In a remarkable achievement that underscores the growing global influence of African business leaders, Nigerian billionaire and philanthropist Femi Otedola has claimed the No. 1 spot on Amazon’s Best Sellers list in the “Starting a Business” category with his newly released memoir, Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business. Launched on August 18, 2025, the 286-page book has not only surged to the top of its category but also secured a prominent position among the leading titles in Amazon’s “Business Biographies & Memoirs” list. This milestone, achieved less than a month after the book’s release, highlights Otedola’s growing stature as a thought leader and storyteller, whose insights into entrepreneurship resonate with readers worldwide.
A Meteoric Rise to the Top
The rapid ascent of Making It Big on Amazon’s bestseller charts is a testament to Otedola’s ability to connect with a global audience. Within 24 hours of its release, the memoir had already climbed to No. 4 on Amazon’s Best Sellers in Business Biographies and Memoirs, trailing only behind Gary Stevenson’s The Trading Game, Simon Squibb’s What’s Your Dream?, and Phil Knight’s iconic Shoe Dog. By August 20, it had reached No. 3 on Amazon UK’s business biography rankings, reflecting robust early sales and widespread interest, particularly among readers in Nigeria and beyond. Less than three weeks later, on September 7, 2025, the book secured the coveted No. 1 position in the “Starting a Business” category, surpassing works by globally renowned entrepreneurs such as Steven Bartlett’s The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life, Simon Squibb’s What’s Your Dream?, and Blake Masters’ Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future.
This achievement places Otedola in the same league as some of the world’s most influential business authors, including Cal Newport (Slow Productivity), Phil Knight (Shoe Dog), and Alex Hormozi ($100M Offers). The book’s five-star average rating on Amazon further underscores its appeal, with readers praising its blend of personal storytelling and actionable business insights. Available in paperback for £14.99 and in digital formats, Making It Big has tapped into a growing global appetite for authentic narratives from African entrepreneurs, offering a unique perspective on success in a challenging business environment.
The Making of Making It Big
Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business is more than just a memoir; it is a masterclass in resilience, risk-taking, and strategic thinking. Spanning 286 pages, the book chronicles Otedola’s journey from a modest upbringing in Nigeria to becoming a billionaire by the age of 41. Born to Sir Michael Otedola, a former governor of Lagos State, and Lady Doja, Otedola carved his own path in the business world, undeterred by his lack of a university education. In the memoir, he candidly reveals how he dropped out of school due to academic struggles, choosing instead to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions, which he had nurtured since childhood.
Otedola’s story is one of ambition, setbacks, and triumphs. He recounts how he identified a gap in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market in 2003 and founded Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd., investing over 15 billion naira in storage facilities and shipping vessels. This strategic move transformed Zenon into a key player in fuel distribution, capitalizing on inefficiencies in Nigeria’s oil industry, such as diesel scarcity in an oil-producing nation. Otedola’s ability to seize opportunities in a volatile market is a recurring theme in the book, offering readers a blueprint for navigating complex business landscapes.
The memoir also delves into pivotal moments that shaped Otedola’s worldview. One notable anecdote involves a 2005 breakfast meeting with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who persuaded Otedola to donate ₦300 million to fund the completion of the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja. Another significant encounter was with the late business magnate and politician Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, whose insights into the interplay of money and power profoundly influenced Otedola’s approach to business and leadership. These personal stories, interwoven with practical lessons, make Making It Big a compelling read for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business leaders alike.
Endorsements from Africa’s Business Elite
Making It Big has garnered widespread acclaim from some of Africa’s most prominent business and policy leaders, underscoring its significance as a contribution to global business literature. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization, praised Otedola for documenting his journey, noting the scarcity of such narratives from African business leaders. “There are very few books by successful African business leaders documenting their journey and sharing lessons learned for posterity, but in particular for a younger generation,” she said.
Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, described the book as “a must-read” for anyone interested in entrepreneurship and leadership, emphasizing its value for business leaders, policymakers, and young people venturing into the world of business. Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, lauded the memoir’s practical guidance and relatable narrative, stating that it offers “useful insights for surmounting business hurdles” and is “a highly recommended read for anyone who aspires to be successful in a challenging environment.” Other notable endorsements came from Samuel Adedoyin, founder and chairman of the Doyin Group of Companies, and Arunma Oteh, former vice president and treasurer of the World Bank treasury.
These endorsements highlight the book’s broad appeal and its potential to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs, particularly in Africa, where stories of homegrown success are increasingly sought after. Otedola’s memoir is not just a personal account but a call to action for young Africans to pursue their ambitions with resilience and strategic foresight.
A Disruptor in Business and Literature
Femi Otedola’s journey to becoming a billionaire is marked by his role as a disruptor in Nigeria’s oil and energy sectors. As the former chairman of Forte Oil PLC, he transformed the company into one of the highest-performing enterprises on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, earning accolades for its growth and innovation. His strategic investments in Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd. capitalized on gaps in Nigeria’s fuel retail market, addressing chronic supply disruptions and establishing Zenon as a dominant player in the diesel market. Otedola’s ventures have since expanded to power generation, financial services, and infrastructure, with his role as chairman of Geregu Power PLC and FirstHoldCo PLC solidifying his influence in Nigeria’s economy.
