Business

David Oyelowo begins production on ‘Biafra’ Series with BBC

Published

4 years ago

December 15, 2022

L to R: David Oyelowo, Richard Johns, Yvonne Isimeme, Ibazebo, Bola Agbaje, Ngozi Onwurah

David Oyelowo is EPing a limited series in development with the BBC about Biafra with Fremantle and Richard Johns’ newly-launched Argo Films.

Biafra is set in the UK and Nigeria, with the story unfolding across two main timelines: the present day, and the 1967-70 Biafra War – which remains a largely forgotten secret in the shared histories of both countries. Seen through the eyes of a young Black British woman, the series will combine character-led personal story with themes of family, identity and belonging at its heart.

BAFTA-nominated Selma star Oyelowo, who has Nigerian heritage, described Biafra as “one of my most treasured projects,” satisfying his desire to “see African stories told at the highest level.”

The series is in development with the BBC although hasn’t been greenlit yet. Fremantle is strategic partner with Oyelowo’s Yoruba Saxon Productions producing alongside Argo. Laurence Olivier Award-winning writer, Bola Agbaje (Gone Too Far) is writing the script and Ngozi Onwurah (Shoot the Messenger, Mama Africa) is co- developing and attached to direct.

Shadow of a Vampire producer Johns launched Argo last week and is also behind a Disney+ short starring John Travolta and Ben Radcliffe titled The Shepherd.

He said: “Britain and Nigeria have a hugely important, multi-layered, and historic relationship, one that is very much alive today. With this series, we are setting ourselves the mission of telling an incredibly powerful story about discovering and reclaiming a lost identity and a forgotten history.”

Additional executive producers, alongside Johns and Oyelowo include Turnover Films’ Yvonne Isimeme Ibazebo (Rye Lane, Top Boy, Guerrilla) and Fremantle’s Christian Vesper (Top of the Lake, No Man’s Land).

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Business

Dangote Refinery Sets ₦525 Share Price for Landmark IPO

Published

6 days ago

September 5, 2026

Basit Saba

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has set its initial public offering price at ₦525 per share, with the company seeking to raise about ₦2.15 trillion as it prepares to enter Nigeria’s public equities market.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the offer for 4.1 billion ordinary shares at ₦525 each. If fully subscribed, the offer would generate approximately ₦2.15 trillion, equivalent to about $1.6 billion at current exchange rates.

The offering is expected to open on 14 September 2026, according to Aliko Dangote, the president of Dangote Industries. The planned sale is positioned to become one of the largest equity offerings in Africa.

The IPO marks a significant step in Dangote Group’s plans to broaden ownership of the refinery and raise additional capital for expansion.

The refinery currently has a stated processing capacity of 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Dangote has said the company plans to increase that capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day as part of its longer-term expansion strategy.

The planned share sale follows a $1 billion underwriting programme completed in August, providing additional financial backing ahead of the public offering.

The refinery, located in the Lekki area of Lagos State, is one of Africa’s largest industrial projects and has become an increasingly important player in Nigeria’s fuel supply market since beginning operations.

The public offering will give Nigerian investors an opportunity to acquire shares in the refinery directly, while providing Dangote Petroleum Refinery with fresh capital to support its next phase of growth.

The company has also indicated ambitions to expand beyond its current Nigerian operations, with Dangote recently announcing plans for another refinery project in Kenya.