Business
Africa’s Moment at the G20: From Margin to Mainstage
Africa’s Moment at the G20: From Margin to Mainstage.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
“How South Africa put the continent’s development at the centre of a historic summit and why the world cannot afford to look away.”
For decades Africa has been discussed at global gatherings as an addendum to other priorities, a footnote in communiqués, a sidebar at finance tables, a line-item in aid budgets. This week, under South Africa’s stewardship, that CALCULATING COMPLACENCY was CHALLENGED. For the first time in the Group of Twenty’s history, the G20 Leaders’ Summit convened on African soil (in Johannesburg on 22–23 November 2025) and with that simple fact the political geometry of global development shifted. The summit did not merely symbolically recognise Africa; South Africa used the platform to insist that Africa’s success is an indispensable engine of global stability, prosperity and sustainability.
This was not window dressing. Pretoria arrived with a clear, UNAPOLOGETIC PLAYBOOK: put debt, disaster resilience, green transition finance and inclusive growth at the top of the agenda; insist on concrete instruments that re-calibrate the global financial architecture in ways that favour developing countries; and compel the G20 to reckon publicly with the reality that a rising Africa is not charity; it is mutual interest. President Cyril Ramaphosa opened the Summit invoking Ubuntu (“I am because we are”) and framed Africa’s priority as existential to the G20’s mission of global stability and shared prosperity. That framing was not rhetorical flourish; it was an organising principle for a summit whose declaration and accompanying ministerial statements placed Africa-centred solutions at the centre of actionable commitments.
Why this matters is straightforward and urgent. Africa is home to the world’s youngest and fastest-growing workforce, vast arable land, and some of the largest untapped renewable-energy resources. Ignoring these assets is not merely unjust – it is self-defeating. The continent accounts for a disproportionate share of unmet infrastructure needs, climatically vulnerable populations and accelerating debt-service burdens that crowd out spending on health, education and industrialisation. Unless the international system changes how it finances development (and unless private capital is convincingly mobilised alongside smarter public instruments) Africa’s demographic dividend will risk becoming a global liability instead of an opportunity. The South African Presidency’s Africa Expert Panel and the accompanying reports handed to G20 leaders served as a precise roadmap for that transformation.
South Africa’s presidency pressed for PRAGMATIC TOOLS, not PLATITUDES. Among the priority asks were a G20-backed debt-refinancing or debt-resilience mechanism coordinated with the IMF and World Bank; a much larger, predictable pipeline for blended concessional finance to crowd in private investment; and strengthened disaster-risk financing and early-response capacity to protect vulnerable economies from climate shocks. These are not boutique recommendations. They are fundamental fixes to a system that has long treated Africa’s finance needs as episodic crises rather than predictable structural deficits. The G20 Finance Track and ministerial communiqués in 2025 explicitly addressed these themes — a tangible sign that the conversation has moved from moral exhortation to institutional design.
The summit also produced hard political theatre – proof that South Africa was willing to use the G20’s spotlight to TEST ENTRENCHED POWER DYNAMICS. The adoption of a leaders declaration on the opening day, and the content of that declaration, exposed genuine fault lines among the world’s leading economies on how far to go in rebalancing the rules of global finance and climate responsibility. The contestation underscored an uncomfortable truth: reordering global norms for fairness will be as much a political struggle as a technical exercise. Yet the mere fact that these issues were negotiated in Johannesburg (with African priorities front and centre) is a strategic victory.
Voices with gravitas reinforced South Africa’s case. António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, commended the Summit’s theme and urged leaders to confront inequality and accelerate renewable-energy deployment in Africa; Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank, has long argued that Africa can be pivotal for global growth if capital is redirected toward productive investment on the continent. Scholars and policy experts (from Masood Ahmed to leading think-tanks and the AfDB itself) have repeatedly warned that without predictable, affordable financing and better debt architecture, African countries face chronic underinvestment in human capital and infrastructure. Those warnings were woven into the Summit’s policy fabric, not left on the sidelines.
But rhetoric and report pages will not, on their own, produce change. The litmus test for Johannesburg’s legacy will be implementation: will the G20 convert words into new instruments that lower the cost of capital for African projects, underwrite early-warning systems for climate disasters, operationalise debt-refinancing facilities, and create measurable channels that crowd private investment into bankable African projects? South Africa has set the agenda; now the INSTITUTIONAL HEAVY LIFTING must follow. That requires transparent timelines, independent monitoring, and the political courage to deploy concessional resources in ways that catalyse (not substitute for) private investment. The Africa Expert Panel’s proposals provide that scaffolding; the G20 and its member institutions must now build.
There are inevitable skeptics. Some will say the G20 is a flawed vehicle for structural reform; that it privileges geopolitics over development, short-term optics over long-term system change. Yet this critique misses a simple fact: global governance institutions only change when coalitions force them to. South Africa’s leadership in bringing the G20 to the continent and insisting on an Africa-first policy prescription demonstrates how leadership, moral clarity and diplomatic skill can generate a political opening. The question now is whether other members will match rhetoric with resources and reforms. If they do not, the failure will be not of South Africa’s resolve but of global will.
