Business

Top five African countries to invest in 2023

Published

3 years ago

February 10, 2023

Africa holds tremendous promise for investment. It is a continent that has huge economic potential and that offers many rewarding opportunities.

Africa’s natural resources make it an economic powerhouse. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has the world’s largest cobalt deposit, and cobalt is a key factor in producing the lithium-ion batteries used in smartphones, electric cars and many other devices. Africa also has huge supplies of gold, titanium, copper, diamonds, salt, phosphates and sulfur.

The continent also has one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer bases. Given the current urbanization rates across the continent, household consumption in Africa could rise as high as $2.5tn by the end of the current decade. So, whether you want to invest in the JSE top 40 or are looking at other forms of African investment, here are five countries on the continent of Africa that deserve your attention:

Nigeria

Nigeria boasts the third-highest level of foreign investment in Africa, and the nation is a key focus for experienced investors worldwide.

The GDP of Nigeria in the second quarter of 2022 showed growth of 3.54%, compared to a growth rate of 3.11% in the first quarter of 2022. Most of that growth did not come from the well-known oil sector, which contributed only 6.33%. Communication, data and services accounted for a tenth of the output, as did the combination of natural gas, agriculture and crude petroleum. Manufacturing and construction also continued to thrive way beyond the levels of most major global economies.

Egypt

Egypt is a geographical area with robust economic growth and streamlined business formation procedures. It is a very attractive location for foreign investors in several ways.

Egypt’s economy has indicated exceptional performance, resiliency and the ability to absorb downturns, with a substantial capacity to attract new capital. Investment in Egypt increased by 183% during the initial quarter of 2022, from $1.4bn in 2021 to $4.1bn.

Egypt’s plan for 2022/2023 calls for urban development sector investments totaling EGP 294.2bn. Specifically, investment is required in the sewage system, water treatment and construction sectors.

South Africa

The South African economy is the most developed and diverse in sub-Saharan Africa. Stable institutions strengthen the business climate, while an independent judicial system and legal sector honor the law, and a free press and well-developed financial system all contribute to this positive environment.

South Africa has attracted considerable US investment thanks to the perception that it is a relatively low-risk African location. In 2020, Google (US) invested roughly $140m and PepsiCo $1.5bn, while Ford announced a $1.6bn investment.

Overall, South Africa offers a unique combination of first-world financial infrastructure and a huge emerging market economy.

Ghana

Ghana is among the most stable democratic nations on the African continent, and political stability ensures long-term investment stability.

Ghana aims for 5.8% GDP growth, which is driven primarily by cocoa beans, petroleum products and mineral production. Ghana has the fastest-growing economy in Africa, and its rate of economic growth continues to outpace analysts’ forecasts.

During the first quarter of last year, overall GDP increased by 3.3%, although this was a decrease from the comparable period in 2021, when it grew by 3.6%. Fiscal pressures have remained elevated, but the government has begun discussions with the IMF on a potential program to address outstanding issues, and Ghana continues to be a location with enormous potential.

Algeria

Algeria’s foreign exchange reserves earned through oil and gas provide enormous opportunities for economic expansion. A development strategy that focuses on stronger, sustainable growth could generate more jobs, especially among young Algerians, and could alleviate the nation’s housing shortage.

Algeria’s GDP is projected to reach $165bn by the end of 2022, and $170bn by the end of 2023, which clearly shows the nation’s growth potential.

Algeria’s economy is dominated by the export of petroleum and natural gas, which make a contribution worth roughly one-third of the country’s GDP annually despite volatility in global prices. The national government is pushing ahead with diversifying the economy, beginning with the non-oil sector, while at the same time intensifying the structural transformation reforms to underpin future growth.

Summary

While Africa continues to face challenges, the strongest nations on the continent are demonstrating huge potential for further growth, and global investors looking to invest in a region with a rapidly growing consumer base should consider these five nations as starting points for African investment.

Business

Wealth Creation: GCPBS Convenes Strategic Investment Workshop In PH

Published

21 hours ago

April 20, 2026

The Tide

In a significant move aimed at strengthening financial literacy and promoting sustainable economic growth, the Alumni Association of the Garden City Premier Business School (GCPBS) has hosted its inaugural Annual Executive Workshop in Port Harcourt, drawing key stakeholders from across Nigeria’s financial and public sectors.

