Business stakeholders have emphasised the need for entrepreneurs and marketplace leaders to uphold ethical standards and invest in capacity building as fundamental to advancing Nigeria’s economic development.
At the 2025 Marketplace Leadership Conference held June 21 in Abuja, organised by the Maime Foundation in partnership with The Metropolitan Church.
The conference with the theme: “Diplomatic Kingdom Affairs – Dynamics of Personal, Corporate and Organisational Diplomacy,” convened corporate executives, innovators, and emerging entrepreneurs to explore strategic leadership principles grounded in diplomacy and ethical governance.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Manasseh Dogon, Lead Steward of The Metropolitan Church and Executive Director of the Maime Foundation— referred to as “the disruptive marketplace mentor”—explained that the conference was conceived as a platform for mentoring and equipping business leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate complex economic systems.
“The essence of this gathering is to provide thought leadership and mentorship to entrepreneurs and corporate leaders, helping them understand the dynamics of power and the strategic importance of diplomacy and negotiation in high-stakes business environments,” Mr. Dogon stated.
He further underscored the need for African leaders to strengthen their mental capacity and shed limiting beliefs tied to racial or cultural identity, which often hinder effective participation in global economic discourse.
“Africa’s core challenge is not a lack of capability but rather a mindset issue. Many leaders view themselves through the lens of inferiority. At negotiation tables, it is essential to recognise that the only difference between you and others may be superficial—such as skin colour. True leadership begins with mental empowerment,” he said.
The conference featured expert-led sessions, strategic networking, and practical discussions aimed at enhancing leadership effectiveness, promoting ethical business practices, and fostering sustainable economic transformation across the continent.
“When it comes to taking decisions, you must understand that we are all part of the decision-making process. We must understand that regardless of you being a black, a Nigerian, a Kenyan, a Ghanaian or coming from Togo, it does not reduce your capacity. As leaders, we have to believe in ourselves and what we are capable of doing as leaders. We must learn to understand the strength of policy, that we are part of the table.
Dogon who lamenting that leaders in Africa are yet to accept the importance of personal reinvention, called for more investment capacity development.
“We cannot be able to administrate our position as leaders if we don’t understand the importance of recognizing how strategic we are in leadership.
“Now, when talking about business from a global perspective, we must understand that the function of ethics has been so underrated by Africans. We are not ethical. When it comes to being ethical and understanding how to relate to the corporate system, we are not ethical. We are not men of our word. We say one thing that will mean another.
“These days, you cannot even trust certain Christians with certain deals. Years before now, you can have an agreement with a Christian and you will go and sleep. But now, you cannot anymore. You have to back it up with prayers and everything.
“So our responsibility in this conference is to be able to teach us how to be very ethical in our approach to business, understanding the biblical principle that emphasizes doing to others as you expect them to do for you. And as leaders, I believe that being ethical is going to help us to be able to understand how to be able to engage leadership and business globally.
“When you get to understand that there are certain premises you get to as a businessman and as an entrepreneur, you require more than just your skills. You must understand how to engage the principle of ethics, how to be very ethical, how to mean what you say, how to say what you mean. In the words of Jesus, say, do unto others what you expect them to do for you.
“The future of the change that we’re expecting in Africa, in Nigeria, and around the world is dependent on us, on how you’re able to adhere to ethics and the importance of your capacity in advancing the economy of the nation.”
On his part, Akin Akinpelu, professor in Education Leadership, stressed the urgent need for curriculum reform in Nigeria’s education system. He criticised the current curriculum as obsolete and misaligned with the realities of today’s job market.
“Any educational framework that does not equip students with employable skills is outdated,” Akinpelu asserted. “We need to reengineer our learning systems to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and real-world problem solving.”
He also pointed to the importance of creating an enabling environment for young people to thrive, noting that a lack of structure and reliable role models is contributing to rising disillusionment among youth.
“Young people in Nigeria are not asking for much. They want a system that works—an environment where they can breathe, build, and believe,” he said. “What we must do is provide mentorship, transparent success stories, and a future they can trust.”
Akinpelu concluded with a call for intentional mentorship and leadership accountability, stressing that visionaries and established leaders must take an active role in grooming the next generation.
“If we walk with them, guide them, and lead by example, the levels of youth frustration and crisis will significantly decline.”
