Category: News

Africa’s Sixty Integration Journey: Progress, Challenges, and the Road Ahead

  • 13th October, 2025
  • 3 min reading

In the last sixty years, Africa no doubt has made undeniable progress toward the continent’s integration. From stronger regional institutions to growing cross-border trade, Africa is steadily building the foundations of the African Economic Community.

However, according to the 2025 African Integration Report, the road to full integration remains complex, uneven, and fragile in places.

The report presents a comprehensive assessment of the state and progress of regional integration across the African continent, tracking Africans’ progress on the trail to continental unity. It observes the continent’s efforts to remove borders, complement policies, and reinforce harmony among the social, political, and economic dimensions.

Developed under the African Regional Integration Index (ASRII) framework, the report offers a continental snapshot of where Africa stands in 2025, celebrating achievements, acknowledging bottlenecks, and providing decision-makers with insights to accelerate Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Burning Issues for Africa in 2025

Between 2023 and 2025, Africa’s integration process has been shaped by a mix of opportunities and challenges in today’s fast-changing world:

  • Global Protectionism: Rising trade barriers, especially in the United States, have disrupted global supply chains and indirectly put pressure on African economies.
  • Economic Challenges: Persistent inflation, rising debt, and reduced fiscal space limit the capacity of African countries to invest in transformative development projects.
  • Digital Transformation: By the end of 2025, 40% of Africans are expected to shop online compared to 13% in 2017, with the e-commerce market projected at $180 billion by 2025 and $712 billion by 2050. However, poor infrastructure, weak regulatory frameworks, and unequal digital access remain major constraints to this.
  • Declining Global Aid: The recent U.S. reduction of $163 billion in non-military spending in 2025, cut into contributions to the African Development Fund and USAID programmes, intensifying funding gaps for the continent.

These factors highlight why continental integration is both urgent and indispensable.

Key Findings from the 2025 African Integration Report

The ASRII assessment shows a moderately positive result in Africa’s integration, with progress in institutional, trade, and infrastructure dimensions, yet, disparities persist across regions and pillars of the continent:

Institutional and Political Integration

  • Strengthened by the ratification of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) and the active role of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
  • Peace and security initiatives, including the AU’s “Silencing the Guns” strategy, are yielding results in helping keep the peace of Africa.

However, many AU protocols remain unratified, and supranational institutions lack real enforcement powers to carryout strategic development policies on the continent.

Economic Integration

  • Market integration scored strongly (0.590), thanks to AfCFTA implementation, tariff reductions, and one-stop border posts. Yet intra-African trade remains below 16% of total trade, far behind other continents.
  • Industrialisation strategies and SME support are advancing but remain fragmented and underfunded.

Rural Economy Development

  • Positive momentum with agro-industrial value chains and agricultural policies like ECOWAP (ECOWAS) and Climate-Smart Agriculture (COMESA).
  • Average score of 0.69 in 2023 reflects progress in food systems resilience and agricultural investment frameworks.

Infrastructure Integration

  • Strongest progress in transport and energy.
  • Regional road networks, One-Stop Border Posts, and power pools (SAPP, WAPP, EAPP) are expanding cross-border connectivity.
  • However, digital infrastructure remains weak and fragmented, with regional digital policies still in early stages.

Regional Snapshots

  • ECOWAS leads in free movement of people and institutional strength, with successes like the ECOWAS passport and regional health systems.
  • EAC shows high institutional maturity and strong governance, but weaker performance in social protection and monetary integration.
  • SADC scores highly in infrastructure and governance, though gaps remain in fiscal and statistical integration.
  • COMESA excels in infrastructure and institutional frameworks but lags in social cohesion and migration.
  • IGAD remains a peace and security leader, though economic integration is still underdeveloped.
  • ECCAS and CEN-SAD are making progress but remain fragile and uneven, particularly in social and human integration.
  • AMU (North Africa) has untapped potential but faces political and institutional inertia.

Intra-African Trade Still have a Long Way to Go

Despite AfCFTA’s achievements, exports and trade within African account for just 15% of total exports, compared to over 60% in the EU. Trade is still concentrated in a few countries and primary goods, though manufactured products now represent 43% of intra-African trade.

If implementation accelerates, intra-African trade is projected to grow from $85 billion in 2023 to $101 billion by 2025. Unlocking this potential will require tackling persistent non-tariff barriers, infrastructure deficits, and limited productive capacities.

