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Business Quotes From Nigerian Entrepreneurs That Will Motivate You To Success

Business Quotes

Business quotes help business owners because entrepreneurship is indeed a challenging journey. Knowing that you are not alone in your entrepreneurial journey is a big relieve.

There are famous entrepreneurs in Nigeria who have walked the path you are on and drawing inspiration from them make the journey worth the while. From the experience of these entrepreneurs, they share information that motivate budding and aspiring entrepreneurs in the form of business quotes.

We have chronicled these business quotes so, you can always draw motivation from them.

Start Your Business in 30 Days Even If You Don't Have An Idea
Start Your Business in 30 Days Even If You Don’t Have An Idea

Business Quotes By Tony Elumelu

  • “There is a better way to invest in Africa for a sustainable future that creates value for all.”
  • “My vision for the foundation is to unlock the obstacles that African entrepreneurs face, so that they, rather than aid agencies or governments will spur the continent’s transformation”
  • As an entrepreneur myself, I understand what it feels like to yearn for a lifeline, to hope for a ‘big break’, to look forward to enjoying some luck.”
  • “People management is key. Learn how to motivate your people. Be painstaking in choosing the right people.”
  • “Africapitalism is about the intersection of economic prosperity and social wealth, the intersection of making profit and doing good, and not waiting to finish one before you do the other.”
  • “Africapitalism is not exclusive to African businesses but we must set an example for others to follow”
  • “Only entrepreneurship can create opportunity where none seemingly exists.”
  • “My advice for small-scale entrepreneurs is: run your business well, if you run your business well, you will grow.”
  • “Young entrepreneurs and those they inspire are the lifeblood of Africa’s rise.”
  • “Africapitalism therefore means we cannot leave the business of development up to our governments, donor countries and philanthropic organizations alone.”
  • “The kind of challenges we face on the continent require not only vision but also patience and perseverance.”
  • “Africapitalism is the nexus between the ability of the private sector to create value and the government’s creation of a business-friendly environment.”
  • “Companies that incorporate local value creation will be both more sustainable and more profitable in Africa in the long-term.”
  • “By investing in local economies and creating local jobs, they are also increasing the pool of those who can afford their products and services.”
  • “If you do not care about how business is conducted, your very futures may be at stake.”
  •  “The old business model of a myopic pursuit of profit above all else is at best imprudent and, at worst, reckless in our increasingly interconnected and interdependent world.”
  •  “The future we all want for ourselves is one of our own making.”
  • “The Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme is an act of faith in our entrepreneurs to transform our continent. Because business isn’t just about money.”
  • “Entrepreneurship means Africans no longer have to find a job or be trained to be employees. Instead, it will enable our young people to create their own jobs, become employers, and take charge of their futures, instead of letting the future happen to them.”
  • “I have come to understand that the most important thing I can do to advance our development is to help replicate my success in others and to evangelize the cause of entrepreneurship.”
  • “If we help people make something of themselves, by investing in jobs and economic opportunity, the beneficiaries will purchase healthcare, they will purchase education for their children and look after their families.”
  • “From the African perspective, development is a matter of realizing our potential and making the progress that we know is humanly possible because others have gotten there.”
  • “We need to give from the perspective of empowering the recipient, instead of making them dependent on us.”“I believe that economic prosperity and social wealth must go hand in hand for maximum impact.”

Business Quotes By Aliko Dangote

  • “Every morning when I wake up, I make up my mind to solve as many problems, before retiring home.”
  • “My grandfather once told me; the soul of business is not making money but making people happy.”
  • “To succeed in business, you must build a brand and never destroy it.”
  • “The most dangerous thing for an entrepreneur to do is to actually go into a business that he does not understand fully.”
  • “I always tried to move up the food chain. I started with cement and then moved into textiles and banking. When I was trading sugar, I added salt and flour so that then we could do pasta. And then I thought, why not make the bag for it, too? So, we started making packaging.”
  • “I always make sure I hire people smarter than me.”
  • “If I had challenges in my company, I would not hesitate to sell assets to remain afloat, to get to the better times, because it doesn’t make any sense for me to keep any assets and then suffocate the whole organization.”
  •  “I built a conglomerate and emerged the richest black man in the world in 2008 but it didn’t happen overnight. It took me thirty years to get to where I am today. Youths of today aspire to be like me but they want to achieve it overnight. It’s not going to work. To build a successful business, you must start small and dream big. In the journey of entrepreneurship, tenacity of purpose is supreme.”
  • “After my death, I want to be remembered as Africa’s greatest industrialist.”
  • “Don’t kill the competition. Competition is healthy for businesses. It keeps you the entrepreneur on your toes.”
  • “To build a successful business, you must start small and dream big.”
  • “Manufacture, don’t just trade. There is money in manufacturing even though it is capital intensive. To achieve a big breakthrough, I had to start manufacturing the same product I was trading on; which is commodities.”
  • “When you import goods, you import poverty and you export jobs to other parts of the globe where such goods are produced.”

