By Onyekachi Victoria Philip
The fifth product in Otunba Wanle Akinboboye’s 52 Tourism Products is Business Bridge, a platform designed to connect Africans in the diaspora and other potential investors with African entrepreneurs and skilled people who have expertise but need funding.
Business Bridge moves directly into investment, entrepreneurship and economic development while still being presented as a tourism product.
What Exactly Is Business Bridge?
Business Bridge was created around a common challenge as some people have money but do not know where to invest, while others have skills, practical knowledge and viable business ideas but lack capital.
The platform attempts to connect the two.
On one side are:
- Africans in the diaspora;
- people of African descent;
- international investors;
- individuals with investment capital.
On the other side are:
- entrepreneurs;
- farmers;
- fishermen;
- artisans;
- small business owners;
- young entrepreneurs;
- local business managers; and
- skilled people with practical expertise.
Why Was Business Bridge Created?
The Diaspora Has Capital. Millions of Africans and people of African descent live outside the continent and earn in currencies such as dollars, pounds, euros and Canadian dollars.
Business Bridge explores how some of this capital can become investment funding for businesses and opportunities across Africa.
When the product was launched in November 2023, Akinboboye used the example of an investor with $10,000 and explained how such an amount could potentially support businesses when properly invested.
The question behind the idea was:Can capital held by Africans in the diaspora become seed funding for opportunities across Africa?
Africa Has Skills but Many People Lack Capital. Across Africa, many people already possess the knowledge needed to run businesses.
Fishermen understand fishing and farmers understand agriculture. Artisans know their trades. Chefs understand food businesses. Tour guides understand destinations, while young entrepreneurs often understand their local markets.
The challenge is that skills alone are not always enough.A fisherman may need money for boats, nets, fuel and preservation equipment.A farmer may require funding for land preparation, machinery, seeds, irrigation and storage.A tourism entrepreneur may understand a destination but lack money for transportation, equipment and marketing.
Business Bridge attempts to connect these skilled people with investors.
The Fishing Example
One of the examples used to explain Business Bridge involved fishing.Many coastal communities across Africa have people with generations of fishing experience but limited capital to acquire boats, nets and other equipment.The aim is to create a structured business relationship rather than simply give someone money.
The Proposed Business Structure
Akinboboye’s Business Bridge model involved different people.
Investor
Provides the capital required to establish or expand a business.
Local Entrepreneur
Provides practical knowledge and operates the business.
Business Manager
Oversees administration and day-to-day activities.
Financial Institutions
Can support the investment structure and financial management.
Technology
Allows investors to monitor activities remotely.
This addresses a major concern for investors living abroad:How can someone monitor an investment from thousands of kilometres away?
The Solar Camera Monitoring Idea
One of the innovative aspects of the fishing example was the proposed use of solar-powered cameras.The idea was that cameras could be placed on fishing boats, allowing an investor living abroad to monitor activities remotely.
The original Business Bridge model proposed a sharing arrangement where:
- 40 percent would go to the investor;
- 40 percent would go to the local operator;
- 20 percent would go toward administration and others involved in running the business.
The model also proposed that after an investor achieved a 300 percent return on investment, the investor could exit and allow the local operator to continue independently.The idea was to create businesses that could eventually stand independently.
Why Business Bridge Is Different From Charity
Business Bridge was not presented as charity.The investor is not donating money, while the entrepreneur is not simply receiving financial assistance.
- Both parties have economic interests.
- The investor seeks returns.
- The entrepreneur seeks a sustainable business.
- Managers and workers can also earn income.
Business Bridge and Tourism
Business Bridge connects investment with tourism through travel and the discovery of opportunities.An investor or diaspora visitor can travel to an African country, experience the destination, meet entrepreneurs, identify opportunities and build business relationships.
The person may return home while continuing to monitor the investment.This connects tourism with business development and investment.
Business Bridge Across Africa
Different countries have different resources and investment possibilities.
Opportunities may exist in:
- agriculture;
- tourism;
- hospitality;
- trade;
- manufacturing;
- technology;
- creative industries;
- renewable energy; and
- natural resources.
The concept is therefore not limited to one country.It can connect diaspora capital with African entrepreneurs and investors with opportunities wherever they exist on the continent.
Collective Investment
Business Bridge also creates room for people to invest together.
For example, if a farming project requires $30,000, three people can contribute $10,000 each.
Investor A — $10,000
Investor B — $10,000
Investor C — $10,000
Total Investment -$30,000
The principle is that when people multiply their participation, investment opportunities can also multiply.Instead of waiting for one person to provide the entire amount, several people can pool resources to establish a business.
If the investment is used for farming, the $30,000 can support agricultural activities, create employment and generate returns.
Business Bridge During the East-West Africa Amalgamation
Business Bridge becomes particularly relevant during the Motherland Beckons2026- East-West Africa Amalgamation through Tourism, Trade and Creative Arts.
The programme, scheduled for September 15 to 23, 2026, in Addis Ababa and Soddo, Ethiopia, is centred on connecting East and West Africa through trade, tourism, investment and culture.
It brings together business leaders, investors, government representatives, tourism stakeholders, creatives and members of the diaspora.The programme includes business-to-business matchmaking, investment discussions, government engagements, partnerships, cultural experiences and tourism activities.
This creates an environment for investors and entrepreneurs to identify opportunities beyond their immediate locations.Ethiopia, like many African countries, presents opportunities across agriculture, tourism, hospitality, trade, manufacturing and cultural development.
Business Bridge can therefore connect people with capital to opportunities not only in their home countries but across Africa.
Business Bridge, the fifth product in Otunba Wanle Akinboboye’s 52 Tourism Products, is built around one central idea:
Connecting capital with skills and opportunities.
This brings together investors, entrepreneurs, skilled workers, managers and technology to create structured business relationships.It also encourages collective investment, where several people can combine resources to fund larger opportunities.
During the East–West Africa Amalgamation, the concept becomes even broader.
Africa has skills, resources, entrepreneurs and investment opportunities across different countries.Business Bridge seeks to create the connections needed to turn those opportunities into sustainable businesses.
- A bridge between capital and expertise.
- A bridge between investors and opportunities.
- And a bridge connecting economic possibilities across Africa.