The American Business Council Nigeria, in partnership with Built4Balance (B4B), successfully concluded the B4B Revenue Xcelerator Pilot Program in 2025. The initiative supported startups and scaling businesses within the council’s Associate Category Membership, equipping them with essential tools to optimise sales engines and drive sustainable growth.
Margaret Olele, CEO of the American Business Council Nigeria, stated, “This comprehensive initiative is designed to help startups and scaling businesses develop and optimise scalable sales engines, equipping them with the tools and strategies needed for sustainable growth.” The program focused on five key areas: comprehensive sales development, hands-on CRM implementation, lead generation mastery, building high-performance teams, and metrics-driven growth.
Napa Onusah, Founder and Managing Partner of B4B Partners, explained the program’s core objective: “We’re helping businesses understand the basics of revenue, the different parts from product to sales to customer success, and how to build a sustainable sales engine. Your business can then start making repeatable and replicable revenue streams.” She emphasised the importance of revenue as capital, particularly during a funding winter, where startups often struggle to secure investments.
The program also aligns with the Nigeria Startup Act, addressing challenges such as access to capital and regulatory bottlenecks. Onusah noted, “Wouldn’t it be amazing if companies accelerated in revenue? They are shown how to make money, which can help them reinvest in their business.” She highlighted the potential for the program to support the localisation of the Startup Act by providing knowledge on using revenue as capital.
Recruitment and retention of high-performing sales teams were also discussed. Onusah advised startups to seek mentorship, collaborate with partners like the American Business Council, and implement learned strategies. “One of the things with these accelerators is people get very excited but do not implement. We provide workbooks, coaching, and mentoring to ensure action,” she said.
With Nigeria ranking as a leading startup hub in Africa, the program aims to help businesses scale beyond local markets. Onusah stated, “Investors look for traction—proof that customers want your product. We help startups find those customers, refine their offerings, and generate revenue, making them attractive to global investors.”
Edememe Oladiji-Wusu, Executive Director and Lead Consultant at Semper Discens Limited, addressed the program’s delivery methods. “Team alignment is critical for entrepreneurs. This session helped participants gain clarity on their vision, ensure team alignment, and reinforce that vision repeatedly,” she said. Oladiji-Wusu stressed the role of SMEs in Africa’s growth, adding, “By building these SMEs today, we help them scale together.”
On CRM implementation, Oladiji-Wusu explained, “Customer relationship management is about getting lifetime value from every customer. When teams are aligned, customers receive consistent service, regardless of who they interact with” She linked alignment to business growth, stating, “The possibility of scaling with alignment is 150%.”
