ETK Group managing director, Bolaji Sofoluwe MBE, was awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in His Majesty King Charles III’s New Year’s Honours List for 2025 in recognition for her outstanding contributions to sustainable business growth, female entrepreneurship, and international trade.
This prestigious recognition reflects Bolaji’s relentless commitment to creating opportunities and breaking barriers for businesses and entrepreneurs. Through her work, she has not only championed innovative and inclusive growth strategies but also forged international partnerships that have opened doors to new trade and commerce opportunities.
Under Bolaji’s leadership, ETK Group has successfully executed projects across more than 34 African countries over the past 14 years, facilitating trade and investment exceeding £1 billion. During this period, we have supported businesses across diverse sectors, including aviation, financial services, health tech, oil and gas, agriculture, luxury goods, fashion and beauty, and manufacturing.
Congratulations, Bolaji! Your recognition is well-deserved and an inspiration to us all at ETK Group.
Also, a big congratulations to everyone honoured in this year’s list for their outstanding contributions to the growth and success of both the public and private sectors.
ETK Managing Director, Bolaji Sofoluwe, was shortlisted as a finalist in the Global Entrepreneur of the Year category, a powerful demonstration of her remarkable leadership and ETK Group’s ongoing mission to create a global impact.
But this celebration was about more than awards. It was a reminder of the transformative force of entrepreneurship.
Collectively, the finalists represented businesses that generate £2.9 billion in turnover and provide 20,000 jobs, an extraordinary contribution to the UK economy.
At ETK Group, this recognition highlights our core values: resilience, innovation, and the bold pursuit of empowering businesses to confidently navigate global markets.
To every winner and finalist, congratulations. Your dedication inspires us all.
We are proud to share this space with you! Here’s to driving continued impactful growth together.
ETK Group Managing Director Bolaji Sofoluwe has been named in The Powerlist 2025 for the second year in a row!
This prestigious recognition, published by Powerful Media in partnership with J.P. Morgan, spotlights the top 100 influential individuals of African, African-Caribbean, and African-American heritage in the UK, across business, technology, science, and the arts.
Bolaji expressed it best:
“I am honoured to be named in The Powerlist 2025 for the second year running, alongside such incredible individuals. This recognition would not have been possible without the relentless dedication and support of my team at ETK Group. This award is a reflection of all that we’ve accomplished together.” Bolaji Sofoluwe
Also, huge congratulations to everyone who made it onto this year’s PowerList!
Let’s celebrate these trailblazers shaping the future! 🚀
Africans in the diaspora have made and continue to make a remarkable impact on the continent.
With an estimated 200 million people of African descent living outside Africa according to the World Economic Forum—over 1.5 million of them in the UK— the connection to their roots remains strong despite living thousands of kilometers away from the continent.
From sending remittances to investing in their home countries and contributing to the overall development of the continent, the African diaspora plays a very important role in the continent’s prosperity.
According to the United Nations, remittances to Africa have doubled in the last decade, surpassing $100 billion in 2022—exceeding both Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)!
Recently, CNN‘s Eleni Giokos spoke with ETK managing director Bolaji Sofoluwe and other diaspora business leaders on how they’re maintaining strong ties to Africa while contributing to its growth.
Watch Bolaji’s interview starting at 15:35 minutes here: https://bit.ly/3Mxwi2X
Economic diversification, regional integration, export value chain consolidation, export infrastructure development, and export financing were among the key discussion points at the recently concluded 2024 Zenith Bank Plc International Trade Seminar.
The event, which was the 9th edition of the seminar was held at the iconic Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, under the theme “Nigerian Non-Oil Export Industry: Awakening the Giant.” It brought together stakeholders and experts from the Nigerian export sector to explore strategies for boosting the country’s non-oil export market.
During the panel session, Nigerian Non-Oil Export Industry: Awakening the Giant, ETK’s Managing Director, Bolaji Sofoluwe, along with other esteemed panelists including Dr. Williams Kanya, Hon. Otunba Tola Faseru, Dr. Obiora Madu, Mr. Adeniran Ige, FCA and Mevis Aiyeju, provided valuable insights on how to develop and expand the country’s non-oil sector to unlock its full export potential.
From the welcome address delivered by GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank PLC, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji OON, to goodwill messages from Lagos State’s Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade & Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, keynote speeches from Secretary of the AfCFTA, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, and MD of NEXIM Bank, Alhaji Abba Bello, the seminar witnessed unified calls for more focused efforts on adding value to Nigeria’s non-oil export products, transforming them from raw materials into semi-finished and finished goods to unlock greater economic benefits for the country.