Business Quotes By Strive Masiyiwa

  • “Whether you’re a farmer, builder or engineer, the opportunities are equal: just add a little innovation.”
  •  “The opportunities is in the problem. The moment I see a problem, I immediately begin to think about the opportunities that can be created by trying to solve it.”
  • “A vision on its own is not enough. Hard work and dedication is required to make that vision a reality.”
  • “Entrepreneurship without skills limits your growth potential.”

Business Quotes By Ayodeji Agboola

  •  I look at problems as opportunities. I’m stirred up to look to create a solution so people who have the same problem can come to me for a solution.”
  • “Communicate very well with your staff, let them understand why they do the things they do and the results of such actions.”
  • “When you have loyal employees, you can rest easy. They will go over the board for you if you are not there.”
  • “Everyone can copy your strategy, your website, but they can’t copy your customer service. It is very important.”
  •  “Just do good work. If you are able to elicit that kind of emotion where people are happy and can refer you, 80% of the job is done.”
  •  “Make sure you are the first to reach out to your clients if there are any delays. They pay you back with trust and confidence.”

Business Quotes By Mofolusade Sonaike

  • “I have a lot of mentors who have influenced my life without even meeting them. This age of social media has made it easy to follow and consume content from people who inspire you.”
  • “Because I have experienced failure, I am able to relate with and understand the pain points of mumpreneurs in the community.”
  • “In any business at all, think big but start small. Run a pilot of your idea first, then scale in phases.”

Business Quotes By Femi Otedola

  • “When you have a business model you must adhere strictly according to what you want to achieve.”
  • “As I cannot be in all places at all times, the key is to ensure that I have a sound team which steers the ship in the right direction under my guidance.”
  • “Being a good entrepreneur doesn’t necessarily make you a good manager of a business.”

Business Quotes By Mike Adenuga

  • “Business doesn’t work well on its own. You have to boost market from one state to the other.”
  • “I have taken the time to ensure that any business we invest in, we know the business very well.”
  • “Whatever business you are in, you must know the business very well.”

Business Quotes By Ibukun Awosika

  • “Working for someone is a great idea, however, nothing beats working and chasing your own dream.”
  • “Entrepreneurship is a national service. People who dare to build businesses, do it out of the love of their country.”
  • “A business must not be built around those at the top but all the people that work in the organisation.”
  • “Seek knowledge to whatever extent possible. Take a personal decision to be excellent in whatever you do. Take whatever knowledge you have learnt seriously.”

Business Quotes By Tara Durotoye

Go from idea to starting your business in 30 days
Go from idea to starting your business in 30 days
  • “Don’t build your business around a person but around a system. Ensure the system is designed to bring a consistent result of quality.”
  • “People only care about what you care about when you care about them.”
  • “You have to have the discipline to put money back into the business to ensure it grows.”
  • “When you structure your business, it helps you scale up without losing consistency.”
  • “What “recipe” have you recorded for use in the future? Without recipes, we can’t scale our business.”

Business Quotes By Nimi Akinkugbe

  • “Starting a new business takes guts, and boundless energy. It is important that you invest in yourself.”
  •  “If you keep building your capacity and stay focused, it is amazing where the journey can lead.”
  • “Stay close to the numbers. It is so easy to rely on experts and delegate key areas and that is important but as a CEO, you must ensure that you understand what is going on with the number.”

Business Quotes By Florence Chikezie

  •  “A satisfied customer is one of the most effective marketing and advertising tool a small business can have.”
  •  “Competing with your competitors may not get you where collaborating with them will.”
  • “If you’re an entrepreneur, remember to handle your finances well, structure things, make good use of your network and bootstrap.”
  • “If you want to be a great boss, do not ask your employee to do what you can’t do. Employees want to be inspired by your examples.”
  • “When you see businesses fail, learn. Don’t make mockery of the founders.”
  • “Entrepreneurs need a good dose of patience; patience to realize that sometimes growth takes time.”

