Experts demand bold rethink from entrepreneurs

Business leaders and development advocates have charged Nigerian entrepreneurs to rethink their business models, embrace innovation and adopt strategic systems capable of sustaining long-term growth.

They noted that the country’s evolving economic landscape demands fresh thinking, disciplined execution and courageous reinvention from entrepreneurs determined to scale.

The call was made at the 10th Annual Entrepreneurs Conference and Expo organised by the Masterpiece Resource Development Centre (MRDC) in Lagos. The two-day event, was themed “RISE- Reinvent. Innovate. Strategize. Expand”, a message organisers described as critical for entrepreneurs seeking relevance and resilience in 2025 and beyond.

Convener, Pastor Modupe Oyekunle said the theme reflects a deliberate call for transformation, urging participants to confront limitations and tap into new opportunities for growth.

She said MRDC, founded to discover, develop and deploy entrepreneurs for national development, has grown into a “vibrant platform for leadership development, business empowerment and community transformation.”

Oyekunle said: “RISE is more than a theme; it is a mandate. It calls each of us to embrace change, think differently, and pursue expansion with clarity and determination. In an economy where industries are shifting and the rules are changing, your ability to reinvent yourself will determine your relevance.”

She added that since 2007, MRDC has trained more than 10,000 entrepreneurs through conferences, expos, masterclasses and strategic partnerships.

“What began as a simple vision has become a movement, no participant should leave this conference the same. The conference avails you the opportunity to encounter ideas, relationships and opportunities that can shift your business forever.”

Delivering the keynote address, Managing Director/CEO of Mainland Oil & Gas and Chairman of Chrinak Group, Dr. Chris Igwe, inspired participants with a candid account of his journey from post-Civil War hardship to becoming a leading entrepreneur.

He said: “I did not come from privilege, I came from a background where survival was the goal, not success. But even in those moments, seeds of innovation were being planted. Where you start is never your full story. Reinvention gives you permission to rewrite your story.”

“I started business in 1992 with just N10,000,” he recalled. “I travelled on night buses as an escort so I wouldn’t pay freight. Every naira mattered. Entrepreneurs today must understand that innovation is not always technology, sometimes, it is simply thinking differently about the same problem.”

Igwe added that the conference pillars, reinvent, innovate, strategize and expand, are not theory, but a roadmap for entrepreneurs determined to build sustainably.

Chairman of Japaul Gold & Ventures Plc, Segun Oloketuyi, urged entrepreneurs to remain grounded and uphold integrity in their dealings.

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“Entrepreneurship is not a race to impress, the moment you start running with other people’s pace, you lose direction. Stay focused, stay prudent, and let integrity be your biggest capital. Discipline and fairness are non-negotiable,” he said.

Chairman of the MRDC Board, Dr. Abiola Popoola, told participants to see the conference as a deliberate investment in their capacity, saying reinvention is essential for business survival.

“Reinvention does not mean abandoning what you have built,” he said. “It means rethinking it, improving it, aligning it with where the world is going. Innovation requires courage. Expansion requires structure. Growth must be intentional and measurable.”

Popoola stressed the need for digital capacity, new business models, strong networks and disciplined long-term planning.