The Nigeria Alumni Chapter of the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) has called on Nigerian business leaders to embrace executive education that integrates global business perspectives with local realities. This approach is increasingly vital as China's economic influence across Africa continues to grow, the chapter argued during an induction ceremony and website launch in Lagos on Saturday.
Global Insights for Local Challenges
Speaking at the event, Professor Gordon Adomdza, Executive Director of CEIBS Africa, emphasized that executive education should transcend theoretical knowledge by exposing participants to global business models that can be adapted to solve local problems. He noted that many business challenges faced by Nigerian organizations have already been encountered and overcome by companies elsewhere in the world.
“For any problem or any business opportunity that an executive in Lagos faces, there is a company that has tried it and excelled somewhere in the world,” Professor Adomdza said. However, he stressed that the goal is not to simply replicate foreign business models but to learn from proven practices and adapt them to local markets.
China’s Growing Presence in Africa
Professor Adomdza highlighted that China’s expanding footprint in Africa makes it essential for African business leaders to understand how Chinese companies operate and engage with partners across the continent. Many African businesses already interact with Chinese firms directly or indirectly, making knowledge of Chinese business practices a valuable leadership skill.
“China is increasing its footprint on the continent. An African manager will either be directly dealing with a Chinese company or indirectly dealing with one in most of what they do,” he said. He added that a deeper understanding of Chinese business models would enable African executives to negotiate more effectively, build stronger partnerships, and develop solutions that reflect local priorities.
Experiential Learning Beyond the Classroom
Saidat Lawal Mohammed, CEIBS Africa Country Manager for Nigeria, explained that the institution’s China immersion programme complements classroom learning by giving participants firsthand exposure to China’s business environment. Participants engage with entrepreneurs, manufacturing companies, and commercial hubs to understand how businesses operate and how similar ideas can be adapted to African markets.
Ms Mohammed noted that the programme introduces participants to companies like Alibaba, offering practical insights into how innovative businesses evolved into global enterprises. She emphasized that CEIBS focuses on experiential learning, enabling participants to directly apply lessons from the programme to their organizations, rather than treating executive education as purely academic.
Women Entrepreneurship Programme Expansion
Ms Mohammed also announced that CEIBS will extend its Women Entrepreneurship and Leadership for Africa (WELA) programme to Abuja, after previously running it in Lagos and Ghana. The expansion aims to make the programme more accessible to women entrepreneurs and business leaders in the Federal Capital Territory and neighboring states, eliminating the need to travel to Lagos for classes. This initiative reflects CEIBS’s commitment to fostering inclusive business leadership across Nigeria.