Business Quotes By Demola Aladekomo

  • “Opportunities abound in Nigeria, only make hay whilst the sun shines.” 
  • “If you cannot conquer your own local market, you are not going to conquer the American market.”
  • “There will be lots of opportunities created. There will be challenges also created, but will both be for you or for your competition?”

Business Quotes By Jim Ovia

  • “It is imperative to rely on one’s own instincts in taking stock of one’s own capabilities, and in evaluating a new business opportunity.”
  •  “Entrepreneurship is about being awake and starting small.”
  • “Dreams are about building things, not illusions. You can build an app or a company or a product or service. I happened to build a bank.”
  • “Your passions are always in sync with opportunities. You’re naturally able to identify them and respond to them as they materialize.”

Business Quotes By Abdulsamad Rabiu

  • “Do things right, work hard for your company and for the people around you.”
  •  “Nigeria is a motley of exciting and perplexing markets. There is a lot of opportunities with adequate resources and a huge market for investors.”
  • “If you have a big business and it is doing very well, give others the opportunity to be part of it.”
  • “Each year in business present a learning curve that you either navigate positively or negatively.”
  • “Growth can only be achieved by matching and surpassing existing quality, even if that means besting your own records.”

Business Quotes By Stella Okoli

  • “Being an entrepreneur does not necessarily mean working for yourself but understanding how you can add value to any system.”
  • “One of the keys in job creation is to have youth skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.” 
  • “If locally produced goods are patronized, industries will thrive, employment will be generated and the poverty levels in the country will be reduced.”
  • “For a nation to do well in manufacturing, we need lots of young people. There is a value chain, where the young people can come in.”
  • “Patriotism is the backbone of any industry around the world. It is one of the fundamentals that made my business successful.”
  • “Business is not all about having money. It’s about the techniques, determination and finding out areas you can plug into.”

Business Quotes By Tunde Folawiyo

  • “We must do what is necessary within the rules of ethics. Once Africa understands this, the values of integrity will become the norm, and will promote private sector development.”
  •  “…The main crux is that we need government and government needs us. And what government supports assiduously, can only be success.”
  • “If you don’t drive your business, you will be driven out of business.”
  •  “You can’t be successful in business without taking risk.”
  • “… Many African leaders have realized that they can no longer be the “adversaries’ of the private sector. They must work with entrepreneurs.”

Business Quotes By Odion Ejere

  • “Know the industry you are getting into, do something that comes easily to you, which you have mastered.”
  • “Always remember this: you can’t have a business if you don’t have products or customers.”

Business Quotes By Innocent Chukwuma

  •  “A good product will naturally sell itself. When the product is good, it will sell anywhere in the world.”
  • “Any Nigerian patronizing ‘made in Nigeria’ products, is supporting our economy.”
  • “You cannot sacrifice the people on the alter of bottom-line but you must also operate efficiently and profitably, giving the society value.”
  • “I believe in putting a small profit margin and selling in large quantities. People know me as someone who uses little profit to sell.”
  • “Any business without foundation will surely fail. Have focus, you will surely get there.”

Business Quotes By Hakeem Belo-Osagie

  • “Winning team is a combination of those with international experience and streetwise locals who know how to work the system.”
  • “The more you can see of all facets of a company, the better experienced you will be when you come to running your own business.”
  •  “It is important for businesses to focus on some specific areas they believe in and then give their business skills to address community needs.”
  • “One of the key factors for success in business is you must have that mental attitude to walk boldly through the fog of uncertainty.”

Business Quotes By Pascal Dozie

  1.  “You can start a business and not have the aptitude for that business.”
  2. “Capital is necessary but not sufficient to start a business.”
  3. “If you by any chance believe I have done well, you have the capacity to do better.”

Business Quotes By Leo Stan Ekeh

  •  “Nigeria has a huge stock of smart people who can change and sustain the development story of this country. What they require is an enabling environment, which is not too expensive for the government to provide.”
  •  “If you are an entrepreneur, then you have a right to make mega wealth.” 
  • “Technology is the only way the son of a poor man can become rich in the 21st technology century and that is the only way the son of a rich man can consolidate the wealth of the family.”
  • “To succeed in the peculiar business terrain of many African economies, an entrepreneur requires 40% common sense, 20% spirituality and 40% knowledge of the business you are investing in.”

