‘To succeed as an entrepreneur in Nigeria, You’ll want the mixed energy of Tinubu, Obi and Atiku’ – Leo Stan Ekeh
The trail of entrepreneurship, significantly inside the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable terrain of Nigeria, is just not for the faint-hearted.
It calls for a singular mix of attributes to navigate the complexities and seize the latent alternatives.
Throughout a latest mentoring session in Ikoyi, Lagos, organised by some younger enterprise leaders, Leo Stan Ekeh, Africa’s most embellished tech entrepreneur, articulated a compelling and insightful perspective: to actually flourish as an entrepreneur in Nigeria, one should domesticate a composite energy, drawing inspiration from the distinct but highly effective qualities embodied by outstanding nationwide figures – Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi.
Ekeh’s analogy, whereas seemingly unconventional, resonates deeply when dissecting the multifaceted calls for of constructing and sustaining a profitable enterprise on this distinctive setting. He posited that the intricate tapestry of Nigerian entrepreneurship requires a pacesetter to own the strategic acumen, capability, management, and braveness of Tinubu, the bravery, equity, dedication, humanity, and meticulousness of Atiku, and the humility, spirituality, thriftiness, morality, and capability of Obi.
We all know President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political profession to be indelibly marked by extraordinary resilience and long-term technique. As the one opposition governor who survived the 2003 PDP sweep below President Obasanjo, Tinubu demonstrated defiance and distinctive capability to face up to immense political stress and navigate Obasanjo’s regime.
This resilience, honed by years of political battles, is an indispensable trait for any Nigerian entrepreneur. The enterprise panorama in Nigeria is commonly fraught with unexpected challenges, similar to {economic} fluctuations, regulatory shifts, infrastructural deficits, and intense competitors. An entrepreneur should possess the psychological fortitude to climate these storms, study from setbacks, and emerge stronger.
BAT is essentially a person of capability, astute strategic pondering, and decisive management. As somebody whose dad and mom weren’t the richest, himself presumably not essentially the most clever particular person in Nigeria, and who himself is just not the richest, he wakened in the future and instructed a inhabitants of 230 million Nigerians, ‘Emi lo kan’ (it’s my flip). This speaks of bravery and capability.
He has demonstrated that nobody goes to warfare desiring to be defeated, and politics in Nigeria is like warfare. Equally, entrepreneurs should construct the capability and braveness to declare their readiness for market management, no matter their place to begin or sources.
Moreover, his capability to construct coalitions, establish key alternatives, and implement well-defined plans was instrumental in his political successes. Equally, a profitable entrepreneur in Nigeria should be a strategic thinker, able to figuring out market gaps, formulating efficient enterprise fashions, and main their staff with readability and objective. The braveness to make daring selections, even within the face of uncertainty, an indicator of Tinubu’s management, is equally important for entrepreneurs looking for to disrupt markets and carve out their area of interest.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is commonly described as a tenacious and chronic politician of recent Nigeria. Atiku’s bravery in difficult political constructions, even taking the Federal Authorities to courtroom throughout his tenure as Vice President, demonstrates the kind of tenacity entrepreneurs should undertake when confronting unfair insurance policies or paperwork.
Atiku’s assertion, throughout a press briefing in 2023, “I’m not going away…For so long as I breathe, I’ll proceed to battle with different Nigerians, to deepen our democracy and rule of regulation,” encapsulates a spirit of perseverance that resonates deeply with the entrepreneurial battle.
Constructing a enterprise in Nigeria usually requires navigating bureaucratic hurdles, overcoming systemic challenges, and sustaining religion in a single’s imaginative and prescient regardless of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Ekeh narrated how he has needed to take targeted steps in making certain {that a} digital Nigeria is born, although with blackmail and persecution from left and proper. Success, as an entrepreneur, attracts mates and foes.
Peter Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State and a latest presidential contender, is revered for his prudent administration fashion and humility, a stark distinction to the customarily ostentatious nature of politics. This humility, nevertheless, shouldn’t be misconstrued as a scarcity of ambition however fairly as a grounded method to management, one which prioritizes service and impression over private aggrandizement. As governor, he drastically reduce the price of governance, saved reserves, and nonetheless delivered spectacular leads to Anambra.
Entrepreneurs, particularly of their early life, should study the distinction between thriftiness and stinginess. Obi’s method teaches enterprise leaders to prioritize necessities and reduce wastage. In a risky financial system like Nigeria’s, that is how companies survive and develop. Obi’s spirituality and morality additionally spotlight the significance of moral enterprise practices. Constructing belief amongst shoppers, buyers, and employees could make or break an organization. In response to Ekeh, an organization that has credibility is credit-worthy.
Ekeh’s assertion that to be a profitable entrepreneur in Nigeria calls for the “mixed energy” of Tinubu, Obi, and Atiku is not only metaphorical. It’s a sensible blueprint for survival. The Nigerian market doesn’t forgive mediocrity or indecision. Solely entrepreneurs who’re tacticians, reformers, and ethical visionaries will stay standing when the tides inevitably shift.
As Africa’s largest financial system, Nigeria can also be one of many hardest locations to run a enterprise. Nevertheless, it’s equally one of the vital rewarding if navigated correctly. Ekeh’s rise within the tech area, pioneering digital publishing, launching Nigeria’s first internationally licensed pc model, and constructing a conglomerate like Zinox Group, echoes these three traits.
Success requires greater than innovation. It requires a strategic mix of braveness, sacrifice, calculated frugality, and unwavering perception in potentialities. Nigerian entrepreneurs should put together to bend with out breaking, be agile but rooted, and above all, function with moral conviction. By cultivating this built-in energy, Nigerian entrepreneurs can navigate the complexities of the native market, capitalize on its immense potential, and construct sustainable, impactful companies that contribute to the nation’s {economic} progress and prosperity.
