Prominent Nigerian business leaders have issued a powerful call to action, urging entrepreneurs across the nation to fundamentally rethink and reinvent their business models. This directive is essential for staying competitive and achieving sustainable growth in the evolving economic landscape.
Lessons from Resilience: Dr Chris Igwe's Journey
The urgent appeal was made at the two-day 10th Annual Entrepreneurs Conference and Expo, organized by the Masterpiece Resource Development Centre (MRDC). Held in Lagos under the theme 'Reinvent, Innovate, Strategise, Expand', the event served as a crucial platform for knowledge sharing.
Leading the charge was Dr Chris Igwe, Managing Director/CEO of Mainland Oil & Gas and Chairman of Chrinak Group. He argued that true greatness is not inherited but built through pressure, innovation, and strategic adaptation. He shared poignant lessons from his father's palm-oil business, where upfront payments for unripe fruit secured supplier loyalty and market dominance—an early lesson in reinvention.
Dr Igwe narrated his inspiring journey from a challenging post-Civil War childhood to building a notable conglomerate. After a family tragedy forced him to drop out of school, he embarked on a seven-year apprenticeship that instilled in him discipline, patience, and sharp business acumen.
Starting with a mere N10,000 in 1992, he grew his capital through savvy inter-city trade. His innovative cost-saving methods, like traveling as an escort on night buses to avoid freight charges, were key to his early success.
Essential Pillars for Sustainable Success
Echoing the need for principled growth, Segun Oloketuyi, Chairman of Japaul Gold & Ventures Plc, advised entrepreneurs to pursue their goals with fairness, discipline, and integrity. He cautioned against living beyond one's means or being intimidated by competition, stating that focus and prudent financial management are non-negotiable for longevity.
Oloketuyi emphasized that the future belongs to business owners ready to rethink, rebuild, and rise, using the conference theme as a practical toolkit to overcome limiting backgrounds.
A Transformational Call to Action
The event's convener, Modupe Oyekunle, described the conference as a transformational call for a mindset shift. She encouraged embracing resilience to build enterprises that thrive despite economic headwinds. Highlighting MRDC's impact since 2007, she noted that over 10,000 entrepreneurs have been trained through its conferences, expos, and masterclasses.
Oyekunle insisted that no participant should leave unchanged, affirming that innovation and strategic thinking are mandatory for anyone planning to scale in 2026 and beyond. She urged attendees to leverage the knowledge, networks, and exhibition platforms available, asserting that barriers can be overcome with the right mindset.
Dr Abiola Popoola, Chairman of the MRDC Board, charged entrepreneurs to view the conference as a deliberate investment in their capacity. He clarified that reinvention involves rethinking, not discarding past efforts, while innovation requires the courage to adopt smarter operations.
He stressed the critical importance of building digital capacity, exploring new business models, forging strong networks, and committing to disciplined long-term planning. For Dr Popoola, growth must be both intentional and measurable to ensure real progress.
