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Key Points
- Helios secured $50 million in equity funding from IFC and Proparco to boost Africa’s sports and entertainment sector, a segment expected to surpass $20 billion by 2035.
- The investment targets sports IP, infrastructure, retail, and events, aiming to create jobs and unlock economic opportunities across Africa’s creative industries.
- Helios partners with global brands like NBA Africa and Afro Nation to build a dynamic platform spanning media rights, live experiences, and talent development.
Helios Investment Partners, a UK-based private equity firm led by Nigerian businessman Temitope Lawani, has secured a $50 million equity commitment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Proparco. The funding will flow through Helios Sports and Entertainment Group, the firm’s dedicated investment arm for sports, media, and entertainment across Africa, to accelerate the sector’s growth and unlock new economic opportunities.
Investment underscores faith in creative industries’ economic potential
Disclosed on Wednesday, the transaction marks one of the largest dedicated financings to date for Africa’s creative economy, an underfunded sector that analysts expect to surpass $20 billion in annual value by 2035. Under the terms of the deal, IFC will deploy up to $30 million in equity from its own account, while Proparco, a subsidiary of the Agence Française de Développement Group, has committed up to $20 million.
The capital infusion aims to catalyze growth across key segments—including sports intellectual property, infrastructure, event management, retail, and hospitality—where rising consumer demand, a youthful population, and the globalization of African content are unlocking new commercial opportunities.
Helios targets transformative partnerships with major global brands
Helios Sports and Entertainment’s platform approach aspires to build a dynamic ecosystem spanning live events, media rights, and experiential venues, positioning it at the forefront of a region where structural investment in talent, infrastructure, and distribution has lagged demand.
“At Helios Sports and Entertainment Group, we are constantly presented with attractive opportunities driven by Africa’s richness of talent and increasingly sought-after content,” said Helios Sports and Entertainment Group’s Managing Partner Tope Lawani. “We are excited to capitalize on HSEG's unique market position to create economic value and genuine impact.”
The backing from IFC and Proparco affirms the conviction that Africa’s creative industries are primed for commercial scale. “It is a privilege to receive support from reputable institutions showing true conviction in both the African creative economy and our ability to deliver,” Lawani said in a statement.
Helios Investment Partners: Investing in Africa’s future
Founded in 2004 by Temitope Lawani and Babatunde Soyoye, Helios Investment Partners has become one of Africa’s most influential private equity firms. The firm has built a strong track record of backing high-potential businesses and forging partnerships with major global brands—including NBA Africa, Afro Nation, PFL Africa, and Zaria Group—to create a dynamic ecosystem of live events, media rights, and entertainment infrastructure across the continent.
With Africa’s youth population expanding and demand for sports and entertainment accelerating, Helios is positioned to help shape the next generation of economic opportunity and cultural influence. Beyond creative industries, Lawani also holds a 1.55 percent direct stake in Vivo Energy and an additional 26.27 percent indirect exposure through Helios’ investment in the company, reflecting the firm’s diversified portfolio.