The workshop, themed “Wealth Creation through Investment in Money and Capital Markets,” held at the Corporate Residence, William Jumbo, Port Harcourt recently, brought together financial experts, policymakers, and professionals to deliberate on practical investment strategies in a rapidly evolving economic environment.

The event attracted a distinguished audience, including alumni of the institution, officials of the Securities and Exchange Commission, financial market leaders, top government functionaries, and seasoned professionals committed to advancing wealth creation initiatives in the country.

In her opening address, Chairman of the GCPBS Alumni Association, Her Excellency Dr. Mrs. Mina Tele Ikuru, charged the participants to take full advantage of the knowledge-sharing platform, stressing the importance of continuous learning and informed financial decision-making.

Also speaking, the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi Brown, underscored the need for smart investment practices, noting that true wealth lies not merely in hard work but in the ability to make money work efficiently through strategic investments.

Deliberations at the workshop exposed participants to practical insights into navigating the financial markets, with experts emphasising the need for liquidity-conscious investments and encouraging the exploration of commercial papers issued by reputable corporations.

Speakers further highlighted the benefits of leveraging money market instruments such as bank deposits, while also stressing the importance of understanding market timing—knowing when to buy, hold, or exit investments—as a critical factor in achieving optimal returns.

The concept of compounding was extensively discussed as a powerful tool for long-term wealth accumulation, alongside the introduction of SWOOT—Stocks Worth Over One Trillion—with leading financial institutions identified as dominant players in Nigeria’s stock market.

Participants were also cautioned against common investment pitfalls, including the dangers of holding excessive idle cash, exposure to inflationary pressures, and the growing threat of fraudulent Ponzi schemes often disguised with unrealistic promises of high returns.

They also stressed the importance of diversification as a risk management strategy, with experts warning that failure to spread investments across asset classes could expose individuals to avoidable financial losses.

A panel session anchored by Prof. John Ohaka featured robust contributions from Barr. Bernard Ibe and Figbene Briggs, who examined critical approaches to monitoring investments and ensuring long-term financial stability.

A Financial expert, Uche Uwaleke (FCMA) provided further guidance, advocating the adoption of the DHL investment model—Diversify, Hedge, and Long-term planning—while emphasising the need for constant monitoring of market capitalisation and price indices.

The event also featured goodwill messages and the presentation of awards to deserving individuals and organisations, including Oida Energy Limited, Xenergi Limited, Aslan Resources Ltd, and Dr. Mrs. Mina Tele Ikuru, in recognition of their contributions to economic development and professional excellence, while special honours were conferred on Prof. Silver Opuala-Charles and Dr. Mrs. Inyingi Brown.

In a closing remark, Prof. Adline Ben-Chioma who summarised the key takeaways from the workshop, reiterated the importance of informed investment decisions, as ESV Okputu delivered the vote of thanks, appreciating organisers, speakers, sponsors, and participants for their roles in the success of the inaugural initiative.

By: King Onunwor

Banking/ Finance

Ripple Survey Reveals Appetite for Digital Assets

Published

5 days ago

April 15, 2026

The Tide

Cornerstone of Financial Services

A survey of more than 1 000 global finance leaders undertaken by digital payment network Ripple shows that 72% of respondents believe they need to offer a digital asset solution to remain competitive.

According to Ripple, leaders from the banking, fintech, corporate and asset management sector have made it clear that the “digital asset revolution is happening now”.

“Digital assets are quickly becoming a cornerstone of financial services, underpinned by progressive regulation, growing interest from Tier-1 banks, a steady consumer shift from banks to fintech providers, and booming stablecoin adoption,” Ripple says.

The survey was conducted in early 2026 and the findings released in March.

Stablecoin Boon or Bane?

Ripple has experienced significant success in the stablecoin sector since launching its Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin in 2024.

With a market cap of $1.56 billion, it is considered a major regulated player in the market.

No doubt the platform was pleased to learn through its own survey that financial leaders were most bullish about stablecoins.

