In a world of ambitious ideas and ambitious capital, not every project secures the funding it deserves. Why? Because investors don’t fund ideas, they fund bankable projects. As a CFO in today’s volatile economic landscape, especially in emerging markets like Nigeria, knowing how to build and present a bankable project has become both an art and a science. Investors and lenders demand bankability: a project’s ability to attract funding based on its risk-return profile, structural soundness, and long-term viability. For CFOs and financial leaders, ensuring bankability is a critical responsibility. It requires a strategic approach that balances financial engineering, risk mitigation, and stakeholder alignment. So, what really makes a project bankable? What gives financiers the confidence to commit millions or billions of naira or dollars to your vision? Let’s unpack the CFO’s playbook. 1. Strong Financial Fundamentals At the heart of every bankable project lies a robust financial model...
Dear Younger Me, If I could sit across from you at Hans and Rene, indulging in Zobo Sorbet with that perfect cozy vibe and just the right lo-fi beats playing in the background, I’d smile and say this: Money isn’t just for surviving; it’s for building a life that looks soft and sweet and actually feels soft and sweet too. You’ll make some wild money mistakes (chai! tears don plenty), but each one will shape your financial wisdom. Here’s what I wish you’d known earlier: 1. Tracking Spending na Koko Then: You thought budgeting was a punishment or too complex. Now: I track every expense while lounging in my garden, sipping my green tea using my Spending App that helps me stay sharp without stress. The wake-up call? Realizing my N1,500 data + airtime habit = N45k/month. In a couple of months, that’s literally a weekend getaway to Ghana! The pivot: I moved to monthly bundles and redirected the extra money to books and plant babies. Lesson: When spending feels invisible, so...