan unit of the VIP model for a weekend in a pale green shade.



The small five-seater EV has a modest 35kW of power and 105Nm of torque and a tiny 31.7kWh battery. It yields a driving range of about 330km, according to WLTP ratings. Top speed is 110km/h.



We tested the vehicle over a rainy weekend in Gauteng, by splitting it between highway driving and urban roads.



The car’s limited 35kW of power was felt on the highway stretch, with vehicles behind flashing us because of our slow speed, which at the time was around 80km/h, yet three lanes away from the fast lane.



The highest speed achieved on the drive to Menlyn near Johannesburg was 107km/h, while going flat out, which felt like it was eating into the range unnecessarily.



While I used 36km of range for the 40km trip one way, on the previous week I netted 8km of range on the electric Mini on the same route.



There was a huge downpour on the return trip and due to a fogged-up windscreen and limited visibility, the aircon had to be used at full speed with the demister to clear the windows.



I felt the car had unintentionally gone through a worst-case scenario, so I was looking forward to city driving the following day. I completed a 25km trip using 18km of range, which was better than the highway stretch.



The speed on urban roads with frequent traffic lights meant I didn’t need to go beyond 80km/h. I found it better suited to urban roads.



When it came to recharging the S5 Mini, it struggled on certain DC fast chargers. It eventually cut off after a short while, but I had better luck with my home AC charger. Enviro Automotive is looking into the charging fault.



The S5 Mini can charge at a 6kW speed on an AC charger and maximum 30kW on a DC charger.



I charged about 16.78kWh of the battery on my home charger, which took about 2.5 hours and cost me less than R45 ($2.43) at a figure of roughly R2.45 per kWh. However, the vehicle comes with a 3-pin plug charger.



A full charge at home costs around R76 on Eskom rates. Comparatively, a public AC charger costs roughly R182 ($9.86) based at a rate of R5.88 per kWh and around R228 ($12.35) on a DC charger at R7.35 per kWh. Eskom charges per kWh while public EV chargers are based on speed.



The Dayun S5 Mini SUV is cheap to run but due to its output, is better suited for short urban commutes, school rounds or as a small business vehicle, including ones that deliver within its vicinity.

Image supplied

For Car And Tech Geeks Only: What It’s Like Driving South Africa’s Most Affordable EV

In November last year, Yemi Alade earned her first Grammy nomination in the 2025 Best African Music Performance category. That moment is already a major milestone for her.



“If you had asked me this six [or] seven years ago, I would say that success for me, personally, is when I win the Grammy. Late last year, I got nominated for a Grammy, and that honestly was a chip on my shoulder. It was a sign to continue to be myself, my original self, irrespective of what the world might think. [I need to] continue to shine in my culture, continue to shine in my personality,” she says.



Although 2024 was a memorable year for Alade, she says her journey in the industry has not always been easy. When she compares the experiences at the beginning of her career to now, Alade says the biggest challenge she has had is with herself.



“Challenges will always come up. It doesn’t matter what stage of life you are in. However, the one challenge that has stayed in my face is being consistent. That is waking up every morning and choosing to do this thing called music. It’s a challenge because nothing good comes easy,” she explains.



“In the beginning, when I had nothing but this talent to offer, it seemed to people like I was crazy, because I was waking up in the morning to go out and sing, and in an African community that makes no sense. And now where I am, at this point, comfort also becomes a huge distraction. The minute I succumb to comfort, I would not be waking up in the morning to choose music. I feel like that’s a personal challenge.”



Well-known for her feature on global icon, Beyonce’s song, The Power, Alade was the first African female Afropop artist to hit over 100 million views on YouTube and VEVO with her hit single, Johnny. It is also among Afrobeats’ biggest songs of all time. Alade released her anticipated sixth studio album, and tenth project overall, Rebel Queen, which features five-time Grammy award-winning artist Angélique Kidjo, in July.



Alade told FORBES AFRICA in an interview in 2024 that the album was a homage to her journey so far, which is why a lot of the music on the album is reminiscent of the core of Afrobeats, as she remembers it. Alade says: “I feel like history is actually in the making, and I am one of the few people holding the pen and writing history in my own time. I feel honored and privileged to experience this. To be one of the many who continue to fly the flag of African music and our culture. It’s a good time to be alive.”

Yemi

Over 30 Under 50: “History Is In The Making, And I Am One Of The Few Holding The Pen.” – Nigerian Singer Yemi Alade

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



Apple announced Wednesday a new addition to its iPhone 16 series, debuting the iPhone 16e to customers, who will soon be able to pre-order the lower-cost model that includes some of the bells and whistles of Apple’s latest iPhone lineup.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



The iPhone 16e will be available for pre-order Friday and launch on Feb. 28, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/02/apple-debuts-iphone-16e-a-powerful-new-member-of-the-iphone-16-family/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Apple</a>, which said the phone would deliver fast performance and “breakthrough battery life” at a more affordable price than other iPhone 16 models.



The iPhone 16e will be powered by the same A18 chip found in the more expensive iPhone 16 base model and has the same 6.1-inch screen the base model has.



The new phone has a 48 megapixel camera system and can shoot video at 4k resolution at 60 frames per second.



