On the eve of his 50th birthday, Tope Dare—popularly known as Africa’s ATM King—is opening a new chapter in his life. The man who spent more than two decades ensuring Nigerians and Africans could access their money with a simple card swipe is now turning his mastery of sales, leadership, and influence into a book.
The new release, titled Built to Close: My Journey Selling Technology That Reshaped Africa’s Banking, will officially launch in Lagos on 23 August 2025. It captures his extraordinary career, detailing how he pioneered the spread of Automated Teller Machines across Nigeria and became the trusted face behind a network that today powers over 70% of the nation’s cash access.
But this isn’t simply an autobiography. Instead, it’s a blueprint for anyone—banker, entrepreneur, or young graduate—who wants to learn the art of winning people over, building influence, and making big ideas stick in the boardroom.
Table of Contents
The Salesman Who Redefined Banking
For Dare, success wasn’t just about installing machines. It was about convincing banks, regulators, and customers that ATMs were safe, reliable, and transformative. Selling that vision took more than charm—it demanded credibility, resilience, and deep problem-solving skills.
In the book, he reflects on these lessons:
“No matter how brilliant a technology is, it must be sold to be used. The power to close a sale is the power to change your life and that of your customer.”
Built to Close traces Dare’s professional arc from an ambitious young salesman to a leading voice in Africa’s fintech industry. Along the way, he reveals how he closed tough deals, overcame setbacks, and navigated boardroom politics while staying true to his principles.
Key highlights include:
- How sales evolved from aggressive pitching to genuine problem-solving.
- Why positioning matters, and how to sit at the table where decisions are made.
- Case studies of deals that transformed Nigeria’s banking system.
- Practical steps for graduates, professionals, and intrapreneurs seeking rapid growth.
Dare writes with the authority of someone who lived through each milestone, yet with the humility of a man who still believes he is learning.
Why the Book Matters Now
Africa’s fintech revolution is one of the fastest growing in the world. Yet, as Dare notes, many still underestimate the importance of sales. Brilliant code, sleek apps, and cutting-edge platforms cannot succeed without someone to articulate their value and win trust.
Built to Close lands at a crucial time. In Nigeria, where financial inclusion remains a work in progress, the book underscores that the future of banking isn’t just digital—it’s relational. And across Africa, where millions are taking their first steps into formal financial systems, the ability to persuade, negotiate, and close deals can determine whether innovations scale or stall.
For Dare, sales is not manipulation; it’s service. It’s about listening to what people need, offering them a solution, and making sure the solution actually works. That approach, he argues, is what built his career and kept him relevant through decades of change.
Who Should Read “Built to Close”
Though rooted in his fintech journey, Dare’s book speaks to a wide audience. It is as much for the young professional seeking career growth as it is for the seasoned executive navigating complex markets.
- For graduates, it offers a roadmap to accelerate growth without waiting decades to gain wisdom.
- For entrepreneurs, it shows how to win trust in competitive markets.
- For intrapreneurs working within big organisations, it demonstrates how to pitch bold ideas and actually see them executed.
- For anyone sceptical about sales, it reframes the discipline as leadership in action.
Practical advice runs through every chapter. From how to ask the right questions in a negotiation, to how to maintain relationships long after a deal closes, Dare insists that the fundamentals of human connection never change—even in a digital age.
In his words: “You don’t need to be born a salesperson. But if you are ready to learn, you can be built to close.”
A Personal Legacy
Marking his 50th birthday with this release is no coincidence. Dare has spent half a century living, learning, and leaving his mark on African banking. Now, he wants the next generation to have a head start.
He positions the book not just as a professional guide but also as a mentorship in print. Readers will find a mix of real-life stories, reflective lessons, and forward-looking strategies. The tone is conversational, almost as if Dare were sitting across the table, offering advice over coffee.
The launch in Lagos is expected to draw industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals eager to hear from the man who transformed Nigeria’s access to cash. Yet, the book’s relevance goes far beyond banking. In a continent where big ideas often struggle to find execution, Dare’s lessons in closing—seeing things through from vision to reality—may prove invaluable across sectors.
Concluion
Tope Dare’s Built to Close is more than a memoir; it is a manifesto for a generation that wants to change Africa through technology, innovation, and influence. It highlights the often-overlooked truth that no invention matters until someone convinces others of its worth.
As Nigeria and Africa continue to push towards digital transformation, Dare’s message is clear: closing deals is not just about profit, it’s about shaping the future.
The book officially launches on 23 August 2025, with pre-orders already open. For anyone serious about unlocking success in tech, sales, or leadership, the “Built to Close Tope Dare launch” may be the single most important professional read of the year.
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