The Nigerian Industrial Behemoth That Could Reshape the African Economy

Earlier in August, it was reported that Nigeria's Dangote Refinery secured a $1 billion underwriting for its upcoming stock market listing, set to become Africa's largest IPO. According to the UN, growth across Africa was expected to reach 4.0% in 2026. The history of economic development in Africa is a vexed one; access to critical resources, whether its minerals or petrochemicals, has not always equated to improved economic conditions. In this episode, we talk to Joe Studwell, the author of How Africa Works: Success and Failure on the World's Last Developmental Frontier. Studwell's book argues that African countries have failed to adopt strategies that mirror Asian counterparts. And while development has been uneven, Studwell is optimistic that the seeds of sustained development are increasingly taking root, at least in some countries. See Odd Lots Live in LA September 2026 https://events.bloombergevents.com/event/ODDLOTSLA/summary (Source: Bloomberg)