A quick search on various search engines using Nigeria as a keyword would deliver million of information regarding positivity and negativity within the economic, political and social ecosystems. In most cases, search results are current happenings in these ecosystems. In our experience, we have found that leaders and followers do not leave any stone unturned in addressing varied issues and needs using physical and digital spheres.
From social to economic and political discourse, Nigerians have had the course of appreciating each other when things went well. They have also had the course of throwing blames when things went wrong. When our analyst wrote his inaugural speech as a data-driven management specialist some months ago and stated that he has read and used over 200 theories with the intent of getting the right processes and people for a country that is in the midst of sticky followership and leadership systems, some readers asked for theories that best capture Nigeria’s current conditions and quest for greatness.
He has picked five for explication of the country’s situations and possible future directions. According to our analyst, it is not difficult to know that Nigeria is one of the most complex countries in the world. Its complexity rests on the inability of citizens and foreign publics to get things done seamlessly in most cases, especially in the public sector. The complexity can also be understood from the perspective of the private sector, where it is possible to meet people would make simple processes for accessing private goods and services difficult.
Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and invest in Africa’s finest startups here.
Nigeria and Nigerians Through Business Lens
In order words, Nigerians constitute the elements that can make or mar your value capturing at personal and business levels. Therefore, they need to prioritised from the outset of planning for business, political and social engagements with them. To do that effectively, our analyst suggests specific consideration of stakeholder theory developed several years ago with the main purpose of understanding primary and secondary stakeholders in organisations and society in general.
You should be able to know who and which organisation would be a stumbling block or a supportive element on your way of capturing value in Nigeria. This is instrumental construct of stakeholder theory. An instrumental stakeholder would be willing to do his or her work professionally without engaging in unethical practices. He or she usually examines job descriptions or tasks critically and ready to execute them considering norms and values of the employer and industry in general.
Institutionally, when it is about business engagement, there are ministries, agencies and departments that one needs to interact with. In most cases, enforcement focused MDAs put pressure on businesses and employees. This is largely due to their constitutional and statutory functions that must be executed towards delivery of financial and non-financial values to the governments, the principals. In terms of resources, Nigeria has a lot of natural and human resources more than home made technological resources. Hence, doing business in Nigeria is simply based on availability of raw materials and skilled people in all industries and sectors.
However, being a business owner should not be seen as an opportunity of swindling clients, customers, employees and governments. As you aim at gaining from your investment, every stakeholder in the social, political and economic institutions in Nigeria equally want to capture value. Despite this, there would be occasions where you and Nigerian(s) you had business with would lose. This could be as a result of internal and external factors such as a partner played “swindling game”. It could also be that the strategies and tactics you both employed to grow the business failed absolutely. Fluctuations in the macro and microeconomic indices are largely external factors that retard business growth in Nigeria.
Nigeria and Nigerians Through Political and Social Lenses
As stated previously, Nigeria is a complex country. Its complexity is more pronounced while dealing with stakeholders in the political and social institutions. Over the years, citizens have had low trust in political leaders and people in charge of social services. Therefore, being a Nigerian or a foreign citizen requires that you understand people who and organisations that would be instrumental to your political and social goods acquisition. Sometimes Nigerians and organisations can make things difficult for you when they engage in unethical practices and activities that are not conform with the national values and norms.
From the perspective of citizens, when stakeholders in the political institution use enforcement and coercive pressures towards making them [citizens] accepting and performing their constitutional-cum policy roles, citizens retaliate by exhibiting violent behaviour or telling their leaders to learn from what others in developed countries are doing. In this regard, citizens usually refer political leaders to their constitutional roles and why they should embrace best global leadership practices in all ramifications.
On several occasions, citizens have had the course of lamenting the failure of political leaders to use available resources judiciously. To them, this has been the key reason the country is losing in critical industries and sectors including. This is also applicable to the international competitiveness of the country within economic and political markets.