The Nigerian Industrial Behemoth That Could Reshape the African Economy

Joe Studwell, author of How Africa Works, discusses the state of economic development across Africa with a focus on the Dangote Refinery's upcoming IPO—set to be Africa's largest. The conversation examines why resource-rich African nations have historically struggled to translate mineral and petrochemical access into broad-based prosperity, and what lessons can be drawn from Asian industrial policy. Studwell outlines why he believes the seeds of sustained development are taking root in select countries, highlighting Rwanda's ambition to become Africa's Singapore and Lagos as one of the world's most impressive cities.