Nigeria‘s insurance market could be worth between $60-100bn a year, making it a major emerging market player. At present, however, it is generating nowhere near that sum. In fact, given the size of its population and its economy, it has to rank as one of the most under-performing industries in the world. A consolidation programme, based on the extremely successful model applied to the banking industry, is now bedding down and the value of business since the consolidation has increased by an estimated 600%. The leaner but stronger post consolidation companies, and the new players, including banks and South Africa’s giant life insurance company, Metropolitan, are injecting new vigour into what was once a moribund sector. But there is still a long way to go before the enormous potential can be unlocked. The question is: who has the key? More...

As the managing director of Barclays Bank Ghana, Margaret Mwanakatwe is one of the most influential women in African banking. Stephen Williams met her in her Accra office. More...

This is the remarkable story of how a boy who started his business career by helping his father sell beer to miners grew up to become one of the six wealthiest individuals in Africa.Tom Nevin profiles Patrice Motsepe, one of only six Africans to make the Forbes 2008 billionaire’s list. More...