The product will also feature Apple Intelligence, the phonemaker’s artificial intelligence tool limited to the iPhone 15 and 16 lineups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-much-does-the-iphone-16e-cost">How Much Does The Iphone 16e Cost?</h2>



The iPhone 16e starts at $599 for its 128 gigabyte model, making it $200 cheaper than the base iPhone 16 model. The 256 GB iPhone 16e is priced at $699, while the 512 GB version is $899.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">Key Background</h2>



Apple has typically released affordable versions of its iPhones through its iPhone SE lineup, which featured smaller displays, lightning ports for charging and lower-performing chips. The iPhone 16e’s release also comes just five months after the release of the iPhone 16 lineup, bucking Apple’s trend of yearly iPhone releases. The tech giant reported $69.1 billion in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/01/30/apple-earnings-preview-record-results-expected-with-china-ai-concerns-in-focus/">iPhone sales last quarter</a>, falling short of Wall Street estimates by nearly $2 billion. Apple’s sales in China also came up $2.4 billion short of expectations during the quarter, generating $18.5 billion in the country dominated by the Huawei and Xiaomi smartphone brands. However, Apple managed 4% year-over-year sales growth and 10% net profit growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">Further Reading</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/01/30/apple-earnings-preview-record-results-expected-with-china-ai-concerns-in-focus/">Apple Earnings: Record Results Even As iPhone, China Sales Fall Short Of Forecasts</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)

Economy And Business In Poland

Apple Announces Lower-Cost iPhone Launching This Month

The country’s parliament announced, on the day that the Budget Speech was expected to be delivered, that it would be postponed until a later date, reportedly over concerns within the GNU about a proposed 2% increase in VAT, among others.



For the first time in its democratic history, South Africa has postponed its 2025 Budget Speech to March 12, after it was initially expected to be delivered on February 19.



This was after reports of an emergency cabinet meeting, called by President Cyril Ramaphosa, earlier on Wednesday following concerns by members of the executive committee, which included a proposed 2% increase in Value Added Tax (VAT). It would have taken the country’s VAT to 17% from the current 15%.



National Assembly speaker, Thoko Didiza announced to parliament that an agreement could not be reached regarding these proposals. &nbsp;



“Cabinet decided not to come and do a presentation of the budget and allow themselves enough time to relook at the budget and come back to this house in March, at a time at which they will inform us,” she said.



Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana later briefed the media on the postponement announcement, where the new date was announced.



“Cabinet is united in the view that the budget must strike a balance between the interest of the public, economic growth and fiscal sustainability,” he said.



Political party leaders in the country have each offered their view with the Economic Freedom Fighters’ Julius Malema stating that “this is unprecedented”.



“This is not a practice we want to set for this parliament. It is going to be your legacy that, during your tenure, that parliament could not debate and adopt a budget. You are denying this body an opportunity to receive a budget, debate it, accept it or reject it,” Malema added in parliament.



The Democratic Alliance&#8217;s (DA) John Steenhuisen later said, “There were some concerns around some of the proposals in the current budget that members of the GNU felt were not in-line with the growth agenda in South Africa”.



“What we want to do is come back with a budget that will give South Africans hope that there is now a big move forward under the Government of National Unity to fix the economy, create jobs and ensure that we can combat the high cost of living.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa Launches South Africa’s G20 Presidency

South Africa’s 2025 Budget Postponed Until March 12

<a href="https://www.forbes.com/"></a><a href="https://www.forbes.com/search/"></a><a href="https://www.forbes.com/"></a><a href="https://www.forbes.com/"></a><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhyatt/"></a>Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote broke his government’s oil monopoly by building the largest petroleum refinery in Africa. So far, only he has reaped the rewards.



<abbr>A</abbr>liko Dangote takes a deep breath,&nbsp;before reflecting on the odyssey of building Africa’s largest oil and gas refinery. “This is a very, very big relief,” says Dangote, who is speaking with&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;via video conference from an office space at the refinery. Between remarks, the tycoon waves away employees off-screen vying for his attention. “It is actually removing something off my chest,” he continues, as if speaking with his therapist. “Because nobody ever gave us the chance to prove this through.”



After 11 years, $23 billion in investment and innumerable headaches, the Dangote Refinery finally began operating last year. Located on a sprawling 6,200-acre campus in Nigeria’s Lekki Free Zone about an hour outside Lagos, the refinery processed around 350,000 barrels of crude per day (b/d) in the second half of 2024. In January, it processed 500,000 b/d. At full capacity, which is expected next month – a whopping 650,000 b/d – the Dangote Refinery will be the seventh largest refinery in the world by production and the biggest in Africa. Its adjacent petrochemical complex has an annual production capacity of 3 million metric tons of urea, making it Africa’s largest fertilizer producer.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter"><img decoding="async" src="https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/67afbd80ac49904e68ea108d/web-Dangote-8x10-cover-02-2025/1960x0.jpg?height=888&amp;width=711&amp;fit=bounds" alt="web-Dangote-8x10-cover-02-2025"/></figure></div>


Dangote’s refinery is already impacting global energy markets. Imports of gasoline into Nigeria are on pace for an eight-year low, affecting the European refiners that traditionally sold to Nigeria, according to energy intelligence firm Vortexa. And thanks to the refinery, Nigeria has become a net exporter of jet fuel, naphtha (a solvent used in varnishes, laundry soaps, cleaning fluids) and fuel oil,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.spglobal.com/commodity-insights/en/news-research/latest-news/crude-oil/112224-feature-refiners-brace-for-margin-pain-as-nigerias-dangote-refinery-scales-up" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according to</a>&nbsp;S&amp;P Global.



