Adefemi Akinsanya, a British-Nigerian journalist and broadcaster, has joined CNN International as the host of Africa Inc., a new multiplatform programme focused on African businesses, entrepreneurs and industries making an impact on the global stage.
Based in Lagos, Akinsanya will anchor the half-hour programme, which will examine how African companies are competing, innovating and expanding into international markets.
The programme will cover sectors including technology, hospitality, manufacturing and entertainment, while highlighting innovations and consumer trends emerging from the continent.
Before joining CNN, Akinsanya was an international correspondent and anchor at Arise News in Lagos. She has also worked with Al Jazeera, Reuters, Sky News and TRT World.
Her reporting career has taken her to major international events and crises, including the Russia-Ukraine war, Nigeria’s EndSARS protests, the 2024 United States presidential election, the World Economic Forum in Davos and the 2026 G7 Summit in Évian-les-Bains, France.
Akinsanya holds a BA in International Politics from King’s College London and was a 2023 Fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.
Through Africa Inc., she will profile African companies and entrepreneurs competing beyond the continent while examining innovations and consumer trends shaping Africa’s influence on global commerce.
The programme is scheduled to premiere in August 2026, with four additional episodes planned through 2026 and into 2027. CNN will also produce special Africa Inc. segments every two months for CNN International, alongside digital and social media content.
Akinsanya said she was excited to join CNN and launch the programme at a significant moment in Africa’s international story, highlighting the continent’s innovation, resilience and ambition.
CNN International Group Senior Vice President and Global Head of Productions, Ellana Lee, also welcomed Akinsanya, describing her as a journalist whose storytelling would strengthen the network’s television, digital and social coverage.
Her appointment places an experienced Nigerian journalist at the centre of a global platform focused on Africa’s businesses, entrepreneurs and growing influence in the world economy.