Africa is never short of big ideas, but unless we connect our potential to productivity and benefit the man on the street, our progress remains hollow."
This was the challenge set forth by Dr Kola Adesina in his keynote address at the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) conference in Abuja on Wednesday, 22 October 2025.
He urged Nigeria's leaders to unite corporate discipline with national development for real, grassroots impact.
Boardroom Wisdom Is Not Enough - Time To Power Real Progress
"Corporate prosperity without national progress is hollow." He painted Africa's night landscape as dim, resulting from what he described as the "wires that connect our potential to productivity still broken." His call: align corporate best practice with urgent, measurable national transformation.
From Growth Metrics To Nationwide Inclusion
Adesina drew lessons from Singapore, urging Nigeria to blend corporate efficiency, meritocracy, and discipline with public purpose.
Commending recent economic reforms, he stressed they must translate into affordable goods and real benefits for the common citizen, not just financial indexes or boardroom success.
"Our medium and small enterprises, nearly half of GDP, still face a ₦13 trillion financing gap, a sign of failure if the man at the last mile is left behind."
| Challenge Area | Current Barrier | Adesina's Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Policy/Execution | Populism, short-termism | Long-term productivity, brave reforms |
| SME Empowerment | Potholes, weak financing | Targeted investment, reliability |
| Sector Accountability | Isolated boardroom growth | National measures, public-private synergy |
Making Enterprise Nigeria Equitable And Competitive
Adesina argued that for Nigeria PLC to "rise," the "balance sheet of Enterprise Nigeria must be positive in all critical areas, from governance to energy, trust to education."
Citing over 39 million MSMEs as the engine of the economy, he advocated for infrastructure, transparent policy, access to affordable power, and collective ownership of progress.
"Until our citizens can smile happily buying gari, rice, and beans cheaply, we have not achieved anything yet."
| Equity Pillar | Measurable Target | National Payoff |
|---|---|---|
| Power reliability | Cut outages, lower costs | SME growth, jobs |
| Inclusive finance | Close the gap, boost MSME lending | Productivity, stability |
| Governance reform | Clear, transparent metrics | Long-term investor confidence |
Lighting Up The Nation Through Public-Private Partnership
It is "time to benefit from the collective wisdom that drives the boardroom," Adesina insisted, calling for leaders to "connect the wires, ignite the current, and let Africa shine in full brightness of light."
Bold reforms such as fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, and infrastructure revamp must deliver dividends to every Nigerian, not just enrich balance sheets.
Infographic: Kola Adesina's National Wiring Blueprint
| Focus Area | Immediate Reform Step | Desired Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise-Government | Corporate discipline in policy | Measurable progress |
| Last Mile Inclusion | Local benefit from growth | Better livelihoods |
| MSME Empowerment | Financing, infrastructure | Innovation, employment |
Path Forward - Rethinking Prosperity in Nigeria
Kola Adesina's keynote challenges Nigeria to redefine progress—not by profit margins, but by the well-being of its people. Genuine development, he argues, thrives when growth reaches the streets.
His vision calls for unified strategies grounded in ambition, accountability, and shared prosperity, ensuring Africa's future shines through collective progress rather than isolated success.
