Jade Okonkwo
Lagos, Nigeria · Nigeria
Afrobeats economy, Alaba Market, Nollywood hustle
Jade covers Lagos, the beating heart of Africa's largest economy. From Alaba International Market to the Afrobeats industry generating hundreds of millions globally, she reports on how Nigeria's informal economy moves more money than most countries' formal sectors. Educated at the University of Lagos and the London School of Economics, Jade brings pan-African perspective to every story she covers.
Population
~16M (metro: 21M)
City Intel
Africa's largest city and economic hub. Alaba Market moves $4B+ in electronics annually.
Dispatches Filed
3
Dispatches
Alaba Market: The Electronics Empire Running on Trust and Cash
Alaba International Market in Lagos processes an estimated $4 billion in electronics trade annually — all in cash, all based on trust. No contracts, no receipts, no formal banking. Traders from across West Africa converge on this sprawling marketplace where a handshake closes deals worth more than some countries' GDP. It's the largest informal electronics market on the continent, and it runs more efficiently than most Fortune 500 supply chains.
Afrobeats Inc.: How Nigerian Music Became a Billion-Dollar Export
Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Davido aren't just musicians — they're the vanguard of Nigeria's most successful cultural export since oil. Afrobeats generated over $1 billion in global revenue in 2025, and the ecosystem around it — producers, promoters, fashion, travel — adds billions more. Lagos is the factory floor, and the world is the customer.
Fintech Revolution: How Nigeria Leapfrogged Traditional Banking
While American banks argue about fee structures, Nigerian fintech companies like Opay and Moniepoint are processing billions in transactions for people who never had bank accounts. Lagos is ground zero for Africa's mobile money revolution, where more people have fintech wallets than formal bank accounts. The traditional banking model got skipped entirely — and that might be the future everywhere.
From the Wire
Community intel and chatter from Lagos
Lekki Free Trade Zone attracting Chinese manufacturing. 200+ factories operational, 50,000 jobs created.
Feb 10
Afrobeats streams on Spotify up 45% year-over-year. Audiomack dominates local streaming.
Feb 8
Danfo bus drivers protesting new BRT routes. Lagos transport economy employs 500K+ people informally.
Feb 7