Accelerating Integration for Agenda 2063

The 2025 African Integration Report shows that Africa is on the move, building institutions, connecting markets, and investing in infrastructure. However, integration remains uneven, with significant slow pace in enforcement, social development, and financing.

To realise the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and make AfCFTA a transformative driver, Africa must deepen political will to ratify and implement AU protocols, prioritise digital and human capital integration alongside infrastructure, mobilise sustainable financing for regional institutions and projects and strengthen private sector participation, especially SMEs, in regional value chains.

The vision of an African Economic Community remains within reach. The next decade will determine whether Africa can translate its commitments into deeper integration that delivers prosperity, resilience, and shared growth for its people.

 

 

Africa Beyond AGOA: Building Resilience Through Intra-African Trade

  • 2nd October, 2025
  • 4 min reading

On Tuesday September 30, 2025, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) officially expired. With the expiration of AGOA, the future of the US-Africa trade pact hangs in the balance.

Introduced by President Bill Clinton in 2000, AGOA offered duty-free access to the US market for eligible African countries.

For 25 years, AGOA opened doors and allowed a handful of sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the US market for certain products, including crude oil, precious stones, metals, and agricultural products like cocoa and textiles.

At its peak, only 32 of Africa’s 54 countries benefited from the agreement, exporting textiles, apparel, and other goods to the United States.

What African countries benefited from the agreement the most?

AGOA benefits accrue to a subset of countries and sectors within SSA.

According to Over three-quarters of non-crude petroleum imports under AGOA originated from five countries during 2014–21: South Africa generated about $2.7bn (£2.2bn) in revenue, mostly from the sale of vehicles, jewellery and metals, Nigeria came second with revenue of more than $1.4bn, from mostly oil, while Kenya came third with about $523m, according to a report by from the US International Trade Commission (ITC) and US Department of Commerce. others are Lesotho, Madagascar, and Ethiopia.

Countries with lower utilisation rates typically had few exports to the United States in general, or their primary traded goods are not eligible for AGOA preferences or are already duty free under normal trade relations.

The SSA apparel sector has benefited substantially from the AGOA program. Of non-petroleum imports under AGOA, imports of textile and apparel constitute the largest share. Duty savings of up to 30 percent and the third-country fabric provision have allowed multiple countries to expand their manufacturing capacity.

Agricultural products like cotton and cocoa are important sectors for a number of SSA economies. Growing these crops employs millions of farmers across the region, and their export is critical for accessing foreign exchange.

Cocoa processing operations in the region allow the export of higher-value commodities like cocoa butter and powder. However, growing cotton and cocoa provides low income and therefore does not provide a reliable pathway for poverty reduction.

Despite the SSA region’s access to ample feedstocks, the chemical industry’s potential impact across the region is limited, and substantial development will likely depend on mitigating competitive infrastructure weaknesses.

In 2023, US imports under AGOA totaled nearly $10 billion. African countries, such as Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Lesotho, the deal has been a cornerstone for US-Africa trade, But it also created dependency and reliance on exports to the US. Today, just 6% of Africa’s exports go to the US, while only 4% of imports come from the US.

The AGOA overall utilisation remained limited, even in sectors like textiles where it was most impactful.

While its expiration has sparked anxiety about jobs, exports, and trade relations, it should also spark deeper reflection on the part of African countries as a wake-up call to boost regional trade.

Dependency as Against Self-Determination

AGOA’s expiry is a reminder of a truth Africa cannot ignore: no external policy should define Africa’s economic destiny. While access to global markets is important, Africa cannot continue to rely on trade concessions that are subject to foreign political cycles.

Take Lesotho as an example. U.S. goods and services trade with Lesotho totaled an estimated $276.0 million in 2024, up 4.6 percent ($12.3 million) from 2023. That demand could easily fuel local and regional growth if the continent can fix its logistics, infrastructure, customs, and trade barriers.

Lesotho’s textile industry thrived under AGOA, yet the irony remains: why scramble for access to distant markets while Africa itself imports over $7 billion worth of textiles annually?

The question is not why Lesotho isn’t selling more to the US. The real question is: why isn’t Lesotho selling more to African countries?

AfCFTA: Africa’s Real Game-Changer

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers a far bigger opportunity than AGOA ever did. With a combined population of 1.4 billion people and a GDP of over $3 trillion, Africa already is one of the world’s largest consumer markets.

