BI Africa Contributor

Here are a few things to consider when someone is trying to defraud you online:

<ul><li>They will always gain your attention with a sense of false urgency, and pretend to be from your bank or some financial institution. The urgency can be created by implying that you’ve been hacked, or that there has been fraudulent activity on your account and you need to verify your identity and hand over sensitive information so they can further assist.</li><li>Giving into this false urgency will cause people to hand over personal information, and even credentials required to access your accounts.</li><li>Social engineering involves trying to confuse you with technical jargon - if someone over the phone, or WhatsApp, is asking you to “send me the OTP I sent you so I can confirm I’m talking to the right person”, then alarm bells should be going off in your head, and you should be avoiding it at all costs. Chances are, by giving them this OTP ( a one time password), you’ve handed over one of your social media accounts, your WhatsApp messaging account, or even worse - your bank account access.</li></ul>

<h2>Online Scams - Guarding Against Social Engineering</h2>

Always consider verifying who you are talking to over the phone. If it is your bank calling you and it feels like you can’t trust if it is a legitimate call, simply ask for a reference number and insist that you call your bank. At this point, you will get the contact number of your bank from a trusted source like their official website. Even if the reference number checks out and it was a legitimate call, it takes 2 extra minutes to confirm, whereas falling victim to a fraud scam would have a more severe impact on your finances and online safety.

Insist on verifying who you are speaking to, and always insist on initiating the call yourself instead if you are discussing and handing over sensitive information on the call.

This applies to not only online banking but any form of communication that could potentially compromise your work or personal online accounts.

Always consider the following at all times when engaging with unsolicited or unknown callers:

<ul><li>Ensure that you do not do anything that could potentially compromise your access to any online banking or other accounts.</li><li>Ensure that you protect your identity, and do not hand over sensitive information without first establishing that who you are communicating with are who they claim to be.</li></ul>

<h2>Bad Password Habits - Wide Open to Compromise</h2>

"Password123" and "FluffyKittens" belong in the realm of fairy tales, not as the password to protecting your identity, or assets. These passwords are easily cracked either through brute forcing or through rainbow table lookups.

Always craft complex, and unique passwords, for each account, employing a potent cocktail of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Passphrases, which are a combination of random words, or a sentence, have been known to result in strong cryptographic passwords.

The more complex your password, the more difficult it is to brute force, and the less likely it is to be in an existing rainbow table.

To help you manage these complex passwords, consider using a password manager. And no, a notepad on your desktop is not a password manager.

<h2>Embrace Multi-Factor Authentication - An extra minute can protect you from Fraud</h2>

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of defense beyond just passwords, requiring a secondary verification step like a fingerprint scan or one-time code sent to your phone. These codes are typically time-sensitive. Even if a hacker manages to guess, or crack, your password, your account remains protected by your second layer of security.

It’s your defense against having your password potentially compromised. This is why it’s imperative never to share OTPs and codes with anyone else. If you know you did not log in to a website or app and you got a multifactor notification - change your passwords immediately, and ensure you are not using the same password for multiple accounts.

Do not treat multi-factor authentication as optional, if it is available, use it. Get a trusted app like Google Authenticator to generate your security codes to use on various platforms. Ensure your mobile device is password, pattern, or biometric-protected to avoid unauthorized access to your device you use for multi-factor authentication.

In situations where security is critical, consider the use of a hardware security device.

While proactive measures like strong passwords and vigilant awareness form the first line of defense against cyber threats, even the most robust systems can face breaches or unexpected data loss. In such scenarios, data recovery becomes your safety net, retrieving lost information and minimizing the impact of the impact.

Ensure your data is regularly backed up, to a location that is disconnected from your device and network. Cloud Solutions such as Google Workspace, Google Photos, and Google Drive are great candidates for storing personal information in the cloud.

Utilizing cloud services gives you peace of mind that in the case of a data breach, you can recover your data.

Concerning multi-factor authentication, ensure you have secure backups of your recovery codes, to prevent loss of access to critical online services due to a compromised multi-factor authentication device.

It is easy to overlook the importance of software updates and end up deferring them to a later date (which can often be weeks, if not months later).

However, it is critical to remember that software is riddled with security vulnerabilities, they just haven’t all necessarily been found yet.