With his project coming to fruition, Dangote is now worth an estimated $23.8 billion—almost double what he was worth last year. (He insists he&#8217;s even richer). Already Africa’s wealthiest person, the 67-year-old Nigerian moves back into the ranks of the top 100 richest since 2018, according to&nbsp;Forbes’&nbsp;Real-Time Billionaires List.



It seemed not long ago that Dangote’s refinery might never come on line. In late 2023, some observers expressed doubt the plant would even work. Even once operations began early last year, Dangote struggled to source crude oil from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria’s all-important state-owned oil company, threatening the project’s financial viability.



Dangote says the refinery is part of a larger mission: He wants to make Nigeria, one of the world’s largest producers of crude, into a producer of refined petroleum products to allow it to compete with European refineries and supply gasoline to Nigerians. Prior attempts by the Nigerian government to build and operate large-scale refineries ended in failure, leaving Nigerian consumers and businesses reliant on petrol imports, mostly from Europe. Until recently a fuel subsidy kept gasoline affordable for consumers, but the program has strained Nigeria’s finances and been mired in corruption allegations. Billions of dollars were siphoned off by regulators and middlemen over a period of decades in a scheme that disincentivized maintenance of state-owned refineries, many of which sit idle or in a state of disrepair. “The advent of the Dangote Refinery is transformative for the dynamics of Nigeria&#8217;s energy market,” says Clementine Wallop, an Africa analyst at Horizon Engage, a geopolitical consulting firm.



Dangote wants to provide a blueprint for industrialization across Africa. “We have to build our own nation by ourselves. We have to build our own continent by ourselves, not [rely on] foreign investment,” he says. Africa has been “a mere dumping ground for finished products,” Dangote argues, and his refinery represents “a pivotal step in ensuring that Africa has the capacity to refine its own crude oil, thereby creating wealth and prosperity for its vast population.”



In Nigeria, that hasn’t happened yet. In fact, gas prices have increased 60% in the African nation over the last six months as Dangote’s refinery has ramped up production, according to market intelligence firm Trading Economics. (And that’s before accounting for the country’s inflation, which was 29% in December.) The driver of these cost increases is the elimination of Nigeria’s fuel subsidy, which President Bola Tinubu cut after assuming office in May 2023. Doing so was made possible because of the hope of Dangote’s refinery, but it didn’t last long. The subsidy was quickly reinstated after petrol prices tripled. Tinubu slashed the subsidy again last summer, causing prices to skyrocket a second time. Nigerians are especially sensitive to gas prices, as many businesses and households depend on fuel-powered generators, given the country’s unreliable electric grid. Protesters have taken to the streets of Lagos and other cities to vent their frustrations about increasing gas prices.



Dangote blames the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company (or NNPC), which oversaw Nigeria’s fuel subsidy and which both produces crude and sells refined petrol products. Initially, the NNPC agreed to acquire a 20% stake in Dangote’s refinery with an upfront payment of $1 billion, but later trimmed its stake to about 7% and demanded some of its money back. The NNPC also committed to supply Dangote with 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day, but has failed to fulfill its obligation. The NNPC did not respond to a request for comment.



In September, Dangote sued the NNPC in an attempt to block it from continuing to import and sell refined petrol products, citing a 2021 law requiring domestic producers of crude to supply enough oil to local refineries to meet domestic demand. (That case remains ongoing). The NNPC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/media/6363746461112/naira-crude-deal-dangote-refinery-receives-first-supply-from-nnpcl/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">began</a>&nbsp;supplying Dangote’s refinery with crude in October, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2RyMMLkmX8" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;last month that it may reduce its allocation. Dangote is unsparing in his criticism of the organization, which he says is part of his country’s “oil mafia.”



“The oil mafia are more deadly than the one in drugs, because with the oil mafia there are so many people that are involved,” says Dangote. “You might be wining and dining with them, but these are the guys that are really the masters of moving things around.” An anti-graft commission raided Dangote’s office a year ago, but he insists that he’s on good terms with President Tinubu. “We have an extremely, very good relationship. I’ve known him for a very long time,” he says.



While Nigerians are upset with economic conditions, most are not mad at Dangote. “He is seen in most parts of Nigeria as a hero,” says Zainab Usman, director of the Africa Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “He is seen as a real industrialist who builds things.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/GettyImages-1257252382.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-64691" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/GettyImages-1257252382.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/GettyImages-1257252382-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/GettyImages-1257252382-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Stack towers and pipework at the Dangote Industries Ltd. oil (Photographer: Benson Ibeabuchi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



Born in 1958 to a wealthy family of traders in the city of Kano, Dangote always had ambition. He began his business career on the school playground at age 8 when he parlayed his allowance into a small-time confectionary venture. &#8220;I would use it to buy sweets, and I would give them to some people to sell, and they would bring me the profit,&#8221; Dangote&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2015/03/04/the-little-known-15-billion-empire-of-africas-richest-man/">told</a>&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;back in 2015. After studying business at AlAzhar University in Cairo, he established an import-export trading venture in Lagos with the help of a $500,000 loan from an uncle. Political connections helped the young entrepreneur win “exclusive import rights in sugar, cement, and rice,” said a State Department cable unearthed by WikiLeaks.



