Femi Otedola’s Roadmap To Success ‘Making It Big’ Is Ready — Here’s How To Get It

After seven years in the making, billionaire entrepreneur Femi Otedola’s highly anticipated business memoir, Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business, is now available for preorder globally.

The business magnate, who chairs First Bank Holdings Plc and Geregu Power Plc, offers an unvarnished look into his remarkable journey — from a modest upbringing in Odoragunsin, near Epe in Lagos State, to becoming one of Africa’s most celebrated businessmen. The 298-page memoir, which captures Otedola’s personal and professional odyssey, is scheduled for release on Monday, August 18.

Preorders can now be placed via amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, rhbooks.com.ng and narrativelandscape.com.

On Amazon UK, the paperback is listed for £14.99; on Amazon US, $19.99. Nigerian retailers RH Books and Narrative Landscape offer the paperback at a discounted ₦13,500 and the hardcover at ₦22,500.

From early dreams of enterprise to monumental wins, crushing setbacks — including losing a billion — and his eventual resurgence, Otedola’s story is told with clarity and candour.

The memoir also details his transition into philanthropy and leadership, including his work with Save the Children UK and his role as Chancellor of Augustine University, Epe.

Endorsements from some of Africa’s most distinguished figures adorn the book’s back cover. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, calls it “important” — noting its rare insight from a successful African business leader.

Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, praises the memoir as “a masterclass in attaining and maintaining a positive mindset.”

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, describes it as “an enriching account” and “a highly recommended read.”

Otedola first hinted at the memoir in 2018 via social media, revealing that he was working closely with two notable journalists — Kunle Bakare, publisher of Encomium Magazine, and Simon Kolawole, publisher of TheCable.ng.

By November 2019, he announced the conclusion of the extensive interview phase, which spanned Lagos, Monte Carlo, Paris, New York, London, and Dubai.

On July 16, 2025, Otedola reignited anticipation with a teaser across his social media platforms — X, Facebook, and Instagram — sharing:

“Over the past decade, doors have opened for entrepreneurs in Nigeria that once seemed firmly shut. This transformation didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of perseverance, resilience, and the lessons learned from countless setbacks.”

He followed up the next day with the official release announcement:

“I am excited to announce the forthcoming release of my new book, Making It Big, set to launch on August 18th… The lessons, setbacks, and triumphs that shaped my path are almost ready for you.”

As a figure who has influenced sectors ranging from oil and gas to power, finance and philanthropy, Otedola’s story is a compelling portrait of ambition, loss, reinvention, and purpose.

Published by Narrative Landscape, Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business is set to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs — both in Nigeria and across the globe.

For those looking to understand the making of a mogul, Making It Big is more than a memoir — it is a roadmap.

The news of the release was shared late night Wednesday, July 23, 2025, by Kunle Bakare — the revered publisher of Encomium Magazine who is currently blazing a remarkable trail in fashion with his growing menswear label, Omoluwabi By KB.