Yet today, less than 17% of African trade takes place within the continent, compared to intra-EU exports which accounts for 50% and 75% of the regions trade. The gap in intra African trade represents both a challenge and an opportunity. By prioritising intra-African trade, the AfCFTA could unlock billions in value, reduce external dependency, and build resilience against global shocks. But this requires action:

  • Infrastructure: Roads, ports, rail, and digital networks that connect African manufacturers to markets on the continent.
  • Policy and Governance: Streamlined customs, harmonised tariffs, and reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks can help boost intra-African trade.
  • Financing: By closing the ₦13 trillion MSME credit gap that stifles innovation and growth across the continent, Africa can unlock growth and regional prosperity.
  • Value Chains: Diversification into agro-processing, green energy, textiles, minerals, and digital services is essential in reducing overreliance on foreign markets and creating jobs for the millions of people on the continent.

As Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala rightly put it during her chat with CNN’s Larry Madowo at the just concluded #UNGA80, Africa’s future lies in regional value chains and self-reliance. From shea butter to leather, textiles, palm oil, and critical minerals, the continent has everything it needs to build industries that create jobs and wealth at home.

This is already happening with countries beginning to ban raw material exports, choosing instead to keep resources like lithium, cobalt, and gold to power local industries.

But policy alignment must go further with encouraging trade within Africa before trading outside Africa. After all, no region in the world prospers by exporting first before meeting domestic demand.

Now is the time for Africa to move from raw material exports to value-added products. It’s also high time for stronger trade alliances within the continent.

Looking beyond AGOA

AGOA’s expiry should not be seen as an end, but as a turning point. Africa must now:

  1. Commit to AfCFTA implementation with urgency and seriousness.
  2. Invest in regional value chains that turn raw materials into finished goods on the continent.
  3. Create policies that unlock trade, rather than stifle it with ego, protectionism, and bureaucracy.
  4. Build self-confidence. Africa has the resources, talent, and creativity to shape its own destiny.

At ETK Group, we believe that Africa’s true opportunity lies within. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to build capacity, unlock market access, and strengthen trade ecosystems across 34 African markets.

AGOA may be over, but Africa’s story is just beginning. The future of Africa’s trade is not dependent on foreign trade policies but on Africa trading with Africa.

Nigeria–Brazil Strategic Partnership: Unlocking Africa’s Energy and Trade Potential

  • 28th August, 2025
  • 3 min reading

This week marked a defining moment in Africa–Brazil relations as Nigerian President Bola Tinubu concluded an official visit to Brazil, securing renewed commitments to enhanced cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil.

Discussions by the two countries during the visit focused on opportunities for trade, investment, agribusiness, energy, and digital innovation for shared prosperity.

According to the United Nations, as the world grapples with interconnected challenges such as climate change, rising debt burdens, food insecurity, and widening digital divides, more than 650 million people are left in extreme poverty.

In the face of these challenges, South–South and triangular cooperation can offer solutions to these problems. The renewed collaboration between Nigeria and Brazil will not only strengthen economic ties between the two countries but also promote South–South cooperation, cross-border collaboration, and deeper trade integration.

Brazil remains an important partner in the oil & gas, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors. With the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), which was part of the MoU signed during the visit, Nigerian exporters can now reach Brazil’s 200 million+ consumers more quickly, while Brazilian firms can gain streamlined entry into Nigeria’s energy and infrastructure sectors.

It will provide opportunities in industrialisation, energy diversification, and export growth. For Brazil, it unlocks access to one of Africa’s largest economies while strengthening South–South cooperation.

Tangible Progress from the Visit

  • Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) for direct flights between Lagos and São Paulo to unlock new opportunities for businesses, the Diaspora, and cultural exchange.
  • Petrobras’s Return: The Brazilian energy giant Petrobras proposed re-entery into Nigeria oil and gas market after a five-year absence, signaling new investments in deep-water oil exploration.
  • Agriculture and Technology: Fresh commitments were made to deepen cooperation in mechanised farming, agricultural innovation, and knowledge transfer.

Africa’s Untapped Energy Potential

Africa holds some of the world’s largest untapped natural gas reserves, with Nigeria’s crude oil and gas reserves having hit a record high of 37.24 billion barrels and 210.5 trillion cubic feet and accounting for one of the continent’s largest reserves, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

However, despite vast reserves of oil, gas, and renewable energy, many African countries struggle with regulatory uncertainty, underdeveloped infrastructure, and fragmented investment frameworks that hinder project scalability. As a result, the risk perception around African energy assets remains high. 

Petrobras’s renewed engagement could increase exploration, promote local content development, and drive meaningful technology transfer between both countries.

