…Says corporate resilience can drive national prosperity, urges companies to embrace AI, create jobs and expand beyond Nigeria
By Adeola Shittu
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Engagement and Strategy, O’tega Ogra, has urged Nigerian companies to turn the resilience they have developed operating in a challenging business environment into a competitive advantage capable of driving national prosperity.
Ogra made the call on Friday as the keynote speaker at the 2026 The Industry Top 50 Nigerian Companies of Impact Awards, held at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The event, organised by The Industry Newspaper, was held under the theme, “Building Resilience, Driving Growth: Nigerian Companies Shaping the Next Decade.” The keynote focused on “The Business of Nation Building: How Corporate Resilience Translates to National Prosperity.”
Speaking to business leaders, policymakers and other stakeholders at the event, Ogra said Nigerian companies had demonstrated remarkable capacity to innovate, adapt and build functional systems despite the challenges confronting the country's business environment.
He said the experience should no longer be viewed merely as a survival strategy, but as an opportunity for Nigerian businesses to develop solutions capable of competing across Africa and the wider global market.
Ogra cited the Nigeria Unified Customs Management System, B-O-D-O-G-O, developed by Nigerian company Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies, as an example of home-grown innovation with continental relevance.
According to him, the growing adoption of Nigerian-developed solutions beyond the country's borders shows that local businesses possess the expertise and entrepreneurial capacity to solve some of Africa's complex problems.
He also cited fintech companies such as Flutterwave, Paystack and OPay, which emerged from the need to address payment and financial-access challenges, as examples of Nigerian businesses developing solutions with relevance beyond the domestic market.
The presidential aide further pointed to Nollywood and Afrobeats as evidence of Nigeria's ability to take its creativity, culture and products to international audiences.
He described Nigeria as a “proving ground” where businesses have been compelled to develop innovative ways of operating under difficult circumstances.
However, Ogra said government also had a responsibility to reduce the bottlenecks confronting businesses, allowing companies to devote their resources to competing and growing rather than constantly compensating for infrastructural and systemic gaps.
He also highlighted the changing relationship between businesses, consumers and citizens in the digital age.
Ogra, who is also the President of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria, said consumers and citizens now participate actively in public and corporate conversations, providing real-time feedback that businesses and government can use as valuable intelligence.
He urged both sectors to listen more closely to the public and respond to changing expectations.
On branding, Ogra said attracting attention was different from building trust, noting that while advertising could help businesses gain visibility, lasting trust had to be earned through consistent delivery and positive experiences.
He said the strength of Nigerian brands would ultimately depend on their ability to deliver on their promises and create experiences that inspire confidence.
Ogra also identified artificial intelligence as a major force already transforming productivity and the economics of work in Nigeria.
He said AI was enabling businesses to complete tasks that previously took days within hours, while helping organisations anticipate potential failures, improve efficiency and make better decisions.
He consequently urged Nigerian companies to embrace technology as a tool for solving problems, improving productivity and creating new opportunities rather than treating it merely as a passing trend.
The presidential aide further challenged Nigerian businesses to look beyond the domestic market and position their products and services for export.
He said Nigerian companies should build the confidence and capacity required to compete in international markets while taking advantage of opportunities emerging across Africa and beyond.
Ogra also stressed the importance of evidence in building public confidence, saying businesses and government must consistently demonstrate tangible results rather than merely make claims about progress.
Turning to the media, he urged journalists and media organisations to provide greater context when reporting on Nigerian businesses and the economy.
While acknowledging the media's responsibility to scrutinise government and corporate organisations, Ogra said positive developments, including new factories, investments, business expansion and successful entry into new markets, should also receive adequate attention.
He said responsible reporting of such developments could contribute to improving Nigeria's reputation and showcasing the capacity of its businesses to succeed.
Ogra said the true measure of corporate impact should go beyond the size, visibility or financial strength of a company.
He identified job creation, the empowerment of local suppliers and the deployment of technology that improves the productivity of others as some of the key indicators of meaningful corporate impact.
He challenged the companies recognised at the Top 50 event to see the awards not merely as recognition of past achievements, but as a responsibility to do more.
The presidential aide urged the companies to continue reinventing themselves, solving difficult problems and creating value that would contribute to Nigeria's economic growth and strengthen the country's reputation globally.
The 2026 Top 50 initiative recognises Nigerian companies across sectors for their contribution to resilience, innovation, job creation and national development. The organisers said the selection process considered factors including financial performance, job creation, innovation, corporate governance, customer impact, sustainability, local content and contribution to national development.
Ogra's address therefore reinforced the central message of this year's edition: that the next phase of Nigerian business growth must move beyond survival to innovation, measurable impact, productivity and the capacity to create prosperity at home while competing successfully beyond Nigeria's borders.