PwC: Nigerian CEOs confident in improving macroeconomic stability

Nigerian Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) are entering 2026 with increased confidence, supported by improving macroeconomic conditions and near-term business performance, PwC’s 29th Annual Global CEO Survey: Nigerian Perspective, has said.

PwC’s 29th Annual Global CEO Survey draws on insights from 4,454 CEOs across 95 countries and territories, including Nigeria. The survey was conducted between 30 September and 10 November 2025.

Findings of the survey, which were shared with The Nation, on Monday, show that nine in 10 CEOs (91 per cent) expect Nigeria’s economy to improve over the next 12 months, up from 64 per cent in 2025.

This optimism, according to the survey, is reflected at the company level, where 56 per cent of CEOs are very or extremely confident in their organisation’s revenue growth over the next 12 months, compared with 30 per cent globally.

While this year’s findings reveal a notable rise in CEO confidence, supported by improving macroeconomic conditions, PwC, however, said this confidence is emerging amidst a changing threat landscape.

“Macroeconomic pressures have eased, with the share of CEOs citing inflation as a high concern falling to 34 per cent and macroeconomic volatility to 25 per cent.

“At the same time, firm-level risks are more prominent. Cyber risk and availability of key skills are now the most cited threats, each reported by 38 per cent of CEOs.

“Technological disruption (25 per cent), geopolitical conflict (25 per cent), and tariffs (22 per cent) also feature strongly, shifting leadership focus toward execution capability, resilience, and risk management,” PwC said.

Beyond the data, the publication outlines practical next moves for CEOs navigating 2026, including strengthening innovation capabilities, driving digital adoption, and building resilience to macroeconomic and geopolitical shocks.

The publication said Nigerian CEOs are increasingly focused on the pace of transformation in their organisations, particularly in technology, data and AI adoption, strategic reinvention, cybersecurity resilience, and ESG integration.

It further stated that technology, data and AI stand out as a leadership concern, with half of CEOs (50 per cent) identifying the pace of technological change, including AI, as their most pressing issue.

Also, cybersecurity has become central to reinvention, with 75 per cent of CEOs expecting to strengthen enterprise-wide cyber capabilities over the next three years.

Sustainability and ESG-related threats are also gaining prominence, led by talent availability (38 per cent) and social inequality (25 per cent).

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It also said perceived exposure to climate change as a threat has also increased, rising from three per cent in 2025 to 13 per cent in 2026.

The findings from the survey point to a clear set of next moves Nigerian CEOs should be considering, centred on innovation execution, technology and AI adoption, talent strategy, cybersecurity and trust, and resilience planning.

Gaps in execution are most visible in innovation and resilience: only 25 per cent of CEOs test new ideas rapidly, and 44 per cent identify long-term viability as a key concern, highlighting constraints in translating strategy into outcomes and preparing for shocks.

According to PwC Nigeria, “addressing these priorities will require CEOs to strengthen operating discipline across growth initiatives, digital capabilities, people strategy, risk management, and capital allocation to convert improving macroeconomic conditions into sustained performance.”

Regional Senior Partner, West Market, PwC Nigeria, Sam Abu, said “The findings in this report are intended to support CEOs as they make informed, deliberate choices about where to invest, how to build resilience, and how to position their organisations for sustainable growth.”