For Nigeria, this partnership represents opportunities to:

  • Expand domestic energy development and industrialisation
  • Unlock export growth, particularly in gas and renewable energy

For Brazil, it opens new investment and trade opportunities in one of Africa’s most dynamic economies, while deepening South-South cooperation.

Beyond Energy

The Nigeria–Brazil partnership now extends beyond symbolic diplomacy. The MoUs will create opportunities for collaboration in:

  • Renewable energy and sustainability initiatives
  • Science, technology, and innovation transfer
  • Manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and health industries

This represents a move toward long-term strategic cooperation with benefits not only for Nigeria and Brazil but for Africa as a whole, reinforcing the continent’s role as a global growth destination.

ETK Group: Bridging Markets Between Africa and Brazil

The renewed partnership between Nigeria and Brazil aligns with reinforces our commitment to promoting cross-border trade partnerships among businesses in South–South countries. It aligns with our recent visit to SCL Future Food Systems, where we explored strategic collaborations to connect Brazilian and Nigerian agribusinesses. It also

At ETK Group, we see the Nigeria-Brazil partnership as a blueprint for South-South collaboration, economic diversification, and sustainable growth.

With a strong presence in Brazil and across 34 African markets, ETK Group is well positioned to support businesses seeking to leverage this momentum. Our expertise spans:

  • Market entry and expansion strategies
  • Trade facilitation and investment advisory
  • Cross-border partnerships and local stakeholder engagement

As Petrobras prepares to re-enter Nigeria and both governments chart a roadmap for deeper cooperation, ETK stands ready to help Brazilian companies enter Africa successfully, and to guide African businesses into the Brazilian market.

Kenya’s Proposed Alcohol Control Policy: Lessons for Doing Business in Africa

  • 28th August, 2025
  • 3 min reading

Kenya is taking bold steps to address rising concerns around alcohol consumption in the country by raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 21.

A 2022 study found that 1 in 20 Kenyans aged 15–65, about 1.3 million people, struggle with alcohol addiction. Among university students, a staggering 87% consume alcohol, according to a NACADA, 2023 report.

The World Bank’s May 2025 review went further, urging Kenya to raise excise taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, and sugary drinks, warning that these products account for nearly 1 in 10 deaths in the country, far above the regional average.

The planned policy is among several stringent measures outlined in the National Policy on the Prevention of Alcohol, Drugs, and Substance Use (2025), recently approved by Cabinet but not yet enacted into law.

According to the BBC, the proposed regulation is one of the strictest the country has ever introduced, with wide-ranging implications for businesses across industries.

At ETK Group, our decades of experience supporting clients with African market entry and expansion have shown us that long-term success requires anticipating regulatory and social shifts. Businesses that are serious about thriving in one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets must be ready to adapt quickly and strategically.

What is Changing?
Regulatory environments in Africa are changing fast, with higher compliance costs and disruptions to sales and distribution models, and companies must plan strategically and adapt quickly to these changes.

While Kenyan authorities argue that the new rule will curb substance abuse, especially among young people, it will also affect nearly every aspect of alcohol production, distribution, and consumption in the East African country.

What This Means for Businesses
Kenya’s proposed alcohol policy, if passed into law, could shake up the market, posing serious business challenges for global alcohol giants like Diageo, Heineken, and AB InBev that have long positioned the country as a key growth market, according to Semafor.

It will also affect companies across the food, beverage, hospitality, and retail sectors, as these companies will face tough strategic decisions, according to The Kenyan Wall Street.

Opportunities for Businesses on the Continent

Rising demand for alcohol-free and low-alcohol alternatives                                      In Africa, celebrations and social gatherings are an important part of community life, and products that provide the same social experience without alcohol would win a great share of the market. Companies that can innovate around taste, affordability, and cultural authenticity will capture this growing demand and consumer taste.

Health- and wellness-focused brands that align with government health goals
With increasing awareness of lifestyle-related diseases and government emphasis on healthier alcohol consumption, wellness-focused beverages are becoming popular. Brands that position themselves as partners in public health will grow market share and strengthen relationships with regulators.

Eco-friendly and standardised packaging solutions
Sustainability is becoming an important factor in consumer decision-making and government regulation across Africa. Companies that invest in eco-friendly, recyclable, and standardised packaging will meet new sustainability standards while differentiating themselves from competitors.