In the late 1990s, Nigeria’s rulers began promoting domestic industry as the country transitioned from years of military rule into a democracy. Dangote capitalized on the change, securing tax incentives to build a sugar mill, flour refinery and cement factory. The cement business has been especially lucrative, generating gross margins of over 60% most years. (Prior to the opening of the refinery, publicly-traded Dangote Cement, of which Dangote owns 86%, accounted for the largest piece of his fortune.) As his empire grew, Dangote maintained goodwill with successive regimes, in large part because of his conglomerate’s focus on consumers. “I think he’s believed staunchly in the fact that Nigerians need products that he has to offer,” says Chika Ezeanya, a professor of African studies at Soka University of America. “Governments can come and go, policies can be changed, but the needs of the Nigerian consumer will only grow and expand.”



When Dangote first announced his refinery in 2013, his plan was to build the plant in southwest Nigeria. Dangote bought refinery technology from Honeywell UOP, a division of the American conglomerate, and brought in engineers from Engineers India Ltd., a state-backed engineering consulting firm, to help design the massive plant. His longtime lieutenant, Edwin Devakumar, a former World Bank engineer, was put in charge. The projected cost was around $10 billion. “It was the biggest risk of my life,” says Dangote about his decision to embark on the project. “If this didn’t work, I was dead.”



After three years of delays due to disputes with local officials, Dangote abandoned his plans to build on the original site. He forked over $100 million to Nigeria’s government to acquire land in its current location outside of Lagos, but due to that site’s swampy conditions, he had to dredge 65 million cubic meters of sand and construct a port to move it all. Along the way, construction displaced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/jun/03/lagos-nigeria-dangote-industrial-complex-refinery-fertiliser-plant#:~:text=7%20months%20old-,'There%20is%20nowhere%20to%20fish%20any%20more'%3A%20life%20in,of%20Nigeria's%20biggest%20industrial%20complex&amp;text=On%20the%20outskirts%20of,with%20floodlights%20and%20security%20cameras." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">thousands of people</a>, prompting local backlash. Then Covid hit, delaying and complicating the schedule. “I can spend the whole day telling you about these challenges,” Dangote sighs.



The costs accumulated—in part because Dangote kept insisting on making the refinery bigger than originally planned. He took out $5.5 billion in bank loans and sold off 3% stakes in his cement business to Dubai’s investment corporation and an Australian sovereign wealth fund in 2013 for about $300 million apiece; he later sold off other slices to private equity firm Gateway Partners and others for undisclosed sums. An intercompany loan for $10 billion from his holding company – which owns his cement, flour and sugar businesses – helped fund the refinery&#8217;s years of cost overruns. The total tab of nearly $23 billion was more than double initial projections.



The refinery still has about $3 billion in outstanding debt. In August, Fitch downgraded its rating on the publicly traded bonds due to “significant deterioration in the group&#8217;s liquidity position” following the refinery’s under-utilization last year due to lack of crude, as well as the plummeting value of Nigeria’sNaira, which has lost over 70% of its value against the dollar since June 2023 when Nigeria’s, central bank floated the currency. Dangote says that liquidity is not a problem, and that the refinery is sufficiently dollarized (meaning that his foreign customers pay in U.S. dollars) to withstand the Naira&#8217;s devaluation.



Facing these challenges, Dangote is determined to make the refinery a success. He has set up a family office in Dubai and his three daughters work for the family business in various capacities, yet most of his focus is still firmly in Nigeria, not on succession planning. The billionaire says that he still spends a lot of his time at his refinery, meeting with engineers and managers. Plus there are more challenges ahead—including building a subsea pipeline to transport natural gas from the Niger Delta to Lagos, and doubling output at the refinery’s fertilizer plant. He also says he wants to take the refinery public in the next year or two.



“I’ve been fighting battles all my life,” Dangote says, “and I have not lost one yet.

Dangote Group Chief Executive Officer Aliko Dangote Interview

Africa’s Richest Man Doubled His Fortune On A Massive — And Risky — $23 Billion Bet

Abu Dhabi-based AppliedAI, which helps healthcare companies and insurers automate claims and billing, just raised $55 million in a deal led by G42 with Palantir and Bessemer



Abu Dhabi is best known in tech for bankrolling foreign startups, venture funds and now AI mega projects like OpenAI’s infrastructure Stargate via its massive sovereign wealth funds. But the UAE also has a small but growing AI ecosystem.



One such startup, AppliedAI, which was originally founded in London in 2021 but moved to Abu Dhabi the following year to take advantage of government grants, has now raised one of the region’s largest early-stage venture funding rounds. G42, the AI lab controlled by United Arab Emirates’ national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed, has led a $55 million Series A round into the company, along with Palantir, Bessemer Venture Partners, McKinsey, and Accrete Capital. The new funding puts a $300 million pre-money valuation on the startup, which uses a mix of humans and AI to automate back-office jobs.