Engineering teams are constantly working on identifying, and patching these security vulnerabilities. Their work is wasted when you do not apply the patches.

Regularly update operating systems, applications, and firmware across your entire network, ensuring your identity, finances, and personal assets remain safe.

If you get official communication around a possible data breach, do not wait for a notification to say that your account was potentially included in the data breach - be proactive and update your passwords. Rely on automatic updates where possible, and make a habit of periodically checking if your operating system and browser are up to date.

Utilize the operating system’s automatic update features, you can even schedule these for a time that is convenient for you.

Deen Hans- Director of Security Operations at Deimos

Deen Hans is the Director of Security Operations at Deimos, he has been a driving force behind the company's success since December 2022. He is an engineer focused on Application and Infrastructure security with a strong background in architecting and building secure, scalable systems across various domains. Deen has more than 15 years of work experience in the field of security. Throughout his career, Deen has consistently demonstrated a passion for building secure, scalable, and innovative solutions while fostering teamwork and collaboration within engineering teams.

Nobody is unfamiliar with calls, emails, and SMSs that are spam, we get these unsolicited calls or messages from unknown numbers and addresses. Common trend is usually to just ignore it, and move on. Others unknowingly open themselves up to potential social engineering attacks when engaging in conversation with strangers.

5 ways people can protect themselves from cyber fraud

In the line of my work for an aid-for-trade organisation, I recently traversed key trade corridors across the African continent to assess their current state of play. These include Abidjan-Lagos in the West, Mombasa-Goma in the East and Durban-Lubumbashi to the South. Travelling mainly by road along these crucial trade routes revealed the vast trade opportunities they hold, as well as the great potential for intra-continental and global trade.&nbsp;

Daunting challenges were also quite clear, including the low quality of infrastructure and interconnectivity (hard and soft), limited awareness of cross-border trade potential, differing trade regimes, red tape and differing customs systems, among others. The result of these challenges is not only a choked trade environment attendant to high transport costs but also significantly higher Green House Gas emissions (GHG) along the corridors.

READ: <a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/the-energy-independence-imperative-in-a-volatile-world-oped/2sf6b3d">The energy independence imperative in a volatile world [OpEd]</a>

Take the Northern Corridor, a leading trade route connecting Mombasa Port, along the Eastern Seaboard of Sub-Saharan Africa, with the region’s 250 million people in East Africa’s hinterland, including the nations of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, DRC, and South Sudan. GHGs are unacceptably high, at 1.72 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide. This is 2.3 times and 1.22 times more than the GHG intensity, in similar corridors, across China and Europe respectively.&nbsp;

A growing trade partnership between Europe and Africa demands the modernisation of these crucial trade routes, which will pay great dividends for both Europe and Africa.&nbsp;As the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has demonstrated, there is an urgent need for sustainable connectivity between the continents to ensure more stable supply chains in future, including key value chains such as those touching on food and energy security.

While chairing a panel on Sustainable and Smart Corridors at the international forum European Development Days, many helpful ideas came across on how to make this a reality and have Africa play a more significant role in global trade for the benefit of her people. By deliberately focussing on decarbonisation, digitalisation, climate-adaptation, addressing key choke points and innovative financing of quality infrastructure, Africa can leapfrog some of the trade challenges encountered by other regions.

Interventions developed across the region by aid-for-trade organisations have had a significant impact on trade in the region, reducing trade costs and times, subsequently resulting in efficiency gains and increased trade. For example, work along the Northern Corridor has helped reduce trade costs and times by over 70% to 7.9 days and US$3,065 respectively.

READ: <a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/op-ed-why-a-cash-driven-society-is-bad-for-you-your-business-and-nigerias-gdp/kk07mj7">Why a cash-driven society is bad for you, your business, and Nigeria's GDP [Op-Ed] </a>

Supporting Mombasa Port’s capacity expansion and reform, as well as constructing and equipping over 15 One Stop Border Points - a concept that allows for just cargo stop for clearance at the country of entry, as opposed to the traditional two-stops, through the alignment of custom procedures, digital systems and upgraded physical infrastructure - has been instrumental to this success. Recent interventions in supporting key corridor observatories for quick resolutions of emerging issues and monitoring GHG emissions have also been important value drivers on sustainability.

