General
Organisers Announce Shortlist for 2018 Private Equity Africa Awards
By Dipo Olowookere
Private Equity Africa (PEA) has announced the shortlist for its 7th Annual GP & Advisor Awards (PEA Awards).
A statement issued by the organisers said this year’s Awards Gala Dinner would be hosted at the prestigious 5-Star Langham Hotel in London on Tuesday, June 12, 2018.
This follows the PEA LP-GP Investor Summit, a full day event and the summit includes hosted sector-focused round-tables, lunch discussions and an open room debate session.
The PEA Awards celebrate the achievements in the African private equity market, focusing solely on the best-in-class achievements of investors and advisors in the industry.
The final winners will be selected by an independent panel of highly respected industry participants, based on selections from the London Business School Private Equity Institute and the PEA Awards Nomination Team.
The 2018 PEA Awards have received a record number of entries, the highest since the awards were launched.
Based on 2017 achievements, the self-entries are complemented by editorial recommendations from the Private Equity Africa team and industry data.
According to the Awards Chair and Editor of Private Equity Africa, Gail Mwamba, “The PEA Awards are growing from strength to strength with a record number of entries this year, the most we have received since the launch of the awards.
“The high quality of the entries we have received shows the industry’s resilience in continuing to deploy capital and execute world-class deals, even in challenging market conditions.”
Below is the awards shortlist by category
GP AWARDS
HOUSE OF THE YEAR
SUBCATEGORIES: SSA, Regional & Specialist
ACA
Actis
AfricInvest
Amethis
Capitalworks
Carlyle
DPI
Ethos
Helios
Investec Asset Management
LeapFrog
Mediterrania Capital Partners
Old Mutual Alternative Investments
Verod
XSML
DEAL OF THE YEAR
Large-Cap
Abraaj – Tunisie Telecom
Actis – Honoris
Carlyle – Shell Gabon
DPI – Atlantic Business International
Harith – Sheltam
Helios – GBFoods Africa
Milost Global – Eco Medical
Mid-Cap
8 Miles – Blue Skies
AfricInvest – Britam
Alta Semper – Macro Pharmaceuticals
Amethis – Groupe Premium
Apis – Greenlight Planet
Atlas Mara – Union Bank Nigeria
Capitalworks – Minet, Petmin, Sovereign Food
Carlyle – GCR
EMR – Capital Lubambe
EuroMena – Retail Holding
Investec Asset Management – Kamoso
Medu Capital – HeroTel
Sanlam – JAB Dried Fruit
TA Associates – Interswitch
Small-Cap & Venture Capital
4Di Capital – Sensor Networks
AFIG – Tecnicil
African Rainbow Capital – A2X Markets
AfricInvest – ICS
Agile Capital – Goldrush
Algebra Ventures – ElMenus
Alta Semper – Health Plus
Argentil – Chocolate City Express
Ascent Capital – Kisumu
Catalyst – Jambo Biscuits
DiGAME – 10X Investments
Draper Associates – BitPesa
Energy Access Ventures – SunCulture
Enko – AMI International, Ecobank
I&P – Societe Malienne de Blanchisserie
Kalon Venture Partners – i-Pay, SnapnSave
Kibo Capital – Tropigalia
Kleoss Capital – Debt Rescue
Knife Capital – Quicket
LeapFrog – AllLife
Lereko & Metier – Butama
Moringa – Tolaro
Musa Capital – Swanib Cables
Oasis Capital – Legacy Girls College
Old Mutual Alternative Investments – Faircape Life Right
Pointbreak – Khomas Solar Saver
Quona Capital – AllLife
Sahel Capital – Crest Agro
Synergy Capital – Dimension Data, Northstar
Teranga Capital – OuiCarry
Verod – Oreon Education
XSML – Monishop
Debt
AfricInvest – Carbon Holdings
Injaro – AviNiger
Investec Asset Management – Akuo Kita Solar
Moringa – Tolaro
Old Mutual Alternative Investments – Sifiso Education
TLG – BAJ Stations
Vakayi – Homelux
Vantage – Purple Capital
XSML – Monishop
Infrastructure
AHL – PowerGen
AIIM – Albatros, Starsight
Black Rhino – Qua Iboe Power Plant
Denham – Te Power
DOB Equity – PowerGen
Helios – Starsight
EXIT OF THE YEAR
SUBCATEGORIES: Large, Medium, Small-Cap, Landmark
Actis – Edita
AfricInvest – Comete Engineering, Tunisian Health Care Centers
Capitalworks – Much Asphalt
CDG Capital – Intelcia
Convergence Partners – Dimension Data Middle East & Africa
DiGAME – Getsmarter
DOB Equity – Joseph Initiative
DPI – CAL Bank
ECP – Java House
EXEO Capital – Fairfield Dairy
Injaro – Nafaso
Investec Asset Management – Daraju
Lereko & Metier– AE AMD Renewable Energy
Mediterrania Capital Partners – San Jose & Lopez
Standard Chartered Private Equity – CEC Zambia, ETG, Kamoso
PORTFOLIO COMPANY OF THE YEAR
SUBCATEGORIES: Innovation, Improvement, Development & Social Impact
8 Miles – Awash Wine
Actis – Honoris
AfricInvest – Esprit
Argentil – Winchester Farms
Carlyle – J&J Africa
DPI – KMR Holding Pdagogique
Duet – Dashen Brewery
ECP – Oragroup
Fanisi – Haltons
Helios – Interswitch, HTA
Injaro – Agricare Ghana, Gold Coast Fruits
LeapFrog – Goodlife
Mediterrania Capital Partners – Medtech
Quona – Zoona
TLG – MyBucks, Cipla Quality Chemicals
Verod – Central Securities Clearing Systems
Zebu – Topcrust Bakery
ADVISOR AWARDS
Legal Advisors
Global Legal Advisors
SUBCATEGORIES: Overall, Funds, Transactions & Single Deal
Akin Gump
Allen & Overy
Baker McKenzie
Charles Russell Speechlys
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Clifford Chance
Cuatrecasas
Debevoise & Plimpton
Dentons
DLA Piper
Eversheds Sutherland
Foster Pepper
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Herbert Smith Freehills
Hogan Lovells
Latham & Watkins
Linklaters
Norton Rose Fulbright
O’Melveny
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
Simmons & Simmons
White & Case
Local & Frontier Legal Advisors
SUBCATEGORIES:Overall, Funds, Transactions & Single Deal
Aluko & Oyebode
Anjarwalla & Khanna
Banwo & Ighodalo
Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah
Bowmans
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr
ENSafrica
Olajide Oyewole
Musa Dudhia & Co
The New Practice
Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie
Webber Wentzel
Werksmans Attorneys
Financial Advisors
Global Financial Advisors