AppliedAI founder and CEO Arya Bolurfrushan has zeroed in on highly regulated insurances like healthcare, insurance and pharma that have mountains of paperwork that need to be manually processed. Among AppliedAI’s current clients are Abu Dhabi’s state-owned health group M42, American law firm Morgan &amp; Morgan and British drug safety monitoring company Qinecsa.



Bolurfrushan’s pitch is that his AI, and human reviewers, can process complex medical billing records or insurance claims faster and more accurately than traditional outsourcing companies like Cognizant, Concentrix and Wipro.&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2785479" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Studies</a>&nbsp;suggest that such paperwork and other administrative expenses count for at least 15% of the $4.9 trillion spent on healthcare in the United States annually.



“All our work is what we call high cost of error workflows where often human lives are on the line,” Bolurfrushan told&nbsp;Forbes. “You can’t afford hallucinations and that’s why we have an essential harmony between our AI and human agents.”



Bolurfrushan declined to reveal AppliedAi’s revenue but said that company had processed over 4 million pages of U.S. medical records in the last year alone.



Applied had previously raised $42 million in 2022 from G42 and Dubai’s ruling Al Maktoum family,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-17/uae-royals-back-ai-startup-founded-by-former-goldman-banker" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>&nbsp;reported. Bolurfrushan, a former Goldman Sachs banker, told&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;the new cash would be used to further develop its AI tools, and expand its team to work with more clients in the United States and Europe.



G42, Abu Dhabi’s flagship AI project, received its own funding boost last year when Microsoft invested $1.5 billion to take a minority stake. That investment came as part of a deal for G42 to divest from China and end its work with Huawei over fears from American lawmakers that this could allow China’s tech giants to access U.S. AI technology and chips.



One investor in the deal, London-based venture fund Accrete, was also cofounded by Bolurfrushan.



The deal marks Bessemer’s first investment in the UAE in what is one of the region’s largest Series A rounds for a startup. “What AppliedAI has built enables the automation jobs to be done faster and cheaper but with a human in the loop,” Sofia Guerra, vice president of Bessemer Venture Partners, told Forbes.

Asian business people team brainstorm meeting in sustainable office at night, using computer monitor. Discuss ESG (environmental social corporate governance) project planning. Responsible organization

AI Startup Raises One Of The Biggest Series A Rounds Ever For Middle Eastern Company

Africa’s next wave of innovation will likely emerge not from Lagos or Nairobi but from Kigali, Dakar, Or Tunis &#8211; offering global investors the chance to discover untapped potential in the continent’s diverse and rapidly-evolving markets.



LATE LAST YEAR, Penelope Terranova posted a call to action on LinkedIn. Her post wasn’t just another entry in the digital ether; it was a rallying cry to experts. She sought professionals skilled in accounting, legal, and business growth to help transform Africa’s overlooked startup ecosystems. The post, which listed 18 priority countries — excluding the continent’s ‘Big 4’ of Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa — sparked a reaction.



One comment from a Nigerian LinkedIn user encapsu- lated a common sentiment: “Coming to Africa and leaving out Africa’s most populous nation and biggest economy, which is Nigeria, is very strange.”



Terranova responded with a measured explanation. “The Big 4 capture over 80% of all investment on the con- tinent,” she wrote. “That is why they are not in our prior- ity of countries to invest in.”



Her reasoning was clear: Africa’s startup landscape is evolving, but much of the attention — and funding — re- mains concentrated in a handful of countries.



Initiatives are now on the rise with a mission to bridge that gap, focusing on regions often ignored by mainstream investors.



The Shit To Emerging Markets



This new approach reflects a broader trend. In 2024, startup funding across Africa dropped by 25%, down to $2.2 billion. How- ever, beneath the surface of this contraction, new markets were emerging as hotbeds of in- novation.



Ghana and Tanzania led the charge outside the Big 4, securing 26 deals each and raising $67 million and $53 million, respectively.



Senegal and the Ivory Coast, bolstered by regional trade integration and supportive policies, com- peted for leadership in Francophone West Africa.



In North Africa, the Tunisian Startup Act continued to bear fruit, making the country a leader in deep tech, spanning AI, biotech, and cloud computing, which shows promise for global adoption.



Emmanuel Adegboye, Head of Madica, a structured investment program for African pre-seed stage compa- nies, highlights the unique advantages of North African markets like Tunisia. “These regions have an abundance of technical talent, a low cost of living, and proximity to major markets,” Adegboye notes to FORBES AFRICA.



Morocco, with its robust research and development (R&amp;D) infrastructure and proximity to European mar- kets, remained a magnet for deal activity.



Meanwhile, in East Africa, Rwanda’s innovation- friendly policies and Uganda’s steady investment attraction turned them into rising stars. Terranova shares with FORBES AFRICA: “Sectorally, fintech remains the clear leader and is likely to remain so, even in untapped markets, as we see the rapid expansion of digital payments, lending platforms, and financial inclusion initiatives. However, other sectors such as agritech, healthtech and edtech are advancing quickly, addressing Africa’s pressing challenges of affordable and scalable solutions in those industries, with AI as a com- mon thread driving innovation across these sectors.’’