For Africans, the Johannesburg summit should be a moment of tempered optimism – not complacency. The G20’s new focus on debt sustainability, green finance, and pipeline development offers a rare alignment between technical options and political opportunity. But Africa’s leaders must also match international action with domestic reform: better project preparation, stronger institutions, transparent procurement, and regional integration that creates scale for investment. When African governments pair disciplined governance with a reformed global system of finance, the continent’s transformation will accelerate. In short: the G20 can open the door – but Africa must walk through it with purpose.
This is South Africa’s historic gift to the continent and to the world: a blunt, unambiguous reminder that Africa’s fortunes are not peripheral. They are central to a just and prosperous global order. The Johannesburg summit has set a precedent – a test of whether the world’s most powerful economies will finally act in concert to make that centrality real. If the commitments made here are followed by concrete instruments, predictable finance and honest political follow-through, we will look back on this moment as the pivot from a world that talked about Africa to one that invested in Africa’s future. If not, history will record a missed opportunity of global consequence.
Africa’s success is not a REGIONAL FAVOUR; it is a GLOBAL IMPERATIVE. South Africa has, in Johannesburg, placed that imperative on the G20’s table. Now the hard work begins: to convert WORDS into CAPITAL, PLANS into PROJECTS, and PROMISES into MEASURABLE PROGRESS. The lives and livelihoods of millions depend on the answer.
Business
Dream Big, Start Small: ILÉ IYÁN CEO Invests in UNILAG Students, Igniting Hope and Entrepreneurship
“Dream Big, Start Small: ILÉ IYÁN CEO Invests in UNILAG Students, Igniting Hope and Entrepreneurship”
In a remarkable act of giving back and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs, Sanni Sheriff, the visionary Founder and CEO of ILÉ IYÁN ORIGINAL, visited his alma mater, the University of Lagos, and awarded academic scholarships to students residing in Room B312, Jaja Hall the very room where his entrepreneurial journey began 15 years ago.
What started as a humble hustle selling sandwiches from his hostel room has grown into ILÉ IYÁN, an iconic culinary brand with a global footprint. This historic return is not just a personal milestone for Chef Sanni, but a powerful message to students across Nigeria: dreams are valid, no matter how small the beginnings.
“When I started in B312, all I had was a dream and determination. Today, returning to this room to invest in the students living here means more than words can express. It’s proof that resilience, focus, and hard work can take you anywhere. My hope is that these scholarships empower the next generation to dream bigger and start where they are,” said Chef Sanni Sheriff, CEO and Founder of ILÉ IYÁN.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sanni Afeez, the General Manager ILÉ IYÁN Nigeria also added:
“At ILÉ IYÁN, we believe that true success is measured not only by business growth but by the impact we create in our communities. Our recent scholarship program at the University of Lagos reflects this commitment. Revisiting the very roots of our visionary CEO’s journey and investing in the students of Jaja Hall is more than symbolic, it is our way of inspiring hope, fostering education, and encouraging entrepreneurship among young Nigerians.
As part of our 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, this program represents the beginning of a broader mission to empower the next generation with opportunities to dream, learn, and lead. ILÉ IYÁN remains dedicated to being a bridge between heritage, innovation, and social impact.”
Through this initiative, ILÉ IYÁN continues its commitment to education, entrepreneurship, and community development, building not only a leading West African culinary brand but also a legacy of impact and inspiration.
Beyond Business: Cultural & Social Impact
Under Sanni Sheriff’s leadership, ILÉ IYÁN ORIGINAL is becoming a cultural institution, celebrating Nigerian heritage, food, and togetherness, it cements its place as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s cultural renaissance and a must-visit destination for locals and tourists alike,
By investing in UNILAG students, ILÉ IYÁN is closing the loop, paying forward the same support and community spirit that helped Sheriff himself when he was a student.
A Beacon of Hope
* For Students: The scholarships and competition are more than financial aid, they are a launchpad for entrepreneurship, especially in the culinary space.
* For ILÉ IYÁN: This is not just CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), but a core part of its mission. It reflects the brand’s roots and founder’s journey.
* For Nigeria: Initiatives like this highlight how business success can be leveraged for social good, nurturing talent, preserving culture, and building futures.
Looking Ahead
As ILÉ IYÁN continues to grow (most recently opening a 200-guest capacity headquarters in Lekki Lagos. Nigeria, the company’s investment in education signals a broader ambition: not just to be a culinary leader, but a cultural and social platform. Through scholarship, mentorship, and opportunity, Sheriff is ensuring that the next generation of UNILAG students and young Nigerians more broadly have access to the tools they need to dream big, start small, and build something lasting.