Investing in digital corridors to supplement the achievements of physical corridors would also be key in enhancing both intra-African and Africa-Europe trade. A pilot of the Trade Logistics Information Pipeline (TLIP) in Kenya’s European flower trade, is enabling the real time electronic exchange of crucial trade information, minimising costly delays and errors to players in the value chain. Plans are already underway to deploy the technology to other key regional value chains, such as fish and horticulture, across the region.

Whereas such interventions are having the desired effect, a lot more work needs to be done. Africa, for instance, needs to shift more cargo from planes to ships, to reduce the carbon footprint of her goods. The continent also needs to develop more modern logistic centres to fully exploit benefits arising from improving physical and digital infrastructure. For example, the European Union has helped to develop one such facility at the Gulu Logistics Hub, in Northern Uganda, but more facilities are required across the continent. The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa estimates that US$360 billion needs to be invested in infrastructure until 2040.

With most African governments, however, under enormous fiscal pressure due to the current state of the global economy and dwindling support from donor countries, key investments supporting flourishing and sustainable trade are likely to delay. The EU can play a key role in supporting these investments, for the mutual benefit of the two regions.

The Africa Free Continental Trade area, that became effective in 2021, further supports the development and modernisation of African trade infrastructure and its systems. A United Nations Economic Commission on Africa study says that intra-African trade will grow by 121% by 2030 on account of the trade pact. Predictably, this will lead to a general increase in demand for intra-African freight by around 28% on the back of 1.3m cargo trucks, 85 maritime vessels and 66,000 rail wagons, respectively.

Modern and sustainable trade will hence benefit trade amongst African nations, trade with key global partners, such as the EU, and contribute to a more stable trade environment globally.

The contributor's opinion is the viewpoint of a contributor at Business Insider Africa. It does not represent the opinion of the organisation.

How EU-Africa partnership is unlocking sustainable trade in Africa (Image Source: The World Bank)

How EU-Africa partnership is unlocking sustainable trade in Africa

How EU-Africa partnership is unlocking sustainable trade in Africa [Op-Ed]

Efficient role distribution and thorough succession planning are the basis of organisational progress.

In Africa, the need for a formal plan on leadership structure and transition has been exacerbated by a large number of family businesses where such procedures are often overlooked and the same staff simultaneously holds multiple positions.

READ: <a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/careers/9-communication-tips-to-make-your-business-visible-amid-election-chatter/gv7z9v8">9 communication tips to make your business visible amid election chatter across Africa</a>

According to a recent <a href="https://www.pwc.co.za/en/press-room/africa-family-business-survey-2021.html">PwC report</a>, about 76% of African family businesses have no succession plans and 19% of them even deliberately decided against such plans. Similarly, 50% of Nigerian family businesses had no governance policies, yet 70% of them&nbsp;and 63% of African family businesses considered sustainability to be the key driver of growth which is understandably hindered by the above fact.&nbsp;

To help local businesses match their development pace with growth expectations, below are 3 key strategies on business partnerships and succession planning.&nbsp;

READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/the-energy-independence-imperative-in-a-volatile-world-oped/2sf6b3d">The energy independence imperative in a volatile world [OpEd]</a>

1. Set Up a Framework for Corporate Governance

Business roles in some organisations are often mixed leading, to the lack of understanding of individual responsibilities. Thus, non-executive directors can be involved in corporate management and lose their major focus on independent supervision, while shareholders have an upper hand in decision-making. A clearly established corporate governance structure will help put the management, board and all other key internal stakeholders in their rightful places, as well as adhere to an impartial governance process.&nbsp;

2. Implement In-House Managerial Training Programs

Many organisations experience a shortage of qualified cadres to take the reins of corporate development if the CEO or other foundational leader suddenly resigns or retires. Oftentimes, it is notorious for family businesses where positions are distributed on kinship instead of merit. Purposefully designed managerial training programs can fill the void of leadership skills and prepare reliable successors for the leadership positions.