Lessons for Doing Business in Africa
Kenya’s reforms highlight a major compliance reality for business planning to expand into Africa: Africa is not a “plug-and-play” market. What works today, or in one country, may not work tomorrow in another. So long-term success requires:

  • Understanding local regulations by staying ahead of policy shifts and their impact on businesses.
  • Adaptability: Businesses must align their products, services, and strategies with changing consumer and sustainability policies on the continent.
  • Partnerships Matter: Businesses must build trust with local distributors, regulators, and communities to adapt to overcome changes quickly.

How ETK Group Can Support You
At ETK Group, we’ve supported companies across Africa for decades, helping them overcome regulatory challenges, identify partners, and design resilient market strategies. Whether you’re looking to expand in Kenya or across Africa, we can help you adapt and succeed in an environment that’s constantly changing.

Reach out to ETK for support with adaptable, compliant, and future-ready African market strategies.

Driving Sustainable Agriculture in Nigeria: ETK’s Strategic Visit to SCL Farms in Abuja.

  • 15th May, 2025
  • < 1 min reading

Recently, ETK and SCL Future Food Systems met in Abuja to discuss support for sustainable agriculture in Nigeria.

The meeting was part of our ongoing work to promote meaningful collaboration between Brazil and Nigerian agribusinesses. During the meeting, the ETK team was hosted for a tour of SCL Farms, located in the Kwali area near the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria.


Led by ETK São Paulo-based Director of Sustainability Brent Barnette and Michael Odeh, Senior Project Manager at ETK Nigeria, the visit provided meaningful insights into the ways that SCL Future Food Systems is committed to food security, crop development, soil preservation, climate-smart livestock management, efficient water usage and conservation, and sustainable agricultural practices across its over 100-hectares site in the country’s capital territory.

The visit highlighted ETK’s ongoing commitment to supporting key commercial partnerships focused on sustainable agriculture, job creation, food security, and economic growth.

ETK has provided project management oversight and institutional capacity strengthening to strategic partners in Nigeria for nearly a decade, working to ensure the successful implementation of transformative projects in sustainable agriculture across Nigeria.

We are excited about the opportunity to build on our existing partnerships in Nigeria, and we are committed to creating new opportunities for collaborations in sustainable agriculture between our partners in Brazil and our ongoing work in Nigeria.

Strengthening Systems: ETK Oversees Farm Mechanisation Project for 6,000 Young Africans

  • 12th May, 2025
  • < 1 min reading

On May 6, 2025, the ETK Nigeria team, alongside senior colleagues from ETK United Kingdom, conducted a project monitoring visit to the ISSAM (Improving Smallholder Farmers’ Access to Small-Scale Agricultural Mechanization Services) project in Nigeria, implemented by TracTrac MSL in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.

The ISSAM project is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural mechanization value chain by equipping over 6,000 young adults, primarily young women and individuals living with disabilities, with the entrepreneurial skills needed to become Mechanisation Service Providers (MSPs).

Led by Michael Odeh, Head of ETK Nigeria’s Project Management Office, the visit formed part of ETK’s regular monitoring and oversight responsibilities, highlighting our role as the Institutional Strengthening Partner for the ISSAM project.

This visit was part of our regular monitoring and oversight responsibilities, reflecting ETK’s important role as the Institutional Strengthening Partner for ISSAM project.

As a pan-African consulting firm focused on the development of the continent through trade and investments, ETK supports businesses, development organisations, and governments by delivering tailored market entry, growth, and implementation strategies across Africa.

Our continued strategic support ensures that projects are not only successfully implemented but built for long-term sustainability and meaningful impact.

At ETK Group, we remain committed to providing support to projects and initiatives that improve livelihoods, strengthen systems, and empower communities across Africa, ensuring that no one is left behind on the path to the continent’s development journey.

Navigating Volatile Markets: Key Takeaways from ETK Recent Webinar on International Trade

  • 28th April, 2025
  • 2 min reading

In today’s volatile global trade environment, understanding trade tariffs and navigating market shifts are important for global business success

On April 24, 2025, we had the privilege of hosting a timely conversation on how businesses can navigate the shifting international trade landscape.

The webinar opened with our expert speakers Bolaji Sofoluwe MBE and Fergus McReynolds exploring how digital innovations are transforming trade across Africa. Fergus pointed out the fascinating shift happening across the continent:

“We’re actually skipping a generation in terms of trade technology and moving towards paperless trade and digital-first trade corridors.” This according to him could define international trade over the next decade.

As the session unfolded, the conversation turned to the role of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) amid global market volatility. Fergus emphasised:

“FTAs aren’t gone, but we will see more block-to-block agreements rather than bilateral deals.”

