Encomium
‘Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business,’ the much-anticipated business memoir of mogul Femi Otedola goes on sale today (Monday, August 18) across the world.
Online and in bookstores, the highly recommended book is available in hardcover and paperback.
From makingitbigbook.com to waterstones.com, amazon.co.uk and amazon.com, as well as in bookshops in Nigeria, Africa and the United Kingdom, ‘Making It Big’ is now available.
Applauded by billionaires and respected economists and intellectuals, ‘Making It Big’ has enjoyed rave reviews.
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, hailed it as a ‘compelling and transformative entrepreneurial journey’ that ‘effectively unpacks useful insights for surmounting business hurdles, as well as connecting many corporate dots for budding entrepreneurs.’
Prince Samuel Adedoyin, founder and Chairman of the Doyin Group of Companies, endorsed it as ‘an accurate guide to establishing a successful business and life in general.’
Arunma Oteh, the former Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (2010 – 2015) and former Vice President and Treasurer of the World Bank, celebrated it as ‘one of the most important books you will ever read on entrepreneurship in a developing country.’
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director General of World Trade Organisation and former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy of Nigeria (2011 – 2015), commended it as one of the ‘very few books by successful African business leaders documenting their journey and sharing lessons learned for posterity, but in particular for a younger generation.’
The President of Africa Development Bank Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, praised the book as ‘a must-read for all business leaders, policymakers and young people venturing into the world of entrepreneurship and business.’
And over the last few days, we have been treated to riveting excerpts to get us prepared for the must-have business memoir.
One of the excerpts revealed the change in tactics adopted by bank executives when Otedola’s debt portfolio rose to $1.218 billion in 2009 (after oil prices fell from $147/barrel to $40 and the naira was devalued from N120/$1 to N167/$1).
Pretty and bewitching damsels who sought deposits and facilitated loans were replaced by hefty and fearful men who besieged his Ikoyi (Lagos) home to harass and hound him about his indebtedness.
Another of the excerpts saw us reading how then President Olusegun Obasanjo cursed and rained abuses on Otedola following misleading tales of diesel scarcity by detractors.
Insiders in Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), benefiting from subsidy on diesel, lied about scarcity after the product’s deregulation in 2004. They spread fibs of industries grounded and the economy faltering.
And Baba, as Obasanjo is fondly addressed, called Otedola at 2 a.m., cursing and showering abuses on him.
When Otedola arrived the villa later that day, the invectives continued. Until Otedola showed papers of six ships waiting to discharge diesel.
The Zenon Petroleum founder assured the President that he will start listing the price of diesel in newspapers everyday for the buying public.
Fast-forward to Wednesday, July 16, 2025: we woke up to a teaser by the billionaire Chairman of First HoldCo PLC and Geregu Power PLC about his plan on social media. Otedola wrote:
“Over the past decade, doors have opened for entrepreneurs in Nigeria that once seemed firmly shut. This transformation didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of perseverance, resilience, and the lessons learned from countless setbacks.
“I’ve walked this path myself, facing challenges and breakthroughs that shaped not just my career but my outlook on what it means to succeed. In the coming weeks, you’ll be learning about these experiences and my journey to becoming one of Africa’s most successful businessmen. I hope these insights will inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
“I will be sharing something very exciting in the coming days.”
And the second day (July 17), he finally told us about his business memoir:
“I am excited to announce the forthcoming release of my new book, Making It Big, set to launch on August 18th.
“Just a month to go.
“The lessons, setbacks, and triumphs that shaped my path are almost ready for you. In these pages, I’ve shared the real stories — the moments of doubt, the breakthroughs, and the principles that guided me through it all.
“I look forward to opening this conversation with entrepreneurs and visionaries across the world, and to seeing how these experiences might inspire your own journey forward.”
More details followed over the days, from endorsements to excerpts, how to preorder and the list of bookstores that will stock the business memoir.
‘Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business’ took about seven years to package. And now it is available online and on the shelves of booksellers in Nigeria, Africa and the United Kingdom for aspiring entrepreneurs and those eager to make a success of their life and business.