Untapped Potential In Underserved Regions



Terranova’s team at Digital Africa focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage startups, the most vulnerable phases in a company’s journey. Their model combines funding with robust support systems: mentorship, tools, and networking opportunities tailored to the unique challenges of operating in underserved markets. In 2024, their investment in media startup Makifaa reportedly marked the only re- corded startup deal in Togo.



The impact of this strategy is two-fold. It fosters localized growth, reducing dependency on the Big 4, while also presenting new opportunities for global investors.



“Several countries shine as bright spots for invest- ment,’’ Terranova explains. “Countries possess varying levels of the essential ‘ingredients’ for success, which can enhance or limit the chances of local startups to thrive – such as the quality of the infrastructure, the ease of doing business, the availability of capital, the market depth, or the level of education and availability of talent.’’



Catalyzing Inclusive Innovation



For Adegboye, the approach goes beyond financial invest- ment. “It requires building the ecosystem— strengthening local leaders, providing patient capital, and offering guid- ance on governance and scalability. This model ensures the long-term sustainability of startups, even in the most challenging markets.’’



Inclusivity is at the heart of Digital Africa’s mission. Gender diversity is a key metric; 50% of its portfolio consists of gender-diverse teams. The Talent 4 Startups initiative has trained tech professionals, bridging the talent gap for startups. “As a subsidiary of Proparco within the AFD Group and in collaboration with 60+ Startup Support Organizations across the continent, we amplify our reach, including co-investment opportunities, aligning with both financial sustainability and our mission to propel African startups,’’ Terranova explains. The future of African startups lies not in a few dominant markets but in the collective rise of many. Channeling resources to underserved regions, promoting inclusivity, and investing in early-stage ventures, initiatives are reshaping the narrative.

Business colleagues discussing project in office

In The Spotlight: Africa’s New Tech Centers Coming Into View

The cement producer is expanding in theEast African nation despite past security challenges.



Aliko Dangote, founder of Dangote Industries with the subsidiary Dangote Cement, recently announced a $400 million investment to revive a second production line at the Mugher cement plant in Ethiopia.



The expansion, projected to be completed within the next 30 months, is expected to double the nine-year-old plant’s capacity to 5 million metric tons annually.



The plant, which is one of the Dangote cement plants operational in 10 countries across the continent, was reportedly plagued by violence and political instability.



“Despite the ups and downs, we have successfully repaid all our loans and repatriated our profit,” Africa&#8217;s richest man reportedly confirmed.



He also revealed plans for a new greenfield cement grinding unit with a capacity of 3 million tons per annum.



In partnership with state-owned Ethiopian Investment Holdings, Dangote&#8217;s company will invest in the Omo Kuraz sugar factory.

30th Afreximbank Annual Import-Export Fair In Ghana

Sub-Saharan Africa’s Largest Cement Producer Bets Big On Ethiopia With Expansion Plans And New Greenfield Grinding Unit

With a career that began at a young age and as a woman who is no stranger to being in the limelight, Minnie Dlamini tells FORBES AFRICA that she believes in turning her challenges into opportunities. It’s a lesson that she only truly learned, now, in her 30s.



“I don’t think I would have been able to handle everything that I’ve handled – good and bad – all the opportunities, the resources that have been afforded to me, the resources that I’ve gone out and gotten myself, had I been younger,” Dlamini says.



“[I] needed to go through life, to be older, and to be this 34-year-old woman so that I can fully embrace everything that’s coming my way.” Having hosted a multitude of events and award shows such as the South African Music Awards (SAMAs); the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs); Miss World South Africa and the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCAs), and presented at the cov- eted BET Awards in Los Angeles in the U.S., Dlamini burst onto the scene in 2010 while covering the Youth Day and World Cup celebration shows.



It was not long after that she found herself immersed in the world of sports broadcasting.



“One of the things I wanted to do was to create an environment where watching sports with your male counterparts, be it with your father or significant other, was normal and just redefining how people consume sports in a mainstream entertainment way,” she says.



Her success in the entertainment industry motivated her to start her own production company, Beautiful Day Productions, which pro- duced a pilot series called Becoming Mrs. Jones, a competition reality show called Spirit Of Mzansi, two Showmax movies; Goodbye Gogo and No Love Lost, as well as a viewer-generated content show for Channel O called Own The O.



However, as a woman, being in the public eye has not always been smooth sailing. She notes the comments made about her when she an- nounced her divorce from her husband in 2022.



“The world is not kind to a woman who’s getting divorced, which I think is an incredibly painful narrative. I thought [that] was something completely outdated, but I had no idea that, in this day and age, I’d be ostracized for getting divorced, and that was incredibly painful,” she says.



Dlamini did not let it stop her, as she again turned her lemons into lemonade by taking part in Roast of Minnie Dlamini on Showmax.



“I used that opportunity and we had the Roast; got paid lots of money,” she explains with a smile.



“…but more than anything, I got to use it as an opportunity to laugh at myself, and as a great brand exercise. If we take the finances away, it was an incredible brand exercise for me; it was an incredible career move that was risky, but the risk definitely paid off.”

