By Yemi Olajutemu
Ado Ekiti
At a time when many small business owners are pointing fingers at policy instability and regulatory pressure, Business and leadership consultant Isaac Ajisafe has offered a different diagnosis for Nigeria’s struggling enterprises. Rather than blaming government reforms or monetary tightening, he insists the deeper crisis lies within the entrepreneurial mindset itself.
Ajisafe argued that while economic reforms and regulatory adjustments may create temporary discomfort, they do not in themselves shut down opportunity. According to him, policies are a constant feature of every functioning economy, and successful entrepreneurs learn to innovate within them rather than retreat because of them.
He spoke on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti at the inaugural edition of the Entrepreneurial Growth Summit 2026, a business training and mentorship programme he convened for participants drawn from across the country. The summit, he explained, was conceived as a corrective intervention to address what he described as structural and strategic gaps in the way many Nigerians approach business.
The consultant maintained that institutions such as the Central Bank of Nigeria implement monetary and regulatory measures to stabilize the broader economy, not to suffocate enterprise. He said interpreting every policy shift as an existential threat reflects a lack of long term planning and adaptability.
Ajisafe pointed to the steady influx of foreign investors into Nigeria as evidence that the business climate is not as hostile as often portrayed. According to him, investors from countries such as China and India continue to establish and expand operations locally because they recognize opportunities that many domestic entrepreneurs overlook.
He described Nigeria as a fertile ground with comparatively less competition in certain sectors than more saturated global markets. In his view, the fact that foreign businesses thrive locally should compel Nigerian entrepreneurs to interrogate their own models rather than attribute setbacks solely to the operating environment.
The convener stressed that entrepreneurship thrives on initiative, discipline and structure. He argued that what many describe as a dry or harsh environment is frequently the product of poor planning, weak systems and an absence of innovative thinking.
Central to his message was the power of mindset. Ajisafe told participants that business resilience begins with belief, noting that entrepreneurs who internalize the idea that policy changes will inevitably cripple them often act in ways that fulfill that expectation.
He emphasized that adaptability is a non-negotiable skill in modern enterprise. In economies around the world, he said, regulations evolve constantly, and those who survive are those who anticipate change and adjust their strategies accordingly.
The Entrepreneurial Growth Summit, he explained, is structured as a 90 day mentorship initiative that blends physical sessions with online engagement. The programme is designed to guide participants in building ventures from the ground up using practical and tested principles rather than abstract motivation.
Ajisafe said the training focuses on business structuring, operational systems, branding, financial discipline and customer value creation. He noted that many startups collapse not because of hostile policies but because they lack internal frameworks that support growth and sustainability.
He also challenged entrepreneurs in Ekiti State to move beyond local thinking. According to him, businesses that aim only to survive within a narrow geographic space often limit their potential, while those that think globally position themselves to attract clients and partnerships from outside their immediate environment.
Raising standards, he added, is critical to reducing dependence on imported goods and services. When local enterprises improve quality and professionalism, they naturally become competitive beyond state and national borders.
Ajisafe further observed that innovation is not always about groundbreaking technology. It can involve improving processes, refining customer experience, or identifying undeserved niches within existing markets.
Participants at the summit expressed optimism about the initiative. One of them, healthcare consultant Olabisi Daniel, said the training had already begun to reshape her perspective on business growth and strategy, describing it as a timely intervention that would help reposition her enterprise.
As economic debates continue over inflation, exchange rates and fiscal reforms, Ajisafe’s intervention shifts the spotlight inward. His argument suggests that while macroeconomic stability remains important, the sustainability of Nigerian businesses may depend just as much on whether entrepreneurs are willing to rethink structure, embrace innovation and cultivate a mindset that sees policy not as a wall, but as terrain to be navigated.