&nbsp;READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/op-ed-on-the-road-to-a-digital-economy-ethiopia-is-ramping-up-activity/xr38w78">On the road to a digital economy, Ethiopia is ramping up activity [Op-Ed]</a>

3. Adopt the Partnership Policy and Guidelines

The status of a Partner is often vague in partnership-based businesses. Sometimes Partners even play the roles of Founders, Managers and Employees of other levels. It is important to define the actual place of a Partner in the organisational chart, design the criteria of admission and appraisal for Partners, as well as create incentives for regular staff to aspire to the Partner rank. As an example, there can be an equity scheme that encourages regular employees to upgrade their status in exchange to an equity stake in limited liability companies

It's important to stress the need to always follow legal frameworks, such as dispute resolution procedures, for sufficient accountability and transparency of the corporate affairs.

READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/7-countries-with-the-best-healthcare-systems-in-africa/6bwe8sh">7 countries with the best healthcare systems in Africa</a>

*The views expressed in this article are the views of a contributor at Business Insider Africa. It does not represent the views of the organisation Business Insider Africa.

Wale Irokosu is a Co-Founder &amp; Managing Partner at Probitas Partners LLP and Senior Partner at SQS Consulting&nbsp;

3 strategies for overcoming the challenges of business partnerships and succession planning in Africa

When the public landscape is inundated with political news, it is an arduous challenge for organisations that still need to get and retain the attention of their audience without resorting to gimmicks that run afoul to their corporate outlook.

For B2B brands, communication during such times must be carefully approached by leveraging on strategic methods that keep them top of mind.&nbsp;

READ: <a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/the-energy-independence-imperative-in-a-volatile-world-oped/2sf6b3d">The energy independence imperative in a volatile world [OpEd]</a>

For many African businesses, corporate communication attempts are always overshadowed during election periods, as it is currently the case in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries.

The headings of local publications are beaming with names and manifestos of candidates, broadcasters and TV presenters go on air to interview parties` representatives and social media platforms are full of public debates about the candidates` agendas.

What can B2B brands do to be heard and, most importantly, listened to?

Below are 9 communication strategies to stay top of mind even in the midst of heated political discussions.&nbsp;

READ: <a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/op-ed-on-the-road-to-a-digital-economy-ethiopia-is-ramping-up-activity/xr38w78">On the road to a digital economy, Ethiopia is ramping up activity [Op-Ed] </a>

1. Set up LinkedIn and Instagram pages

Twitter and Facebook are mostly used for political campaigns and largely known as hubs of political ads. Engage your audience on quieter platforms where your potential partners are also seeking a haven to talk about business.&nbsp;

2. Be more creative with words

Focus SEO content using keywords applicable in the political space – win, announce, declare, etc. Meticulously adjust keywords that will allow you to be found whenever you are searched for. Your content should not be campaign-styled and promotional but must be framed to fit the popular narrative.&nbsp;You may want to engage the services of an <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://ugoanums.com/">SEO Consultant</a> to handle every aspect of this while you focus on other aspects of your business.

3. Use quotes as headings

It is a political content strategy that gets immediate attention. Retain the same format to get the attention of your audience this period.&nbsp;

READ: <a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/7-countries-with-the-best-healthcare-systems-in-africa/6bwe8sh">7 countries with the best healthcare systems in Africa</a>

4. Announce your wins instead of plans

Politicians are mostly selling pipe dreams now, and that is not good company to be in. Share good news. What really matters is the tangible impact you have made and are already making. So, show measurable achievements instead of ‘gift of gab’.&nbsp;

5. Show your team

Politicians are solo figures now; executives should not be mistaken for them. Instead, show sections of your team for visual distinction. A corporate organisation must not be seen to be a solo game.

6. Leverage extensive video content

Quality video content from your business will be a boost this period; it is a great alternative to text content flooding timelines. Make sure your visual identity and human touch are reflected.

7. Embrace employee-generated content

Personal stories sell. Always. Give team members a guided opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences working with the organisation.&nbsp;

8. Create content around testimonials

People believe reviews by other users more than pitches. Remember that third-party stories are the best PR.&nbsp;

9. Reframe content from selling to value-add

Think of your audience first and give value to them; in turn they will buy what you are offering. Politicians are already selling promises and visions that have not delivered any value yet. Be different – deliver value instead of merely speaking about it.&nbsp;

9 communication tips to make your business visible amid election chatter

Mosron Communications is a B2B communications consultancy based in Nigeria.