Minnie

Over 30 Under 50: ‘I Don’t Think I Could Have Handled Everything I’ve Faced – Good And Bad – Had I Been Younger.’/ South African Actor Minnie Dlamini

The managing director for Africa and Global Partnerships at the World Resources Institute, Wanjira Mathai has led the green belt movement in Kenya as the former chair, the organization her mother, the late Wangari Maathai founded in 1977. From Nairobi, she spoke to FORBES AFRICA about issues such as climate change, youth leadership and landscape restoration – crucial conversations as she honors the 20th anniversary of her mother’s Nobel Peace Prize. here are exclusive excerpts from the interview.



Q. Twenty years on since your mother, Professor Wangari Maathai, won the Nobel Peace Prize, how much does she influence your thinking even now? 



A. We are working on a year-long celebration of the 20 years of the Nobel prize. In 2004, my mother was the first environmentalist and first African woman to receive the prize, and it has so many moments of resonance with things that we are still realizing 20 years later. We feel that it’s really important to unpack the power of that prize, the foresight that she had, a lot of the warnings that she gave us, and just the way she so effortlessly and brilliantly wove sustainability with the environment. That message still resonates, and she made history 20 years ago. The power, beauty, wisdom and genius of the Green Belt Movement is really showing up again in ways that we had hoped would continue. I’m really proud of what they’re doing now.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/GettyImages-1757003682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-64665" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/GettyImages-1757003682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/GettyImages-1757003682-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/GettyImages-1757003682-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">King Charles III (C) is guided by daughter of Professor Wangari Maathai, Wanjira Mathai (R) and a Government official (L) during a visit to Karura urban forest( Photo by Pool &#8211; Phil Noble/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



Q. How far did this upbringing by a strong woman inspire you? Is being an environmentalist something you always wanted to do?



A. Actually, quite the contrary. My entire educational career was in public health, so I went in a completely different path. I was a scientist, and I remember feeling that we don’t all have to do the same thing, and it was really important that we do something different, because she’s done the environment thing. But I think, in retrospect, my mother planted the seed in all of us, actually in the family, but also in us as a country. A lot of what she said, a lot of what she did, a lot of what she wrote was often always for posterity.



[Growing up], we used to live in a rather small compound, and in that space, [my mother made us] plant something all the time. If people asked where we lived, they would [be told], ‘just follow the trees’, because it was the only compound, about a quarter of an acre, that was packed with green vegetation. It does influence your sense of what’s beautiful…



I was working very happily in Atlanta in public health, working on diseases I had never heard of. My mother would always say, a healthy environment supports healthy people. Everything she did and said was about the environment – the food we eat, the air we breathe. She was so clear the environment was central to who and what we are. And if we destroy the environment, we destroy ourselves. In public health too, we would come back to the same conclusion; we were dealing with diseases that had to do with polluted water or contaminated water, with the lack of sanitation, with mosquitoes carrying these diseases, all of them had to do with an environment in distress, or an environment out of balance. In retrospect, it showed me that my mother was right. The environment is everything. She colored the environment constantly with this deep sense of beauty and wonder, and I think that had to have an influence on us, that would manifest much later. Her message, her energy, her aura, her charisma, captivated the world in a way we never appreciated or understood then.



I had the sheer gift of working with my mother, traveling with her, meeting some of the most extraordinary leaders and humans around the world, and just feeling like I was the luckiest person in the world.



[When she passed], people were like, ‘how is it going to be to live in the shadow of this giant’, and I remember thinking in my heart and saying, ‘I’m not living in her shadow, I’m basking in her light’…



We set up the Wangari Maathai Foundation, focusing on youth leadership. It continues to carry the legacy work. And it’s actually the foundation that’s leading the 20-year celebration [of her Nobel prize], because we’re saying this is part of the legacy. The Green Belt Movement continues, I then moved to chair the foundation. Then I joined the World Resources Institute, leading the Africa strategy work, but I feel, in many ways, this is like the intersection of everything I’ve done, from the environment to public health work. I feel so energized, I feel lucky to have the global reach that I have as a global partnership director, but I also feel so grounded in the work that is happening, and that is a privilege.



Q. You were in Cape Town in November 2024 as a member of the Earthshot Prize Council which also includes names such as Prince William, Queen Rania, Cate Blanchet and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. What was the experience like?



A. The Earthshot Prize is bigger than any prize. 2030 is around the corner, and we need some really big, bold ideas that will lead to transformative change. All the finalists of the prize, 15 of them, become part of an ecosystem of support second to none. It’s not just the prize itself. They’ve been able to raise their visibility and the prominence of the work they do. It’s an ecosystem of support building catalytic, transformative change, and in the sectors that are most important in the environment. It’s a privilege to sit on the Prize Council, with some of the people I most admire. And it’s so normal – everybody’s grappling, everybody shares their opinions. You don’t have to all agree, but we all get to the same place in the end.



Q. What&#8217;s it like working with Prince William?



A. On the jury, he’s just a jury member like the rest of us. He gives his opinion, shares what he’s saying and you agree or not, and he literally makes it so easy. He’s a humble human and not there believing he’s doing it better than someone else. It’s the service. He’s actually also in awe of what the prize has achieved. He was really grateful for the council, but also spent a lot of time with the prize winners. He was very accessible and approachable. He was very generous.



