To remain competitive in an increasingly digital and interconnected world, Nigeria must prioritise leadership that leverages the creativity of its young population and the power of data-driven decision-making, according to business leaders.
Industry experts who spoke at the Lagos Business School (LBS) Executive MBA 29 End-of-Year symposium under the theme ‘Leading Through Disruption,’ mapped out a high-stakes roadmap for a sustainable national future, with a consensus that the traditional Nigerian leadership playbook is being shredded.
“As global economic shifts and local disruptions change the marketplace, industry titans are sounding a clear alarm that the future of Nigeria belongs to those who trade guesswork for data and ‘command-and-control’ for youth empowerment,” they emphasised.
The youth dividend: ‘Failing Forward’
Razaq Ahmed, chief executive officer at Cowrywise and president of CFA Society Nigeria, speaking at the event, challenged the private sector to stop viewing disruption as a threat.
Instead, he argued, it is the ultimate tool for growth, if wielded by the right people.
“Things are moving at the speed of light,” Ahmed noted. He emphasised that with a national median age of 18, young Nigerians aren’t just a demographic, they are the economy.
“They drive culture, tech, and social movements. It is smart business to let your workforce reflect the population. When workers understand society, they understand your customers,” he said.
Besides, Ahmed advised aging corporate structures to build systems that allow young talent to take the wheel.
“They will fail sometimes,” he admitted, “but they must be allowed to fail forward,” he noted.
The End of ‘Guesswork’ Governance
Lanre Olusola, founder of the Olusola Lanre Coaching Academy, on his part, took aim at policy-making. He warned that the era of “vibes and intuition” in governance must end if Nigeria is to survive a volatile 2026.
Nigeria can no longer afford guesswork, Olusola told BusinessDay. “The government must become champions of research. Before making a policy, gather data, analyze it, and let the insights guide decisions. If leaders do not become agile, they will fail,” he said.
Purpose-driven disruption
Olamidun Akinde, an architect and real-estate developer serving as governor of the EMBA 29 cohort, the shift is already visible in the physical world, from how cities are built to how they are managed.
“Disruption used to be rare; now it is normal,” Akinde remarked. He urged leaders to find the intersection between impact and profitability, noting that the EMBA group intends to carry these lessons into their respective sectors to drive “responsible growth.”
