Africa’s ATM Pioneer Tope Dare Unveils Built to Close

Lagos will play host to the unveiling of Built to Close, a new book by Tope Dare, widely regarded as Africa’s ATM King. Dare, who is credited with selling and deploying more than 70 percent of Nigeria’s ATMs, has spent over two decades at the heart of the continent’s financial technology revolution. Marking his 50th birthday, he is presenting this book as a gift of knowledge and experience to Africa and the wider world, with the official launch scheduled for August 23, 2025.

For years, Dare has played a pivotal role in modernizing banking across Nigeria, from pioneering ATM deployment to contributing to conversations that helped shape the nation’s cashless policy. In Built to Close, he draws from these experiences to share practical lessons, strategies, and insights that cut across technology, business, and leadership. “I did not set out to become a salesman,” he writes, “but I came to realize that no matter how brilliant a system is, it must be sold to be utilized. The power to close a sale is the power to change your life and that of the customer.

The book distills valuable teachings on seeing sales as service rather than manipulation, positioning oneself at the intersection of opportunity and decision-making, and building credibility in high-stakes environments where major financial decisions are made. It also presents real case studies from transformative deals in African banking and offers a roadmap for professionals at different stages of their careers—from fresh graduates searching for breakthroughs to entrepreneurs and corporate leaders seeking their next leap. Dare captures the essence of his message with a simple but powerful assertion: “The fastest way to change your life is to learn how to close. Every opportunity in life, from business to relationships, begins and ends with the ability to close.”

Built to Close is expected to resonate not only with professionals in financial technology but with anyone aspiring to master the art of influence, leadership, and sustainable success in today’s digital economy.