Frontier Matters

Tobi and Feyi

Bold Conversations on Growth and Change with Tobi Lawson and Feyi Fawehinmi www.1914reader.com

  1. Jul 16

    Fola Fagbule on The Bull Case for Nigeria, Revisited

    Last July, we had Fola Fagbule on the podcast making the bull case for the Nigerian economy. We promised to check back in with him in a year to see how well his predictions have fared and so we did. As with all things Nigeria, it's a mixed bag of the good and the not so good. We close out the discussion the broader opportunities for intra-African trade and what to expect in another year from Nigeria and the continent Follow us on X/Instagram @1914reader

  2. Jun 17

    Carlos Barragán On Yahoo Boys

    We had the pleasure of recording an episode with Carlos Barragán, the author of the new and excellent book, Yahoo Boys. We tried to get into some thoughts and ideas that did not make into the book and dive deeper into some of the characters he profiled. Carlos is very thoughtful and considered and, while much of the book is sober and even sad, it is a very useful commentary on some of Nigeria’s most intractable social problems. We hope you enjoy the conversation. You can buy a copy of Yahoo Boys on Amazon and everywhere else.

    Carlos Barragán On Yahoo Boys

  3. Jun 3

    Chris Ihidero on Nollywood's Grass and Trees

    Today on Frontier Matters, we sit down with Chris Ihidero, a multi-hyphenate storyteller whose career spans television, film, radio, and journalism. Coming through the Amaka Igwe ecosystem, Chris has written and directed an extraordinary volume of landmark television while remaining one of Nollywood's most honest and constructive critics. As he moves into feature filmmaking with his highly anticipated project, Aloma, we explore the creative, economic, and structural realities of the Nigerian film and television industry. Episode Highlights: The Craft of Writing: Examining what the industry still misunderstands about screenwriting, and how working in radio teaches writers to truly "hear" their characters. Critiquing the Industry: A frank discussion on Nollywood's real progress over the last two decades, the collapse of serious investment in free-to-air public television, and the dangers of treating the industry like a content factory. Honoring Legacies: Reflections on Amaka Igwe's mentorship, teaching, and how her creative force permeates his current projects. Bringing Aloma to Life: Why his debut feature film took this long to make, the choice to protect its format, and how investor accountability actually impacts creative control. Authentic Urban Realities: The challenges of portraying class tension and survival in places like Oshodi and Shomolu with truth and dignity. Follow @1914reader on Instagram and X

    Chris Ihidero on Nollywood's Grass and Trees

  4. May 28

    Funsho Doherty on the Past, Present, and Future of Lagos

    Welcome to a special live edition of Frontier Matters, recorded in Lagos on May 11, 2026, in front of a small audience.In this episode, we sat down with Funso Doherty, an investment professional and public-policy advocate who has emerged as one of the most persistent opposition voices scrutinising Lagos State's governance. As he prepares for the 2027 gubernatorial race, we interrogate his vision for the city that formed him.We experienced technical challenges during this live recording, which meant we had to stitch together multiple different video and audio clips to bring this to you. We apologise for the variations in audio and video quality, but hope the substance of the conversation makes it more than worth the time and effort.Follow @1914Reader on X and Instagram

    Funsho Doherty on the Past, Present, and Future of Lagos

  5. May 13

    Hannah Ryder on Africa in China

    The global conversation obsessively tracks what China is doing in Africa – building ports, extracting minerals, lending infrastructure loans. But almost no one is asking the harder, more strategic question: what does it take for Africa to actually sell into China? In this episode of Frontier Matters, we flip the script. We sit down with Hannah Ryder – one of the leading China-Africa policy experts and CEO of Development Reimagined – to explore where the real opportunities lie for African entrepreneurs looking to access Chinese markets, and how policymakers can direct their efforts for maximum developmental impact. We also discuss: Why trade is still so one-sided, and how to start balancing it Which African sectors have the best shot at breaking into China right now What Chinese policies (like tariff-free access for LDCs) actually mean on the ground And where to focus policy energy to turn rhetoric into revenue Hannah Ryder is the founder and CEO of Development Reimagined, a Beijing-based international development consultancy. She has served as a diplomat, economist, and senior advisor on China-Africa relations, including roles at the UN and the Chinese government. Her work focuses on practical, locally driven solutions to rebalance Africa’s economic partnerships. A small note: The episode ends a bit abruptly – our apologies for the audio hiccup. But the conversation itself is packed with insight, and we hope you enjoy it. Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe – it helps other listeners find conversations that matter.

    Hannah Ryder on Africa in China

  6. May 6

    Efosa Ojomo on Markets, Prosperity and Clayton Christensen

    Despite immense expertise and foreign aid, billions remain in poverty. In this episode of Frontier Matters, Efosa Ojomo - co-author of The Prosperity Paradox - joins us to discuss the wishful thinking surrounding global development. Episode Highlights: The Reality of Poverty Reduction: Exploring why World Bank data shows poverty reduction grinding to a halt, and whether development theories have underestimated the impact of debt and conflict. The Sequencing Debate: Do markets pull institutions and infrastructure into place, or is state capacity a mandatory prerequisite? The AI Challenge: How the labour-light, winner-take-most nature of AI challenges traditional methods of job-heavy market creation. Demand vs. Programs: Analysing the failure of temporary employment initiatives, such as Nigeria's N-Power, versus genuine demand-driven job creation. Remembering Clayton Christensen: Ojomo shares candid, in-the-room insights about his long-time collaborator and mentor. Follow us at @1914reader on X and Instagram

    Efosa Ojomo on Markets, Prosperity and Clayton Christensen

  7. Apr 15

    Carl-Henri Prophète on The Reality of Haiti

    Description: Haiti is constantly reduced to superficial headlines of chaos, but the reality is grounded in hard historical and economic facts. In this episode, economist Carl-Henri Prophète provides an unfiltered look at the structural realities driving the nation's current collapse. What we cover: The Ground Reality: Surviving and moving goods in a fragmented state, beyond the abstract label of "instability." The Macro Paradox: What the official economic data hides, and the double-edged sword of remittances. The NGO Illusion: Why international development ideas fail when they hit fragile economies. History’s Bill: Weighing external punishments (embargoes, indemnities) against domestic governance failures. The Post-Revolution Trade-off: Did the institutions that protected freedom and prevented a return to slavery also permanently limit long-term economic growth? Please forgive any glitches or cuts in the sound and video. This episode was recorded across 3 countries with varying degrees of internet connectivity between them.

    Carl-Henri Prophète on The Reality of Haiti

  8. Mar 18

    Don Robotham on Bridging The Atlantic Divide

    Professor Don Robotham is a long-time friend of the house at 1914 Reader — and a formidable authority on the Caribbean, Jamaica in particular, and the economics of development across both the Caribbean and Africa. In this episode, we sit down with him for a wide-ranging conversation covering the historical legacy of slavery, the critical distinction between growth and economic development, and what the future holds for the intellectual relationship between Africa and the Caribbean. We hope you enjoy it.

    Don Robotham on Bridging The Atlantic Divide
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About

Bold Conversations on Growth and Change with Tobi Lawson and Feyi Fawehinmi www.1914reader.com

Information

  • Creator
    Tobi and Feyi
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Tobi and Feyi
  • Show Website
    Frontier Matters

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