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*FBNQUEST: Nestoil and Neconde are not under any receivership
The purported publication that Nestoil and Neconde are under Receivership is blatantly false and an attempt to prejudice on going pending suit between First Bank Trustees and FBNQuest Merchant against Nestoil and others.
It is pertinent to note that an ex-parte application by plaintiffs for judicial recognition of their purported Receiver manager was refused. Further more all issues requesting Judicial recognition in the substantive suit by the plaintiffs on behalf of the secondary lender Banks led by First Bank are still pending for hearing at the Federal High Court Ikoyi Lagos.
Consequently any publication that Nestoil and Neconde are under Receivership is totally false ,prejucial and contempt of court.
An inchoate Receiver Manager appointment with out recognition by the court as in this case has no powers to seize the defendants assets including freezing of its accounts and that of its Directors.
The plaintiffs and its purported Receiver manager can not blow hot and cold at the same time.Nigeria law forbids self help.
The plaintiffs having gone to court,they should as lawful citizens await final determination of their suits for judicial recognition of the Receiver ship amongst other reliefs.
Bank
ZENITH BANK CELEBRATES TECH EXCELLENCE, REWARDS HACKATHON WINNERS WITH ₦140 MILLION AT TECH FAIR 5.0
ZENITH BANK CELEBRATES TECH EXCELLENCE, REWARDS HACKATHON WINNERS WITH ₦140 MILLION AT TECH FAIR 5.0
Zenith Bank Plc has rewarded ten African innovators with a total of ₦140 million in cash prizes following a highly competitive Hackathon and Startup Pitch Competition at the 5th Edition of the Zenith Tech Fair, themed “Future Forward 5.0: Tech for Success – Innovate, Adapt, Accelerate.”
The event held on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
This year’s Tech Fair, which attracted thousands of developers, founders, and entrepreneurs from across Africa, featured a dual-competition format comprising a high-stakes Hackathon for product builders and a Startup Pitch Competition for early-stage ventures.
From over 2,000 applicants in the Zecathon, ten finalists emerged and shared the ₦140 million prize pool. Two standout winners—the champions of each category—received ₦30 million each:
Trust Loop — Winner, Hackathon category, for its seamless digital KYC and liveness verification solution.
Cubbes Technologies Limited — Winner, Startup Pitch Competition, for its AI-powered EdTech platform designed to enhance learning and career readiness.
The remaining eight finalists—Venille Ltd, Sowota, FLOW, InvoPay, Zenith Intelliscore, The Very Hacked Men, Konfam, and Zerax—each received ₦10 million in non-dilutive funding. All ten teams will also undergo a six-week mentorship and incubation programme from December 2025 to February 2026.
Leadership Voices: A Future Built on Tech
In her welcome address, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank, praised the visionary leadership of the bank’s Founder and Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, whose foresight birthed the Zenith Tech Fair.
Reflecting on the year’s theme, she noted:
> “The next technological breakthrough will not take a lifetime… and it could come from anyone in this room today. We stand ready to support you to turn your ideas into reality.”
Delivering his goodwill message, Jim Ovia reaffirmed the bank’s long-term commitment to nurturing African tech talent:
> “My vision is to empower the youth through technology—with the hope that one day we will produce the likes of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Jeff Bezos.”
Also speaking, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu emphasized the urgent need for youth-focused tech initiatives:
> “By 2050, half of the world’s youth will be in Africa—and many will be in Lagos. We must give them opportunities and space to fly.”
A Gathering of Global Minds
The 2025 Tech Fair showcased cutting-edge innovations across Generative AI, Agentic AI, and Cloud Computing, with keynote sessions delivered by:
Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, MD, M-PESA Africa
Jonas Kjellberg, Co-creator, Skype
Dr. Shivagami Gugan, Chief Technologist, AWS (Middle East, Turkey & Africa)
Goodwill messages also came from Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State, represented by the State Head of Service, Mr. Abubakar Sadiq Idris.
The fair featured exclusive masterclasses led by global giants such as McKinsey & Company, Huawei, Check Point, and Microsoft, covering cybersecurity, cloud technologies, and emerging digital disruptions.
Additional highlights included engaging panel sessions moderated by CNN Anchor Zain Asher, with distinguished tech ecosystem leaders including Adaora Nwodo, Aisha Tofa, Dr. Stanley Jacob, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Gary Fowler, and Bradwin Roper.
A vibrant musical performance by Nigerian artist Spyro added colour to the event.
A Legacy of Excellence
Zenith Bank continues to consolidate its reputation as a powerhouse in African banking, with multiple prestigious awards in 2025 alone—including:
Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital (16th consecutive year) — The Banker
Nigeria’s Best Bank—Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025
Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria—World Finance Banking Awards (2021–2025)
Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria—International Banker Awards (2023 & 2024)
Other recognitions include accolades from BusinessDay BAFI Awards, Global Finance, Ethical Boardroom, ThisDay, New Telegraph, and Nairametrics, solidifying Zenith Bank’s leadership in governance, innovation, retail banking, and sustainability.
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