“Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” — African Proverb
A new year is a clean ledger — but only for those who use it wisely. Across Nigeria, from boardrooms to small-business offices, leaders have entered 2026 with renewed hope but also with familiar headwinds: inflation, exchange-rate pressure, and fatigue from years of constant adjustment.
The African proverb reminds us that Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare today. Whether you are leading a listed company or running an SME, this is the month to turn plans into discipline. January decisions will decide December outcomes. Here are five choices every board and business owner must make early in 2026 to ensure the year bends toward stability, not surprise.
1. Re-price reality, not optimism
The IMF’s latest outlook projects Nigeria’s economy to grow by about 4.2 percent in 2026, supported by modest oil recovery, ongoing fiscal reforms, and renewed domestic investment. Inflation, while expected to cool, may remain in the 20–22 percent range, keeping input costs high and consumer spending cautious.
This means cautious optimism, not fear. Revisit your assumptions on pricing, imports, and payroll with clear eyes. Build dual scenarios—one steady, one stressed—and keep a buffer for shocks. For SMEs in particular, local sourcing and prudent cost control will be the difference between profit and erosion.
The goal is not to shrink ambition but to anchor it in realism. Growth is still achievable; it just requires stronger arithmetic.
2. Make well-being a KPI, not a slogan
Absenteeism, burnout, and financial stress quietly destroy productivity. Treating well-being as a welfare gesture is outdated; it’s a strategic investment.
Boards should integrate employee wellness and retention metrics into leadership scorecards. Data from Deloitte Africa (2024) shows that companies linking wellness to performance see productivity gains of up to 25 per cent.
For SMEs, even small gestures — flexible hours, micro-insurance, shared meals — build loyalty and reduce turnover. The return on empathy is measurable.
“For SMEs, even small gestures, flexible hours, micro-insurance, shared meals, build loyalty and reduce turnover. The return on empathy is measurable.”
3. Digitise trust, not just transactions
Digitisation has accelerated, but cybersecurity and data governance have lagged behind. Under Nigeria’s Data Protection Act 2023, every organisation that handles personal data — large or small — must protect it responsibly.
Boards must now pair technology adoption with digital ethics. SMEs too must take simple but serious steps: secure passwords, encrypted backups, and staff awareness. Technology drives efficiency, but trust sustains customers.
4. Re-draw the outsourcing line
Outsourcing remains a critical cost lever but also a governance risk. The 2024 Zachariah Ishaya v. Fidelity Bank Plc judgement reminded employers that liability can follow control, even when the contract says otherwise.
Boards and entrepreneurs alike should review their vendor and manpower agreements. Define who supervises, insures, and disciplines. Formalise arrangements, however small. Remember: if your brand appears on a worker’s shirt, your reputation appears in their actions.
5. Rebuild public trust through transparency
Customers, regulators, and investors now demand authenticity over polish. For corporates, this means credible sustainability and ethics disclosures. For SMEs, it means accurate books, fair pricing, and honest marketing.
Reputation is no longer what you say—it’s what the public can verify. The organisations that thrive in 2026 will be those that manage truth as actively as they manage profit.
The quiet sixth decision: pace yourselves.
Leaders, too, are human. After years of volatility, decision fatigue is real. Plan rest, renewal, and reflection into your governance calendar. A rested board — or founder — sees farther than a frantic one.
As we begin 2026
This new year will test clarity, not just courage. The winners will be those who blend optimism with realism, speed with steadiness, and ambition with empathy.
For every organisation, large or small, the playbook remains simple:
Re-price wisely.
Protect people.
Digitise integrity.
Define responsibility.
Disclose honestly.
Resilience is not about size — it’s about preparation.
Happy New Year, and may every decision this January create stability all year long.
Dr Olufemi Ogunlowo is the CEO of Strategic Outsourcing Limited, a leading provider of personnel and business-process outsourcing services in Nigeria. He is also a regular columnist on employment and workforce strategy.