However, he also warned that with rapid geopolitical shifts, businesses can’t afford to forget the benefits that FTAs offer, even when immediate crises, like new U.S. tariffs, dominate the headlines.

When it came to practical advice for SMEs entering politically volatile regions, Bolaji Sofoluwe shared grounded strategies such as the need for businesses to:

  • Regularly use frameworks like PESTLE analysis to assess export and markets risks.
  • Revalidate contracts and incoterms to reflect current realities in their export markets.
  • Keep communication lines open with buyers as this transparency is essential.

According to her businesses need to “Have an open conversation with their importers. Look again at your contract terms, and insurance costs. Many savvy buyers will expect renegotiation in times like these.”

As we neared the end, the spotlight shifted to how industry associations and support agencies can be a lifeline to businesses in the current market volatility.

Fergus explained how organisations like the Chartered Institute of Exports and International Trade offer real-time updates, training, and advisory services tailored to each business’s unique trade journey.

“Managing volatility now means accepting it as the new normal, and staying informed, nimble, and prepared.”

Finally, Bolaji left us with a reminder full of wisdom and realism:

“If you find yourself overwhelmed by volatility, remember, 80% of the world still trades under WTO rules. Find your pockets of stability.”

If you missed our webinar on “Decoding International Trade Tariffs” you can now catch up on key insights from our expert speakers, including strategies for SMEs, the future of trade agreements, and how to stay competitive amidst rising geopolitical risks here:

Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Bolaji Sofoluwe Honoured with MBE for Championing African Trade

  • 18th April, 2025
  • < 1 min reading

On April 16, our Managing Director, Bolaji Sofoluwe MBE, attended her investiture at Windsor Castle, where she was formally awarded her Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

This honour not only recognises Bolaji’s personal achievements but also highlights the strength of leadership rooted in purpose and impact.

At ETK Group, we are proud of Bolaji’s recognition for her outstanding contributions to:
✨Sustainable business growth
✨ Empowering female entrepreneurs
✨ Strengthening international trade, especially across Africa and the UK

For over two decades, Bolaji has been a force connecting businesses in Africa with global trade opportunities, empowering and supporting women to lead and scale, and guiding entrepreneurs towards global success.

For us at ETK, Bolaji’s recognition isn’t just a celebration of one woman. It’s a win for Africa-UK relations, a win for women in trade, and a beacon of hope for every entrepreneur daring to dream beyond borders.

You can find more information about some of Bolaji’s works and activities beyond ETK Group here: https://bit.ly/3S5FcYe

Expanding Horizons: How UK Businesses Can Succeed in Emerging Markets

  • 25th January, 2025
  • < 1 min reading

ETK Group managing director, Bolaji Sofoluwe MBE, recently shared her expert perspective on the future of international trade and the many opportunities for UK businesses in high-growth markets, particularly across Africa.

In an interview with Entrepreneur United Kingdom, Bolaji highlighted the key sectors driving growth and the strategic approaches businesses need to thrive globally in 2025.

From health tech and agribusiness to fintech and renewable energy, Bolaji explored how UK companies can successfully navigate new markets by leveraging cultural intelligence, local partnerships, and sustainable trade practices.

Click here to read the full insights 

Bolaji Sofoluwe, Honoured with MBE in King Charles III’s New Year’s Honours List

  • 31st December, 2024
  • < 1 min reading

ETK Group managing director, Bolaji Sofoluwe MBE, was awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in His Majesty King Charles III’s New Year’s Honours List for 2025 in recognition for her outstanding contributions to sustainable business growth, female entrepreneurship, and international trade.

This prestigious recognition reflects Bolaji’s relentless commitment to creating opportunities and breaking barriers for businesses and entrepreneurs. Through her work, she has not only championed innovative and inclusive growth strategies but also forged international partnerships that have opened doors to new trade and commerce opportunities.

Under Bolaji’s leadership, ETK Group has successfully executed projects across more than 34 African countries over the past 14 years, facilitating trade and investment exceeding £1 billion. During this period, we have supported businesses across diverse sectors, including aviation, financial services, health tech, oil and gas, agriculture, luxury goods, fashion and beauty, and manufacturing.

Congratulations, Bolaji!  Your recognition is well-deserved and an inspiration to us all at ETK Group.

Also, a big congratulations to everyone honoured in this year’s list for their outstanding contributions to the growth and success of both the public and private sectors.

Click the link to see the full New Year Honours List 2025:
https://lnkd.in/eiyaU8S8