9 communication tips to make your business visible amid election chatter across Africa

It’s not everyday you get the privilege to interview a key patron of African art like Tokini Peterside.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2016, Tokini founded Art X Lagos, West Africa’s first international art fair. Financial Times embraced it as “Nigeria’s (art) potential on the global scene”. And over the past five years, Art X Lagos has gone from strength to strength. Last year, Art X Lagos became the only fair to take place physically in Africa since the pandemic. And what a success it was!&nbsp;&nbsp;

Art X, 2021, brought together 30 leading international galleries from around the world to showcase 120 artists from over 30 countries including Angola, United States, Martinique, Morocco, Egypt and South Africa. Of the 30 exhibitors, 15 joined Art X Lagos for the first time – making it a period of growth despite the challenges encountered due COVID-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;

I sat with the mastermind behind it, to find out about her vision and how she got here.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tell me a bit about yourself? Where did you grow up, study and where are you currently based?&nbsp;

Tokini Peterside: I was born and grew up in Lagos. I had a lovely childhood. I was fortunate enough to experience different things – languages, Arts, creativity and Sport. Before my teenage years I went to boarding school in England. I decided to study law at the LSE in London. After graduating I strongly knew that I did not want to pursue a career in corporate law. I began exploring my interest in creativity and culture, knowing that I wanted to work on the business end. In 2008, 2 years after graduating I moved back to Lagos at the height of the boom in the creative industry. This was the year when the music industry was flourishing in an exciting way, Nigerian fashion was starting to make its mark and the film industry had been growing for a few years. I immersed myself in all that work. A few years on I started working with Moët Hennessy, LVMH group. The year I moved back to Nigeria is when I started collecting art.&nbsp;

You have had multiple career shifts from Lawyer, to luxury brand consulting to Art. Can you give us insights into how these changes came about? The motivation behind it?&nbsp;

Tokini Peterside: There was a lot I liked about law but I was much more passionate about the creative industry in general. In those years I immersed myself in the fashion, music and art that was coming out of Nigeria. I was an avid consumer of these sectors and was keen to get my hands into what was happening. When I was studying law a lot of people recommended that I become a lawyer for the creative sector, but this wasn’t quiet enough for me. The more times I spent in the creative sector the more I realised I wanted to be in the thick of things.&nbsp;

READ: <a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/leaders/ceo-of-paga-tayo-oviosu-discusses-the-next-phase-of-innovation-for-african-fintechs/3n5xx3e">EXCLUSIVE: Tayo Oviosu of Paga discusses the next phase of innovation for African fintechs</a>

I had studied the LVMH Group for many years, initially as a consumer, the more I studied these brands I realised how they were cemented in French artisanal practices. They have turned their artisanal practices into dominant brands across the globe. I wanted to do the same for African artisanal practices. I wanted to facilitate the creative industry to tell the world about us, as people but also for us to understand ourselves. Creativity is the bedrock of culture and how we see ourselves.&nbsp;

I spent 3 years understudying, at LVMH, the French way of doing things before I decided to launch my strategy consultancy. They had been successful in marketing local French artisanal practices to be locally appreciated, and become globally dominant brands. I wanted to learn how they build prestige around this.&nbsp;

The creative sector for me is a window into heritage, culture and identity. Culture, the creative industry as a whole, has exciting potential to help us interrogate and identify our identity. Beyond that how we, as Africans, relate to the rest of the world. I wanted to support creative and cultural entrepreneurs out of Africa to be able to build brands that can stand in their own right on the continent and globally.&nbsp;

This was the motivation that motivated me to start consulting on business strategy. Working with luxury Nigerian brands like: ALÁRA and Maki Oh. Throughout that time I knew I wanted to create platforms to change the game across the continent and from this ART X Collective followed.&nbsp;

We hear a lot about the importance of routine and habits to become successful. What is your morning routine?&nbsp;

Tokini Peterside: I am a very reflective person. In the morning the first thing I do is spend time with myself – thinking, reflecting whether it be in the personal or professional sphere. Every week I will assess the previous week – the growth I’ve had, then I will write what I want to achieve in the next week. Not necessarily a to do list but it might be who in my personal life I would like to touch base with this week, health goals and professional goals.&nbsp;

What I have found important for me is self reflection, on what am I doing presently, in the current week and what I would like to do 2 – 3 years ahead.

