Audrey Joe Ezigbo is Deputy Managing Director of Falcons Corporation which she co-founded with her husband in 1994. She is the first female president of the Nigeria Gas association and this is her first time at The Platform. Speaking on How to be Future Ready as an entrepreneur in the Nigerian business climate, Audrey says she will be using some terms to explore her points.

The first is Clarity.

Speaking on Clarity, the speaker reminds the congregation of the saying that ‘questions are the currency of the future,’ and in order to be future-ready, we must ask questions for clarity’s sake. Asking questions about how we got here in Nigeria will put to rest the myth of the good old days. Nigeria in 1994 had its challenges as well. At that time, there was still a high level of corruption, our economy wasn’t stable and nobody wants to give you a job because you lack experience, though knowing you will need a job to get experience.

Stating the above, the speaker puts it to the audience that it is as difficult in 2022 as it was in 1994. Thus, for future-forward entrepreneurs, we must be careful about the things we internalise that can stop our ability to be creative.

Speaking further, Audrey states that conformation bias seems comfortable but it restrains our thinking and inhibits progress, as those who are going to win will win first in their minds. What do you see in your mind when you think about your business. There are a multitude of opportunities all around us but do we see them?

Rather than focus on businesses that have failed, why not focus on the ones that are good and thriving. She gives the example of our Nigerian supermarket Ebeanor, which is now in Canada.

Next is Congress.

The speaker points out that for any entrepreneur of today to thrive, he or she must be thinking of what are the socioeconomic factors. We need to see more entrepreneurs come to the floor to create high value-adding resources for our economy. Can you as an entrepreneur position yourself such that the nation benefits on a local scale.

We complain of standards, quality, delivery, and customer service. We must change that narrative. We must know we can’t play local anymore. The speaker goes on to ask; ‘what does it take in the first place to build a thriving business?’

Vision is the answer. Vision is what allows you to see beyond the majority. In her words – ‘ask yourself, what is your vision for your business? How does your vision align with the developmental imperative for Nigeria of today and the future?’

If your vision is not helping others it is not a vision but ambition. Building a successful business that can transcend generations means you must think about how you can make it bigger than who you are. This requires that your strategies are well articulated and are malleable enough to align to the socioeconomic climate.

And next comes Conviction. The speaker states that convictions are what is required of entrepreneurs in today’s climate. It is in a place of situating your business in a global outlook that can make your business grow.

As a forward-thinking entrepreneur who is convinced of a global business method, who also believes in an agile workforce of global thinkers, this must mean you training your workers to meet up with international standards even if there may be the fear that they may leave after impacting them with such knowledge.

Convincing is also what informs your choice of who you take up as your partners and collaborators. Conviction is a heart and mind connection. According to the speaker, you will also need Resilience. This is not stubbornness but the ability to analyse and improvise and innovate for growth.

On Courage, speaking further, Mrs Audrey points out to the listeners that when we look at the environmental context we see so many inadequacies, we see a lot of insecurities but she still maintains that these are the things some other people have seen and still thriving.

Self-preservation is not the first thing you do as a forward-thinking entrepreneur, you must look at the problems and see how you can be the solution. That is what Nigeria needs now.

Speaking on Capacity, the speaker says this means we are looking at how we build relationships that can facilitate the growth of your industry. Then she asks, what are you doing in your own industry?

Next is Collaboration. This means that you are thinking globally and living locally. This is the time you want to say to yourself where are the opportunities and how can you take them on especially through collaboration.

And lastly is Convergence.

She challenged entrepreneurs to ask themselves – how do I situate themselves in the Nigerian developmental agenda? She noted that after today, everyone who has the opportunity to be a part of this meeting must begin to ask themselves the following questions –

How can I use the information I have heard today to change things? Why must I use this? When will I use this? And with that, she bowed out to rounds of applause.