Femi Otedola Is Writing ‘Making It Bigger’: What More Can Africa Learn From His Story?

Femi Otedola has another book on the way.

The Nigerian businessman says he is writing Making It Bigger, a sequel to his 2025 memoir, Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business.

If the first book traced how he built companies, navigated setbacks and made his way through decades of business, could the second be about what happened next?

For someone whose career has stretched from petroleum to power generation and now banking, there is no shortage of material.

More than one business story – A career defined by moving forward

Otedola first gained prominence through Zenon Petroleum, which became a major player in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector.

He later acquired African Petroleum and transformed it into Forte Oil before selling his stake and moving into electricity generation through Geregu Power.

His investments have since expanded into other areas and today, he also chairs First HoldCo, adding banking to a career that has already crossed several industries.

Across these moves, one thing stands out: Otedola has repeatedly repositioned himself as business opportunities changed.

These experiences definitely form the foundation of Making It Bigger.

There's more to him than the deals, too.

He's the son of the late Sir Michael Otedola, a former governor of Lagos State, and beyond the boardroom he carries the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger, chairs Augustine University in Epe as chancellor, and sits as vice president of Save the Children UK.

So, if the first book was about building the empire, a sequel might have to reckon with what a man does once the empire already has his name on it.

Why the sequel has drawn attention

When Making It Big came out in 2025, readers found more than a catalogue of achievements.

Otedola wrote about difficult decisions, business disappointments and the lessons that came with them. The memoir earned praise from figures including Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who wrote the preface, and Akinwumi Adesina, who recommended it to entrepreneurs and business leaders.

It also went on to win the Gold Medal in the Business category at the 2026 Axiom Business Book Awards and finished as first runner-up at the 2026 Business Council for Africa African Business Book of the Year Awards.

So, what is 'bigger'?

Only Otedola knows the answer for now.

The title leaves room for curiosity. It may point to business, investing, leadership or something more personal and for a man who has never stayed in one lane for long, "bigger" is unlikely to mean simply "more of the same."

Until the book arrives, readers can only speculate.