How do you deal with day-to-day challenges that come up?&nbsp;

Tokini Peterside: I have spent the last few years building a real strong core of advisors. Even as CEO of an organisation I have a core group of personal advisors – I respected whether it be on their professional careers, how they lead their personal lives or the values they embodied.

When it’s something monumental I discuss it with this close group of advisors that I have built over the years. My core group of advisors who understand my motivations, aspirations and career goals and they help me strategise and think through the problem.&nbsp;

READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/leaders/having-raised-dollar250m-in-2021-ham-serunjogi-talks-chipper-cashs-global-expansion/krbmfbr">EXCLUSIVE: Having raised $250m in 2021, Ham Serunjogi talks Chipper Cash's global expansion</a>

However, not every challenge warrants discussion with the core advisors. For smaller day-to-day challenges I avoid knee jerk reactions. I take time to breathe; I retreat and take time to think.&nbsp;

For me I am very big on dialogue and learning from others. I will often pull members of my team together and ask them how they feel about the problem at hand that has arisen. I feel that everyone had a value to add. None of us should be the brightest and smartest in the room. The minute you think you are, or believe you have all the answers, you are in the wrong room.&nbsp;

We have seen you command the stage at ART X Lagos and ART X Live!, with inspiring videos of you welcoming guests with so much confidence. What are your top three tips for overcoming nerves when speaking to a big audience?&nbsp;

Tokini Peterside: When I was much younger, at school and university, I was nervous about public speaking. I used to write word for word my full speech, I needed that crutch. Over the years I started making the written part of the speech shorter and shorter. Now, I usually have a small number of bullet points on my device. This allows me to have something to reflect on if I lose my train of thought.&nbsp;

My advice for public speaking is preparation in advance. Think through everything you want to say and plan the conversation.&nbsp;

Chunk down the conversation into bite size pieces. This becomes your written speech.&nbsp;

Another thing I have learnt over the years is to slow down whilst speaking. It gives you time to process what you are saying.&nbsp;

ART X has become an internationally acclaimed fair. What was the most difficult part of the process?&nbsp;

Tokini Peterside: It has been a real journey of learning and discovery. When I was launching into the visual artist space. I had been collecting for many years, I was friends with many of the artists but I hadn’t worked in the business of Art, per se. There was a lot to learn and I had to learn quickly.&nbsp;

I understood how to create desirability around the visual arts, brand partnerships, structuring an organisation but I had a lot of learning to do when it came to the intricacies of the business of art.&nbsp;

In the first year it was difficult to get various stakeholders to understand where we were going and what we were doing. Prior to ART X Lagos, an art exhibition at best would attract 300 guests. For the first Art fair, we were talking about 5000 guests. They didn’t see the picture we were painting. We had to work overtime to meet and beat expectations to establish a model for what it meant to create an Art fair on this side of the world&nbsp;

Learning to work with creative inclined people was also challenging. We attract bright young people. They are often less likely to have spent 6 – 8 years in an organisation. They tend to have itchy feet. Irrespective of how good an organisation is, it’s likely for them to move after 2 years having felt that they had learnt what they needed to.&nbsp;

How we as an organisation respond to the rapid change without losing organizational memory, the know-how. One of the ways we have combatted this is by building a strong alumni community. Previous staff members come to the office to share their learned experience. They continue to be a part of the overall vision of the organisation.&nbsp;

READ: <a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/leaders/bill-lenihan-speaks-with-bi-africa-about-efforts-by-zola-electric-to-solve-africas/r6l7p9c#:~:text=On%20the%20heels%20of%20ZOLA,problem%20across%20Africa%20and%20elsewhere.">EXCLUSIVE: Bill Lenihan speaks with BI Africa about ZOLA Electric’s efforts to solve Africa’s energy crisis</a>

Who are some of your favourite African Artist and Why?&nbsp;

