Nigerian CEOs are not just surviving but are thriving amid soaring inflation, naira instability, and policy uncertainty, as stated in the 13th edition of BusinessDay’s CEO Forum.
Some top business leaders shared how they are transforming economic challenges into engines of resilience, innovation, and growth. They noted that economic turbulence, when met with strategy, vision, and collaboration, can be transformed into a lasting opportunity.
Affiong Williams, founder and CEO of ReelFruit, turned Nigeria’s food import problem into a thriving export opportunity. She began drying and packaging local fruits for global markets, building what is now a 1,000-person enterprise that serves both domestic and international clients.
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“What began as a mission to impact agriculture has grown into a global business. We’ve weathered currency swings and inflation, but diversification across retail, industry, and export channels has kept us resilient,” Williams said.
Kofo Akinkugbe, founder and CEO of SecureID, recounted how her company emerged from a gap in Nigeria’s payment infrastructure to become a manufacturer of secure ID documents and smart cards for clients across Africa.
“Magnetic stripe cards were imported and insecure. We built a world-class local solution and now export to over 20 African countries,” she noted. “Resilience means evolving constantly for both as leaders and companies.”
Dalu Ajene, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria, underscored the country’s centrality in the bank’s African strategy, despite its exits in other markets.
“Nigeria remains key due to its scale and our alignment with sectors like infrastructure, oil and gas, and creative finance,” Ajene said. “In tough times, we unlock value through smart financing and trusted partnerships.”
For Tayo Aduloju, CEO of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), the role of visionary leadership and collaboration in national transformation. He pointed to telecom liberalisation and pension reform as proof of what’s possible when the public and private sectors co-create solutions.
“Nigeria’s growth must be deep, tech-forward, export-led, and people-focused,” Aduloju said.
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Kashifu Abdullahi, director general of NITDA, echoed this call for public-private synergy, describing a shift toward co-designed policy frameworks.
“We’ve moved from siloed policymaking to meaningful engagement with entrepreneurs. That’s crucial for building a credible digital economy,” Abdullahi stated.