SUBCATEGORIES: Overall & Single Deal
Crossboundary
Deloitte
EY
KPMG
Marsh
PwC
Rothschild & Co
Taylor Collison
Local & Frontier Financial Advisors
SUBCATEGORIES: Overall & Single Deal
CI Capital Investment
EFG Hermes
Merchantec Capital
Meziou Knani & Khlif
Pangaea Securities
Perigeum
Viva Africa
Other Advisors
ABSA Capital
EBS Advisory
ERM
Stanbic IBTC
Fund Administrators
Abax Services
Augentius
Axis
Intercontinental Trust
Maitland
SANNE
SGG
Trident Trust
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the latest United States airstrikes on Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) targets in northwest Nigeria were conducted at the request of the Nigerian government.
According to reports, the US struck at ISWAP targets in Jabo, Sokoto State, on Christmas night.
The ministry described the operation as a product of established counterterrorism cooperation between both countries.
In a press statement issued on Friday, the Ministry said the strikes were “undertaken following formal engagement and with the full knowledge and coordination of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“The Government of Nigeria wishes to clarify that the airstrikes conducted by the United States against Islamic State elements in parts of northwest Nigeria were carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities and in line with existing bilateral security cooperation frameworks,” the statement said.
The Ministry stressed that Nigeria “remains firmly in control of all counterterrorism operations within its sovereign territory,” adding that international partners only provide support “where such assistance aligns with Nigeria’s national security objectives.”
According to the statement, the strikes form part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to “degrade terrorist capabilities, disrupt logistics networks, and protect civilian populations from violent extremist threats.”
The Foreign Ministry further emphasised that the federal government “will continue to work with trusted international partners to confront terrorism, banditry, and transnational criminal networks that threaten national and regional stability.”
Reacting to concerns around sovereignty, the Ministry said:
“At no time was Nigeria’s sovereignty compromised. All actions were conducted with due respect for Nigeria’s laws, institutions, and command structures.”
The statement also cautioned against mischaracterising Nigeria’s security challenges, noting that extremist violence “has affected communities across religious and ethnic lines and should not be framed in sectarian terms.”
Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to a multi-layered response combining military operations, intelligence sharing, community engagement, and socio-economic interventions, adding that counterterrorism efforts remain focused on protecting lives and restoring stability.
The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the strikes were carried out in Sokoto State and that multiple militants were killed.
US President Donald Trump described the strikes as “powerful and deadly,” saying they were directed at Islamic State militants responsible for violent attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government has clearly denied that only Christians are affected by the killings, saying the terror spread across all faiths.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that “more to come” as part of sustained efforts against extremist groups.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The United States government gave some terrorists in Nigeria a Christmas gift that sent many of them to the great beyond.
On Thursday, December 25, 2025, the United States President, Mr Donald Trump, directed his country’s military to launch air strikes on camps of members of the dreaded Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Sokoto State.
According to Mr Trump, the military action, which he threatened to carry out a few weeks ago if the Nigerian government does not stop the killing of Christians in the country, occurred on Thursday night.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!
“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.
“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.
“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical islamic terrorism to prosper. May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
In a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Department of War of the United States posted the below video of the air strikes;
https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2004351717131903272
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The presidency has reacted to speculations that Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has been removed as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
It was alleged that Mr Gbajabiamila has been replaced with the President’s Principal Private Secretary, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Mr Muri-Okunola went to Abuja to take up this role after leaving as the Head of Service of the Lagos State Civil Service.
Reacting to the reports on social media on the purported removal of Mr Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the presidency said no such change has been made.
In a statement signed on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, members of the public were advised to disregard the report as “there is absolutely no truth to this story.”
“The Chief of Staff remains in his position. The Principal Private Secretary likewise remains in his role. Hakeem Muri-Okunola has not replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff.
“The viral claim is a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.
“We reiterate that news media should always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media,” the statement said.
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