Q. In 2024, you announced $17.8 million in funding for 92 local land restoration groups as part of the WRI&#8217;s partnership with the TerraFund for AFR100 initiative.



A. AFR100 is a pan-African country-led effort to restore 100 million hectares. It was a deliberately huge target as ambition has to be high, and that ambition was getting governments to make a commitment around how much they will restore. They all made commitments. And actually, we beat the 100-million-hectare target, but the real work is in where exactly is the restoration going to happen and who is going to do it etc. We saw the AFR100 transform into multiple other movements…



Q. With Africa&#8217;s great youth dividend, how do you get the youth to be so involved and compassionate about the environment? They seem to be so much more driven than the previous generations.



A. Anyone who’s watching Kenya right now knows that that generation is extremely activated, not necessarily because they care so much about one thing or the other, but it’s really about their deep sense of justice. They feel that accountability and integrity are the most important things. If your job is to deliver ABC, deliver it. If you don’t, they actually have the agency and the power to do something about it. My generation was different. We came from a dictatorial environment where we were actually fearful of challenging government authority. This generation doesn’t have any of that fear, and that’s really inspiring to see, because they perceive that you should be doing the right thing, public opinion notwith- standing. It’s a very refreshing sense of justice… They care about how they are governed. We have 70% of people in Kenya who are under the age of 35. It’s a very interesting time to see what’s happening. I’m really inspired by them. They need our solidarity. They need our commitment.



Q. You were named one of Time magazine&#8217;s 100 Most Influential African Women in 2018, 2020 and 2021. Last year, you were named one of its 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders. It must feel special.



A. It’s most generous. It’s an honor. It reminds you that you need to keep ploughing on and doing what you’re doing is important. But I also know that there are so many people do- ing amazing things. Maybe they don’t get seen, maybe they don’t get heard. So, it’s a privilege to be seen.



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2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Wangari Maathai

‘My Mother’s Deep Sense Of Beauty And Wonder’: On Wangari Maathai, 20 Years Since Her Nobel Peace Prize

In 2022, Sheila Atim made her way to South Africa to film a movie that, to this day, has had a profound impact on her.



It would explore themes like racism, gender-based violence, and female oppression, to name a few, and most of which still plague Africa today. It’s a story that Atim believes stands the test of time.



Alongside award-winning actors, Viola Davis and Thuso Mbedu, the film is about a fierce, all-female warrior regiment that protects the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s.



“There are many other [defining] moments in my career. I don’t just only value the things that get lots of public traction. Things that feel like they’ve genuinely touched people mean a lot [to me]. I know it sounds like a sort of obvious thing to say, but it is the truth.”



Atim was born in Uganda and moved to the United Kingdom with her mother when she was five months old. Growing up in Essex, she was always a creative child, and her mother embraced that about her. “I give a lot of credit to my mum because she was progressive in her thinking at that moment [when I decided I wanted to be in the entertainment industry]. A big part of it [was] about allowing her to understand and experience what I was doing, for herself,” Atim says after recalling the time her mother watched her star in Jesus Christ Superstar at school.



This was after her mother had told her that, as a final-year student, if she was planning on doing her A-levels in drama, she could not do the show.



“I lied, and auditioned for the school show anyway, and I didn’t tell her that that’s what I’ve been doing after school. They were selling tickets to the parents, and I just gave her a letter… I was playing Mary Magdalene so I was very visible,” she recalls with a laugh.



“I remember in the car afterwards, my mom was really proud and really happy. She has always been very supportive of my artistic side.”



Soon after, Atim thought she would be going to medical school to become a doctor. But following a rejection and the subsequent disappointment, she went on to study biomedical science, earning her degree at King’s College London. She continued to pursue music during the time.



“At first I thought I was just going to be a singer and songwriter, and then that ended up expanding into so much more because of the different artistic avenues I was going down while I was studying in London.”



Atim looks back at these moments, excited to be at the forefront of storytelling, especially as an African actor. She also continues to intentionally choose projects that consist of upliftment, growth and truth. Atim sees it as her duty to play a wide array of roles, but to also bring a level of authenticity to every one of those characters.



“Storytelling, whether it’s through song, dance, literal storytelling or the written word, is such a huge and intrinsic part of most African cultures, if not all. And for us to be able to transmute that now into broader avenues of expression, and avenues of expression that have a place on the global stage, is really important. And I feel like it’s something we’re owed.



“Africans, African culture, and the diaspora have been contributing to mainstream culture forever – that’s not a new thing. But to be able to lead the charge on our work and be credited for it directly and reap direct benefits from it as well is a wonderful development.” And on the multifarious opportunities there are, she says: “I think greeting each with curiosity and the attitude that there’s always something new to learn, and what a wonderful thing to be able to apply to your craft in multiple different ways. I think that’s really exciting.”

Sheila

Over 30 Under 50: ‘Africans Have Been Contributing To Mainstream Culture Forever… To Be Credited For It Directly Is A Wonderful Development.’/Ugandan-British actor Sheila Atim

Tag: Africa

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