Tokini Peterside: That’s tricky for me. I like the works of very many artists but here are a few that I am currently excited about: Female artists such as Nengi Omuku, Sungi Mlengeya, Modupeola Fadugba. Photographers such as Djibril Drame, and Mous Lamrabat. Multidisciplinary artists such as Dennis Osadebe. Digital artists such as Pr$dnt Honey, Niyi Okeowo, Idris Veitch. To name a few.&nbsp;

The artist as an individual as well as the evolution of their work excites me. In the Nigerian space, I get to interact with several artists and see their growth. There are artists outside Nigeria that I haven’t yet met but have encountered their work first and it’s their work that has drawn me in to want to know more about the artist and their raison d’etre.&nbsp;

What has been your greatest achievement to date?&nbsp;

Tokini Peterside: Within the ART X context, we have had many highs and many have been reported about.&nbsp;

I think this year’s fair was a great achievement, not necessarily our greatest. But coming from a global pandemic against this backdrop of today’s Nigeria, which is experiencing a number of challenges and being able to deliver the only physical fair on the continent this year. An Art fair that has been judged by many to be our best to date.&nbsp;

Despite the challenges of the environment we were able to push for greater moments and spaces for the artists and galleries. We came back with a bang and we did it in a way that demonstrated ART X Collective as a pioneering leader on the continent. That is not an easy feat following a pandemic, economic downturn and social unrest.&nbsp;

If you had to attribute your career success to three characteristics, what would they be?&nbsp;

Tokini Peterside: I can do that by speaking to my values, kindness, continuous learning and excellence.&nbsp;

Kindness is at the heart of everything we do. For starters I am always challenging and pushing myself to see how I can serve my staff better. The organisation cares and has attributes like a family. It champions values like loyalty. That has people feeling well taken care of. We are a small team – 8 of us that work full time with part timers who work with us year-round and others who join us during our peak seasons. We have many galleries and artists that fly in from all over Africa and the globe to participate in ART X. We go above and beyond to support them, beyond what many other art fairs may do. We support them with resources and personnel – reaching into our own personal networks to help them. Not just because it’s repeat business for us but also because we really want to see them succeed.&nbsp;

I am always looking for new ways of learning. Not necessarily in conventional and obvious ways – yes there are business books and postgraduate case studies that have been written. I am always looking for ways I can learn directly from people whether it is personal, professional whatever it may be.&nbsp;

I strive and push to present my work in a way that depicts excellence. It is very important to send that message of excellence out of Nigeria and Africa.&nbsp;

What do you see your legacy being to the Lagos culture and more broadly Nigeria?&nbsp;

Tokini Peterside: What I ultimately want to contribute to doing is to transform how we Africans see ourselves and how we relate with the rest of the world. I see culture and creativity as a great vehicle that I want to harness to do that. I want to reposition the way black people, African people, are perceived and treated in the world. This is not a one-woman mission but I see myself as a part of the movement on the continent and across the global black diaspora in our respective sectors and spaces.&nbsp;

At the end of my life if someone says by the virtue of the people she supported, the platforms she built not only did she create a strong and powerful creative and culture sector but she allowed that sector to live out its potential at transforming how we as people of African heritage see our identity, our true nature, and how we relate with the rest of the world, then that would be a statement I would be very glad for.&nbsp;

Saba was raised in Australia and graduated from Monash University in Business/Arts (Majoring in Marketing and Politics). She was a successful restaurateur in Melbourne, running Saba’s Ethiopian Restaurant. Later became head creative curator for Afro Hub, Arts and Entertainment Company. A multi-disciplinary Arts organisation, anchored on Afrocentrism.

Since re-locating to Lagos in June 2021, she has been working as an Arts dealing and a consultant in Hospitality and Entertainment.

She is a signed novelist with Murdoch Publications with her first novel being released later in 2022.&nbsp;

EXCLUSIVE: Tokini Peterside of ART X Collective discusses Africa's art market

The African continent offers various investment opportunities despite the effect of the global pandemic. The continent's fast-growing population, digital economy, and financial markets present rewarding opportunities to prospective investors. Are you looking for easy ways to invest in Africa? Consider the options below.

Do note that the highlighted options are based on prevailing market realities, available statistics and experts' recommendation.