Roughly three-quarters of respondents believed they could boost cash-flow efficiency and unlock trapped working capital.

Ripple noted that finance leaders were thinking about stablecoins as more than “just a new way to execute payments”; instead, they viewed them as effective tools for treasury management.

In March 2026, Ripple began testing a new trade finance model built around RLUSD in a bid to increase the speed of cross-border payments.

The pilot initiative, developed alongside supply chain finance company Unloq [https://unloq.com], is running on the XRP Ledger inside a testing framework developed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

The Asian city-state is one of the platform’s biggest growth markets.

The idea behind the project is to see whether stablecoin-based settlement can streamline trade finance, too often hampered by reliance on intermediaries and slow reconciliation.

The only potential drawback is that if the initiative takes off, the Ripple to USD price could be negatively affected.

Ripple has always championed its native XRP token as a bridge asset, the “middleman” in the process of a financial institution turning dollars in the US into pounds in the UK, for example.

Ripple converts dollars into XRP and then back into pounds.

If RLUSD can do exactly the same thing, questions will be asked about XRP’s relevance.

That is a bridge Ripple will have to cross if it gets to that point.

Tokenisation Partners

Another interesting finding from Ripple’s survey is that most banks and asset managers are seeking tokenisation partners to help execute their strategies.

Some 89% of respondents said digital asset storage and custody were top priority. “Token servicing/lifecycle management also ranks highly for banks at 82%, while asset managers place greater emphasis on primary distribution at 80%,” Ripple found.

The survey also revealed that just more than half of fintechs and financial institutions want an infrastructure provider that can offer a “one-stop-shop solution”. This rose to 71% among corporate financial leaders.

Ripple attributes this to institutions and firms wanting uncomplicated, cohesive systems.

Infrastructure Rules

In its final analysis, Ripple says companies across the board are looking for partners and solutions that are “secure, compliant, battle-tested and that enable growth and execution”.

“The message is clear: infrastructure decisions made today will shape competitive positioning tomorrow.”

No surprise that this is precisely where Ripple is placing much of its focus.

Business

Niger Delta Investment Summit Targets $5bn Inflows, 500,000 Jobs

Published

2 weeks ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) has unveiled the plans to host a major economic and investment summit aimed at attracting five billion dollars, ( N7 trillion) investments in addition to creating about 500,000 jobs over the next five years.

The Chairman of NDCCITMA Board, Ambassador Idaere Ogan, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently.

Ogan stated that the initiative is designed to reposition the Niger Delta as a viable destination for sustainable economic growth and development.

He explained the summit would bring together investors, policymakers, manufacturers and business leaders from within and outside Nigeria to explore opportunities across key sectors of the regional economy.

According to him, the event is expected to attract high-profile participation, with President Bola Tinubu billed as Special Guest of Honour, while the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, is expected to deliver the keynote address.

Ogan said the summit would focus on critical sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, logistics and the blue economy, which he described as areas with significant untapped potential.

He called on state governments, development partners and private sector stakeholders to support the initiative, stressing that collective efforts are required to unlock the region’s economic prospects.

NDCCITMA chairman further stated that improving security conditions and increasing economic confidence in the Niger Delta have made the region more attractive to both local and foreign investors.

He emphasised that ongoing economic reforms at the national level have also contributed to creating a more favourable investment climate.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Summit Organising Committee, Dr. Solomon Edebiri, said the event would prioritise the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) across the region.

He noted the summit would provide a strategic platform for networking, business partnership and policy dialogue aimed at strengthening the private sector.

Edebiri disclosed that findings from a recent business roundtable revealed significant untapped investment opportunities, which the summit seeks to harness through targeted collaborations.

He revealed that the event would feature exhibitions of viable projects, facilitate business-to-business and business-to-government engagements, and also promote innovations across multiple sectors.

According to him, the expected outcomes of the summit include job creation, increased industrial activity and improved livelihoods for people in the Niger Delta.

To build momentum ahead of the event, NDCCITMA said the body would embark on awareness roadshows across states in the Niger Delta, as well as in Lagos and Abuja, to attract broad participation.

King Onunwor