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By Sunday Ani
A financial strategist and business adviser, Dr. Chukwuka Monye, has warned that business stability could no longer be taken for granted as economic shocks become a permanent feature of the global and Nigerian business environment.
He also said recent years had exposed what he described as an “uncomfortable truth,” which is that uncertainty is no longer cyclical but continuous, forcing entrepreneurs to prioritise resilience over ambition.
Briefing newsmen in Lagos , he said the era when businesses could rely on periods of disruption being followed by normalisation had ended, as decisions taken in distant markets now affect local economies almost instantly.
“Nigeria is increasingly exposed to global forces through capital flows, competition, regulation and policy pressure. In 2026, entrepreneurship will be less about boldness and more about composure.”
He advised entrepreneurs to redesign their businesses to function under unstable conditions, noting that currency volatility, policy swings, rising operating costs and unpredictable access to capital have become part of everyday operations.
“A business model that only works when conditions are calm is fragile, no matter how attractive it looks on paper,” he stated.
He further stressed that agility should be built into business structures rather than relying on the founder’s personal energy or decision-making style.
“Agility is not speed alone. It is the ability to adjust pricing, priorities and operations quickly without confusion,” he said, adding that businesses without clear systems and financial authority often collapse under pressure.
He cautioned that even the best plans cannot prevent disruption, but can limit its damage.
He explained that risk management is no longer theoretical but must form part of daily business operations, warning that the biggest risk is being unprepared.
He, however, encouraged entrepreneurs to embrace derivatives and basic risk-management tools, noting that such instruments were no longer exclusive to banks and traders.
“A derivative is simply an agreement made today to avoid unpleasant surprises tomorrow,” he explained. “If you earn in one currency and spend in another, you are already exposed. Ignoring risk is still a decision, and often, an expensive one.”
He also highlighted liquidity protection as critical to business survival, observing that many businesses fail not because they are unprofitable, but because they run out of room to manoeuvre.
“Liquidity buys time and time allows for better decisions,” he said, urging entrepreneurs to deliberately set aside cash buffers.
As immediate actions, he advised business owners to test their models against real-world risks rather than best-case scenarios, identify exposure points, adopt simple risk tools, and rely more on real-time financial data than outdated reports.
“In 2026, resilience will be the real competitive advantage,” he concluded. “Founders who learn to stay steady in unstable environments will still be standing long after the noise fades.”
