Young Nigerians received a unified call to resilience, discipline and value‑driven entrepreneurship during the 2026 Workers’ Day edition of The Platform Nigeria, a conference marking the initiative’s 20th anniversary.
Former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun opened the forum by recounting her experience of launching nine businesses, six of which failed. She framed failure as a diagnostic tool rather than a defeat and warned that entrepreneurship is not the sole route to success. Adeosun outlined four “laws” that govern business viability: market demand, financial metrics, timing and team composition. “Moses needed Aaron; every founder needs a team,” she said, emphasizing rigorous demand validation, clear revenue models and rapid execution. She added that thorough research, sound numbers and prayer are essential for entrepreneurial readiness.
Moniepoint founder Tosin Eniolorunda shifted the focus to personal mastery. He identified anxiety and self‑sabotage as the biggest obstacles for entrepreneurs and stressed that conquering one’s own limitations unlocks broader achievement. Eniolorunda urged clear goal‑setting and warned against launching ventures without a defined purpose. He also cautioned against glorifying quick wealth, calling for sustainable pathways that develop Nigeria’s human capital.
Group Executive at Coronation Group Ngozi Akinyele highlighted the role of trust, structure and intentional leadership in scaling innovation. She argued that daily efforts to build trust are prerequisite to growth and described poorly defined organisational charts as “asking somebody to climb a ladder when they can’t see the next rung.” Akinyele advocated adaptable leadership, urging entrepreneurs to adopt a “sponge boss” mindset that absorbs new ideas and practices.
Enterprise advocates Affiong Williams of Reel Fruit and John Alamu of Capital Sage Holdings reinforced the sector’s potential to drive national development. Williams described enterprise as the fastest route to economic transformation across Nigeria and Africa, calling for long‑term, sustainable business models. Alamu urged entrepreneurs to focus on core competencies, noting that disciplined execution will determine future winners.
South African entrepreneur Vusi Thembekwayo addressed xenophobia narratives, asserting that labeling the entire nation as xenophobic misrepresents the issue and serves divisive agendas. He acknowledged isolated incidents but emphasized the importance of resisting media‑driven polarization.
Convener Poju Oyemade opened the event, reiterating The Platform’s mission to lift others as a path to true success. The conference, themed “Unlocking the Second Half Advantage: Transition, Impact and Legacy,” gathered a roster of influential builders, thinkers and operators—including Sinari Bolade Daranijo and Nancy Ogbue—to inspire a new generation of innovators and nation‑builders.
The discussions underscored entrepreneurship as both a personal and collective responsibility, linking individual resilience with broader economic growth and social cohesion in Nigeria and across the continent.