Key takeaways from the event included:
📌 The urgent need for comprehensive port reforms to ease congestion and reduce export costs.
📌Sector consolidation and improvement of export and logistics infrastructure to enhance #market access.
📌Greater regional integration through #AfCFTA initiatives to boost the quality and competitiveness of Nigeria’s non-oil exports.
📌Increased export financing to elevate the value of non-oil products and improve the business environment for manufacturers.
📌Addressing insecurity to attract #investment into the Nigerian export sector.
📌Developing and enhancing the service sector to stimulate #growth and drive service exports.
📌Establishing a unified customs union across the continent to lower shipping costs within African and international markets.
As an African-focused market entry and trade expansion consultancy, this seminar aligns with our mission to facilitate #trade and #business opportunities across the continent.
A big thank you to Zenith Bank Plc for consistently championing Nigeria’s non-oil export sector and identifying emerging opportunities to drive growth in this important sector.
On July 25–26, 2024, ETK took part in the Africa Social Impact Summit 2024 (ASIS 3.0).
The two-day summit held under the theme “Reimagining Progress: A New Blueprint for Sustainable Growth in Africa.” was a resounding success!
From networking opportunities with businesses to learn about their social impact projects on the continent to helping SMEs and businesses understand how ETK can support their business goals and their social impact initiatives in Africa, we had a fantastic time at the summit.
Co-convened by the Sterling One Foundation and United Nations Nigeria, the summit featured enlightening and thought-provoking discussions, evidence-based insights, and action plans for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs in Africa.
For two days, the summit brought together over 2000 forward-thinking and socially conscious professionals from the private and public sectors, civil society organisations, and development communities across Africa with the mission of inspiring investors to support existing African solutions addressing critical issues such as climate change, the circular economy, education, health, WASH, renewable energy, and agriculture on the continent.
From the opening remarks, insightful debate, panel sessions, and roundtable discussions at the event, the event was focused on strategies to increase investment and funding for impactful projects that foster sustainable economic growth and development in Africa. ETK Group specialises in providing SMEs across Africa with access to markets and business opportunities, as well as a range of tailored services to impact investors in Africa, enabling them to achieve their goals. This summit was fully aligned with our goals of supporting investment and sustainable development in Africa.
If you’re a business or social impact investor and want to know more about how ETK can support your business sustainability goals in Africa, please do reach out!
On July 24, 2024, ETK Group and Alitheia Capital co-sponsored an investor’s roundtable with the Lagos State Government under the theme “Opportunities Made in Lagos,” in partnership with Sterling One Foundation and the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment.
The event, which was a pre-summit panel for the Africa Social Impact 3.0 Summit 2024 held in Lagos on July 25–26, provided an opportunity for potential investors and donors to connect with key decision-makers in the state and for the state government to present its ambitious investment focus and key areas of opportunity to potential investors.
At ETK Group, we do not just believe in Africa’s development potential; we are helping shape the narratives of investment and development on the continent by connecting investors and businesses with investment opportunities in the African market.
Lagos State is projecting a positive economic outlook for the state, driven by the leadership of his Excellency, the executive governor of Lagos State, Babjide Sanwo Olu, the expanding population, and the ongoing sustainable infrastructure development in the state. We are happy to be part of this.
In the last couple of years, Lagos’s economy has shown remarkable resilience, welcoming new investment policies to guarantee returns to investors.
As a leading investment destination in Africa and the 7th largest economy on the continent, Lagos has been proactive in implementing business-friendly policies, including a constant review of the state’s Ease of Doing Business policies to reduce the challenges associated with new business registration, obtaining permits, and helping to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks.
We are delighted to announce that ETK Group has been shortlisted for the 2024 Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards – Global Entrepreneur of the Year category for the East of England region! https://bit.ly/3VX48UQ
Each year, the awards receive thousands of applications, demonstrating the competitive nature and high standard of the competition. This year’s shortlist showcases businesses with a combined turnover of £2.9 billion and approximately 20,000 employees, highlighting the significant roles of these businesses in driving economic growth across the UK.
This award is a testament to the hard work of the ETK team and our commitment to the growth of the UK’s economy and businesses. We’re excited about what the future holds for our mission to support UK businesses in expanding into other markets.
ETK Group Managing Director Bolaji Sofoluwe was recently named one of the Global Top 100 Export and International Trade leaders.