1.&nbsp;Invest in Agriculture

According to Oxford Business Group, agriculture accounts for only 14% of Sub-Saharan Africa's gross domestic product (GDP). That's despite the fact that the continent is home to 60% of the world's arable lands. And this does not only make it potentially capable of being self-sufficient, but also capable of feeding the rest of the world.

Note that the region's food import bill reached a record high in 2021. Available data from the World Bank show that Africa imports $35 billion worth of food in a year. Another report by Empower Africa noted that inadequate storage facilities, mechanization, and irrigation systems are reasons for low yields.

In view of all these problems and opportunities, it is safe to say that Africa's agriculture sector offers investors high rewards and a chance to effectuate growth that propels the region towards food sovereignty. Investors who are capable of providing solutions to these problems stand a chance to reap a lot of benefits.

READ:<a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/10-best-african-countries-to-invest-in-2022/whvt6nq"> 10 best African countries to invest in 2022</a>

2.&nbsp;Invest in African tech startups

It is no longer news that the African tech ecosystem is one of the fastest growing in the world. In 2021, African tech startups<a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/african-startups-raised-dollar465-billion-in-2021-62-of-which-went-to-fintechs/7s05wt7"> raised nearly $5 billion </a>worth of funding.

Some of the African countries with the most vibrant tech ecosystems are Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya and Rwanda. And the sub-sectors that are performing the best include fintech, heathtech, edtech, agritech, etc.

You can join other investors that have already positioned themselves for a windfall by investing in Africa's burgeoning tech ecosystem.

3.&nbsp;Invest in Real Estate

According to Statista, Africa's population stood at 1.37 billion as of May 2021. And there have been numerous projections that it will keep growing. For instance, the United Nations estimates that the continent's population will hit 2.5 billion people by 2050

These numbers represent rewarding opportunities for real estate investors in Africa. Investors can make easy money as the continent continues to experience a population boom and rapid urbanisation.

In the meantime, data obtained from Worldometer shows that Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa are the most populated countries in Africa. Nigeria tops the list with over 206 million population, followed by Ethiopia with over 114 million. The Egyptian population is over 102 million while DRC is home to over 89 million people. These figures represent people who are currently in need of affordable and decent housing. And any real estate investor capable of providing that can be rest assured of their returns.

4.&nbsp;Invest in Africa’s Natural Resources

The African continent is home to 10% of the world’s natural oil and gas reserves. According to Energy Capital and Power, Africa's natural gas reserves are over 800 trillion cubic feet. Nigeria tops the list of African countries with the most natural gas with 206.53 trillion cubic feet.

Algeria ranks second in Africa and 11th among global countries with proven natural gas reserves. Africa's natural gas reserves predict 80% expansion by 2035, making the continent a hotspot for investors.

The continent is rich in gold, diamond, platinum, uranium reserves, and more. According to an assessment by the United Nations, investing in the region would amount to a sound business. The evaluation further described Africa as the most prosperous region in the world.

5.&nbsp;Invest in African Stocks

Have you ever wanted to invest in market-leading stocks with high dividends? Well, that's what you'll get with the African stock market. There are a total of 29 stock markets available in Africa. And a previous article by Business Insider Africa highlighted the top 10 best performing African stock markets in 2021.

READ: <a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/10-best-performing-african-stock-markets-in-2021/cmfg5sg">10 best performing African stock markets in 2021</a>

Note that the best way to invest in African stocks is through local brokerage firms. Potential investors should also equip themselves with in-depth knowledge and understanding of the stock market varieties for the proper exchange selection. Consider shortlisting stock exchanges and stocks before researching. The research will aid the decision on exchange selection. You can invest in Africa through an exchange-traded fund (ETF) or mutual fund with a suitable exchange.

Now that you know the easy ways to invest in Africa, other factors you should consider before investing are the various national governments, legal systems, policies, and the people. Beware of weak governance, currency, corruption, and volatility as these factors could affect your investments. Consider engaging portfolio companies and adopt a hands-on approach for your assets.

Olayinka Sodiq is a qualified writer with technical, analytical and copywriting experience gained from 5 years of both in-house and freelancing gigs. He is versed in finance, investments, technology, blockchain, mergers &amp; acquisitions, bankruptcy, etc.