BusinessDay
Omagbitse Barrow
August 11, 2026
Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is experiencing a remarkable resurgence. Across the country, the informal economy continues to expand, technology is lowering barriers to entry, and venture capitalists, angel investors, and development finance institutions are placing increasingly bold bets on the ingenuity of African entrepreneurs. From fintech and agritech to health-tech, manufacturing, professional services, and the creative industries, a new generation of founders is emerging with the ambition not merely to build businesses but to solve problems at scale.
This momentum is encouraging. Yet history reminds us that starting a business and building an enduring institution are two very different challenges. While many ventures succeed in attracting customers, investment, and early growth, far fewer make the difficult transition from founder-led enterprises to organisations capable of thriving beyond the founder. The greatest threat to entrepreneurial success is often not competition, regulation, or access to capital. It is the founder’s inability to transform the business from one man to many men.