In celebration of Global Africa Day on May 25th, 2024, under the theme “Championing the Vision of Global Africa as a Unified Economic Block and Single Market,” Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) unveiled the honourees list for the 2024 Most Influential Global Top 100 Export and International Trade Edition in recognition of their exceptional commitment to driving economic progress across continents. Please see the full list here: ww.mipad.org/classof2024.
This groundbreaking list celebrates the achievements of Africans who are making waves in diverse sectors. From CEOs forging billion-dollar deals to social entrepreneurs tackling global challenges, these Trade Champions are proving that African ingenuity is a driving force for positive change in the world economy.
For Nigerians and Africans across the continent, this list is a powerful source of inspiration and a testament to the immense potential of the African diaspora in driving economic growth and prosperity.
Bolaji, alongside other prominent African leaders in Trade and Export including Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first African and woman to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO); Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade Bank (IATB); Kemi Arosanyin, CGBP, the Director, Trade Development (Africa & Caribbean) at the World Trade Centre; H.E.Wamkele Mene, the Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) were recognised for their groundbreaking achievements in trade and export around the world. The full Global Top 100 list is available via www.mipad.org/classof2024
Bolaji’s contributions are truly exceptional, as she excels in trade promotion and holds the prestigious role of Department for Business and Trade Export Champion. As a business growth strategist focused on market expansion and internationalisation, she also provides companies and businesses with the representation and knowledge necessary to enter and expand across African markets. Bolaji has personally spearheaded projects in over 34 African countries.
At ETK Group, we’re not just advisors; we’re your partner in conquering the African market. Our strategic expertise opens doors for companies looking to thrive on this dynamic continent.
ETK Group Limited has announced the launch of Africa’s Next Global Innovation Challenge – ANGIC – an initiative that seeks to identify and bolster sustainable enterprise development and link African innovations and solutions with global challenges.
Focusing on growth-stage ventures with existing products that are solving specific problems in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, or Rwanda, ANGIC will bridge the gap between African ingenuity and pressing global challenges. Through a curated blend of capacity support and access to markets, the innovation challenge will identify and empower growth-stage businesses to scale existing solutions, drive sustainable enterprise development, and make a profound global impact.
Africa Next Global Innovation Challenge
African innovators and businesses hold significant potential to address the challenges faced by Africa. However, they often lack access to investors, essential support, funding, and face capacity constraints. A significant number of small businesses on the continent struggle due to operational limitations and gaps in critical areas of capacity necessary for growth.
In collaboration with The Nest Innovation Park, ETK will implement Africa’s Next Global Innovation Challenge to address these challenges in a bid to give exemplary innovations and businesses from Africa a chance to expand their reach into global markets.
To participate, qualified businesses can enter the challenge by visiting www.angic.etkgroup.co.uk from May 27 – June 28, 2024.
“Our mission with ANGIC is to contribute to the export of innovative solutions and products from Africa to other markets in the UK, US, Europe, Brazil, or other markets around the world. With this challenge, we want to prioritize innovations that are focused on improving sustainability and the socio-economic status of Africans. At the end of this inaugural edition of ANGIC, our aim is to facilitate the successful export of at least four innovative solutions and products from Africa to global markets,” says Bolaji Sofoluwe, Managing Director at ETK Group.
Africa’s Next Global Innovation Challenge will provide selected businesses with opportunities to scale their solution with expert support in research and development, training, and capacity development, access to global markets, access to ETK Group’s network of international partners and industry experts for guidance, as well as the opportunity to accelerate the growth of their businesses with mentorship from ETK and other industry experts around the world.
“These exports are expected to generate a minimum of $100 million in revenue, directly contributing to the socio-economic advancement of African communities. We will ensure that each exported innovation aligns with the mission of improving the socio-economic status of Africans.” Added Bolaji.
About ETK Group
Founded in 2010, ETK is a UK-based Africa-focused trade and advisory consultancy with a presence in 34 African markets. Our vision is to contribute to the growth of African businesses through advisory work and by facilitating access to export markets for businesses of various sizes across the continent. ETK has facilitated market entry and provided market support services to over 200 clients across Africa, the UK, and in other markets. ETK contributes to the growth of African businesses and markets by helping enterprises to expand into other markets and connecting international businesses from other markets with trade and investment opportunities on the continent. ETK provides support to SMEs across diverse sectors with capacity development, sustainability consulting, strategy, planning, and project management and implementation to facilitate growth.
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