“Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – African proverb
The New Year is a clean ledger – but only for those who use it wisely. Across Nigeria, from boardrooms to small-business offices, leaders enter 2026 with new hope, but also with familiar headwinds: inflation, exchange rate pressures, and fatigue from years of constant adjustment.
The African proverb reminds us that tomorrow belongs to those who prepare today. Whether you are leading a listed company or running an SME, this is the month to transform plans into discipline. The decisions of January will determine the outcome of December. Here are five choices every board and business owner should make as 2026 begins to ensure the year leans toward stability, not surprise.
1. Reevaluate reality, not optimism
The IMF's latest outlook projects Nigeria's economy to grow about 4.2 percent in 2026, supported by a modest oil recovery, ongoing fiscal reforms and renewed domestic investment. Although inflation is expected to moderate, it may remain in the range of 20-22 percent due to input costs remaining high and consumer spending remaining cautious.
This means cautious optimism, not fear. Revisit your assumptions on pricing, imports and payroll with a clear eye. Create dual scenarios – one stable, one stressed – and keep a buffer for shocks. Particularly for SMEs, local sourcing and prudent cost control will be the difference between profit and erosion.
The goal is not to reduce ambition but to ground it in realism. Growth is still attainable; It just requires strong arithmetic.
2. Make well-being a KPI, not a slogan
Absenteeism, fatigue and financial stress quietly destroy productivity. It is outdated to consider happiness as a welfare state; This is a strategic investment.
Boards should integrate employee well-being and retention metrics into the leadership scorecard. Data from Deloitte Africa (2024) shows that companies that link well-being to performance achieve up to 25 percent gains in productivity.
For SMEs, even small gestures – flexible hours, micro-insurance, shared meals – build loyalty and reduce turnover. The return on empathy is measurable.
“For SMEs, even small gestures, flexible hours, micro-insurance, shared meals, build loyalty and reduce turnover. The return on empathy is measurable.”
3. Make not just transactions but also trust digital
Digitization has gained momentum, but cyber security and data governance has lagged behind. Under Nigeria's Data Protection Act 2023, every organization that handles personal data – big or small – must protect it responsibly.
Boards now have to link technology adoption with digital ethics. SMEs should also take simple but serious steps: secure passwords, encrypted backups and employee awareness. Technology increases efficiency, but trust drives customer retention.
4. Rebuild the outsourcing line
Outsourcing remains a significant cost leverage as well as a governance risk. The 2024 Zakaria Ishaya v. Fidelity Bank PLC decision reminded employers that liability may follow controls, even if the contract says otherwise.
Boards and entrepreneurs alike should review their vendor and manpower agreements. Define who supervises, insures, and disciplines. Make the arrangement formal, no matter how small. Remember: If your brand is visible on an employee's shirt, your reputation is reflected in their actions.
5. Rebuild public trust through transparency
Customers, regulators and investors now demand authenticity more than polish. For corporates, this means credible sustainability and ethical disclosure. For SMEs, this means accurate books, fair pricing and honest marketing.
Reputation is no longer what you say – it's what the public can verify. The organizations that thrive in 2026 will be those that manage truth as actively as they manage profit.
Calm Sixth Decision: Pace Yourself.
Leaders are also human beings. After years of instability, decision fatigue is real. Plan rest, renewal, and reflection into your regime calendar. A relaxed board – or founder – sees further afield than a manic person.
As we begin 2026
This new year will test not only courage but also clarity. The winners will be those who combine optimism with realism, momentum with stability, and ambition with empathy.
For every organization, whether big or small, the workbook remains simple:
Reprice wisely.
save people.
Digitize integrity.
Define responsibility.
Disclose honestly.
Flexibility isn't about size – it's about preparation.
Happy New Year, and may every decision you make this January bring stability throughout the year.
Dr. Olufemi Ogunlowo is the CEO of Strategic Outsourcing Limited, a leading provider of personnel and business-process outsourcing services in Nigeria. He is also a regular columnist on employment and workforce strategy.