In Making It Big, Otedola reflects on the challenges and opportunities that defined his career. He writes, “If Nigeria had been working well, I would have no business controlling the diesel market. There was no good reason for diesel to be scarce in an oil-producing country. But scarce it was. I simply saw a gap and capitalized on the inefficiency in the system.” This mindset of identifying and addressing market inefficiencies is a cornerstone of the book’s teachings, offering readers a practical framework for entrepreneurial success.
Otedola’s success as an author mirrors his achievements in business. The memoir’s rapid rise on Amazon’s bestseller lists reflects his ability to translate his business acumen into compelling storytelling. By blending personal anecdotes with actionable insights, Otedola has created a work that resonates with a diverse audience, from aspiring entrepreneurs in Nigeria to seasoned business professionals in the United Kingdom and beyond. The book’s competitive pricing at £14.99 for the paperback edition, along with its availability in digital formats, has made it accessible to a wide readership, further fueling its global success.
The Global Appeal of African Entrepreneurial Stories
The success of Making It Big signals a broader shift in the global literary market: a growing demand for authentic African voices in business literature. Historically, business memoirs have been dominated by Western authors, with titles like Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog and Walter Isaacson’s Elon Musk setting the standard. Otedola’s memoir challenges this status quo, offering a distinctly African perspective that combines personal narrative with universal principles of leadership and resilience.
This achievement is particularly significant in the context of Nigeria’s evolving business landscape. As Otedola noted in a post on his official X handle, “Over the past decade, doors have opened for entrepreneurs in Nigeria that once seemed firmly shut. This transformation didn’t happen overnight.” His memoir serves as both a reflection on this transformation and a guide for navigating it, offering insights into the resilience and adaptability required to succeed in a dynamic and often unpredictable market.
The book’s appeal extends beyond Nigeria, resonating with entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom, where economic uncertainty and volatile investment landscapes have created a need for guidance on overcoming barriers to success. Otedola’s story of transforming challenges into opportunities—such as leveraging gaps in Nigeria’s energy infrastructure to build successful enterprises—offers valuable lessons for UK entrepreneurs facing similar uncertainties.
A Philanthropist’s Legacy
Beyond his business achievements, Femi Otedola is celebrated for his philanthropy, which is a recurring theme in Making It Big. A self-made billionaire who dreamt of his first business before the age of ten, Otedola has dedicated significant resources to giving back to his community. Through the Sir Michael Otedola Scholarship Awards Foundation, he supports financially disadvantaged students in Nigeria, demonstrating his commitment to education and social mobility. In November 2019, he donated $14 million to the Save the Children Fund, supporting programs for destitute children in Nigeria’s northeastern region. As vice-president of Save the Children UK, Otedola continues to champion causes that uplift the most vulnerable.
These philanthropic efforts are woven into the fabric of Making It Big, where Otedola emphasizes the importance of giving back as a core component of success. “This book is not simply about my journey,” he writes in the preface. “It is about the principles and choices that anyone, regardless of background, can apply in pursuit of their goals.” This message resonates with readers, particularly young Africans who see Otedola as a role model for balancing wealth creation with social impact.
A Family Man and Cultural Icon
Otedola’s personal life also adds depth to his narrative. A family man married with four children, including singer Tolani Otedola and actress Temi Otedola, he hails from one of Nigeria’s prominent families. His daughter Temi’s recent wedding to Afrobeats star Mr. Eazi, described as the most expensive wedding in Africa’s history, further underscores the Otedola family’s cultural influence. Despite his wealth and status, Otedola remains grounded, as evidenced by comments on social media praising his simple and modest demeanor.
However, Otedola’s journey has not been without criticism. Some skeptics, as noted in older posts on X, have questioned his ability to offer business lessons, citing his privileged background as the son of a former governor. Yet, Making It Big addresses these critiques head-on, with Otedola candidly sharing his struggles, including dropping out of school and navigating significant financial setbacks, such as losing a billion before making it back. These experiences humanize him, making his story relatable to readers from all walks of life.
A Milestone for African Literature
The success of Making It Big is a milestone not only for Femi Otedola but for African literature as a whole. By topping Amazon’s business category, Otedola has elevated the visibility of African entrepreneurial stories, proving that they can compete with and surpass established global titles. The memoir’s blend of personal memoir and practical advice positions it as a valuable resource for aspiring entrepreneurs, policymakers, and business leaders seeking to understand the dynamics of success in emerging markets.
As Otedola continues to inspire through his business ventures, philanthropy, and now his literary contributions, Making It Big stands as a testament to the power of resilience, vision, and strategic thinking. Its rapid rise to the top of Amazon’s bestseller list is a harbinger of the growing influence of African voices in global business discourse, paving the way for future generations to tell their stories and shape the world’s understanding of entrepreneurship.
