Lagos Business School’s Breakfast Club recently hosted an exclusive dinner and fireside chat featuring two of Nigeria’s most influential voices: Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON, and economist Bismarck Rewane. The event, themed ‘Challenges and Opportunities for Making Nigeria the Leading Manufacturing and Services Hub in Africa,’ provided a platform for C-suite executives, policymakers, and industry leaders to exchange insights on shaping Nigeria’s economic future.
The LBS Breakfast Club is an exclusive knowledge-sharing platform for C-suite executives, industry leaders, policymakers, and members of the diplomatic community. It provides a unique avenue to network, gain high-quality intelligence on the operating business environment, and engage in critical discussions concerning economic trends and issues that impact business across Africa.
Strategic Insights and Economic Forecast
The evening began with Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), providing the Economic Outlook for 2026. His presentation provided a detailed, data-driven forecast that covered key macroeconomic indicators, market trends, and policy direction, offering attendees essential intelligence for strategic planning in the year ahead.
The 2026 outlook was followed by the fireside chat that explored practical strategies to transform Nigeria into Africa’s manufacturing and services hub.
The fireside chat, which was centred on the event’s theme, featured the guest speaker, Alhaji Aliko Dangote. The conversation was skillfully moderated by Professor Olawale Ajai, LBS Faculty and convener of the LBS Breakfast Club. This critical discussion provided an in-depth, expert-led examination of the elements required to elevate Nigeria’s standing as Africa’s manufacturing and services hub. Alhaji Dangote shared valuable perspectives on leveraging Nigeria’s vast potential.
The fireside chat was followed by a dynamic Question and Answer (Q&A) session, allowing attendees to directly engage both Alhaji Dangote and Professor Ajai on specific policy and business strategies.
Sponsors & Appreciation
Lagos Business School extends its sincere gratitude to our sponsors, First Bank of Nigeria, Optimus Bank, Cowry Asset Management Limited and Afrinvest Limited, whose generous support and partnership were instrumental in making this significant gathering possible. Their commitment to fostering high-level dialogue and advancing executive education demonstrates a shared vision for accelerating Nigeria’s economic development and leadership in Africa.
The event underscored the school’s pivotal role in fostering high-impact conversations that shape the future of business and policy. It concluded with an atmosphere of inspiration and a renewed commitment among attendees to implement the strategies necessary to drive the nation’s manufacturing and service sectors forward.
As Nigeria positions itself for industrial leadership, LBS will continue to empower leaders with actionable insights and strategies to accelerate Nigeria’s industrial transformation.
