Financial strategist and business adviser, Dr Chukwuka Monye, has warned that business stability can no longer be assumed, as economic shocks have become a permanent feature of both the global and Nigerian business environment.
Monye said recent years have revealed an uncomfortable reality: uncertainty is no longer occasional but continuous, forcing entrepreneurs to focus more on resilience than ambition. He noted that the era when disruption was followed by a return to normalcy has ended, as decisions taken in distant economies now impact local markets almost instantly.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos, Monye explained that Nigeria is increasingly exposed to global forces through capital flows, competition, regulation and policy pressures. According to him, entrepreneurship in 2026 will be less about bold risk-taking and more about calm, deliberate decision-making.
He advised business owners to redesign their operations to function effectively under unstable conditions, stressing that currency volatility, policy shifts, rising operating costs and unpredictable access to capital have become part of everyday business life.
“A business model that only works when conditions are calm is fragile, no matter how attractive it looks on paper,” Monye said.
He further emphasised that agility must be built into business structures, rather than depending solely on the founder’s personal drive or instincts. According to him, true agility goes beyond speed and involves the ability to adjust pricing, priorities and operations quickly and clearly.
“Businesses without clear systems and defined financial authority often collapse under pressure,” he warned.
While acknowledging the value of strategy, Monye cautioned that even the best plans cannot eliminate disruption, but can help reduce its impact. He stressed that risk management must now be embedded in daily operations, describing unpreparedness as the biggest risk facing businesses today.
In this context, he encouraged entrepreneurs to adopt basic risk-management tools, including derivatives, noting that such instruments are no longer reserved for banks and professional traders.
“A derivative is simply an agreement made today to avoid unpleasant surprises tomorrow,” he said. “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.”
Monye also identified 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 during periods of stress.