Business Quotes By Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina

  1. “There are various business opportunities in the value chain of agriculture including processing, marketing. logistics, transportation and food retail. These represent big business opportunities for Africa’s youth”
  2. “We pass gold and see gold as dirt. And we look at agriculture like that when in fact it is the biggest business in the world. So, for me, I really want young people to be in agriculture as a business.”

Business Quotes By Bolanle Austen

  •  “There is no laziness in any business that wants to succeed.”
  • “Until you understand that time is something you cannot cheat, you will not go very far in business”
  • “Money is not an end, value is the end. Focus on adding value to the society and the money would follow.”

Business Quotes By Ada Osakwe

  •  “I believe it’s important you start even if it’s small, start with a view of putting the right structures in place in your business that would allow you to be big.”
  • “Advice to young entrepreneurs. Be articulate in expressing yourself, be confident in your interactions with people.”
  • “Get someone who believes in you and sell your idea. Be bold, be audacious, just do it.”

Business Quotes By Mo Abudu

  •  “You have to be very passionate about what you do and at the same time, be a business manager, which includes having a solid business plan.”
  • “Positive outlook to life is vital to business. Challenges can be transformed into opportunities with the right frame of mind.”
  • “Anyone who wishes to be an entrepreneur must know that bright ideas are great, however, that is not even half of the work; execution is everything.”
  • “Your success as an entrepreneur depends on your ability to build and inspire a team that is individually committed to a group effort.”
  • “Running a business requires 100% attention and focus, every other thing is a distraction.”

Business Quotes By Deola Ade-Ojo 

  •  “Succession planning is what any true business owner should be giving thought to.”
  • “Intellectual Property is hugely important; we must respect it and become conductors of this domain. An idea is all it takes to launch a thousand ships.”

Quotes By Jason Njoku

  1.  “I make more mistakes than I make good choices. My only saving grace is that the few good choices that I make are better and more significant.”
  2. “It is difficult to run an Africa-centric business with a predominantly African audience or consumer base, without having a base in Africa.”
  3. “The millions lost in investment will serve as a road-map for future successes and references.”

Quotes By Oba Otudeko

  1.  “Vision is not enough, it must be combined with venture. Never forget your prayers, because God oversees everything.”
  2. “The private sector working with the public sector can achieve so much by way of development.”
  3. “The empires of the future are actually the empires of the mind.”
  4. “There is nothing like African standard, you must embrace the global standard.”

Quotes By Cletus Ibeto

  • “Once you attain business success, proposals will come. This will broaden your business horizon and give you new ideas and opportunities.”
  •  “Always pay attention, you may not end up doing everything but you will tap from the knowledge and experience.”

Quotes Ogugua Belonwu

  • “The right idea is economically viable and you have the capacity to pilot the crux of the idea.”
  • “Love what you do and put in your best in it. It is not a part-time business.”

Quotes By Ndidi Nwuneli

  •  “Build a support network with a few other trusted entrepreneurs to share war and success stories with, otherwise, it becomes a very lonely journey.”
  • “Every day is a roller-coaster ride of emotions in the life of the entrepreneur. My survival strategy is to take it one day at a time.”
  • “Focus on one business idea at a time. Perfect the model before adding on the next one.”
  • “Small is not beautiful in business. Build businesses that scale. Deliberately establish business models that scale.”
  • “Find creative and strategic ways to retain your customers by engaging with their staff at all level.”

Quotes By Folake Coker

  • “If nobody is copying what you are doing, you really need to look at what you are doing.”
  • “Continuously reinvent yourself but do not change the DNA of the brand.”
  • “Believe in yourself and your dreams. Believe in God, he will never take you beyond where you are not supposed to be.”

Quotes By Joseph Aransiola

  •  “Never underestimate the power of your dreams and the influence of the human spirit within you.”
  •  “Only the organization that puts on thinking cap can sustain the effects of changing and disruptive technology.”
  • “No matter how faultless a business plan is, it will always be away from realities.”
  • “Do what you have a passion for. Let the goal not be on quick profit.”

Quotes By Akin Alabi

  • “When an organisation competes on price, there is a tendency to reduce quality.”
  • “Consistency on social media is key these days because that is where people check you out.”
  • “Don’t go the low-price route. It’s myth that people want cheap products.” 
  • “As small business owner, your best chance of success is to sell what people want.” 
  • “Don’t be shy. Promote your business. promote yourself. Post content consistently online.”

Quotes By Fola Adeola

  •  “You should care for your staff, ask them questions, find out about their families and if you ask me, I’ll say send them personalised SMS on a daily basis thanking them for all they are doing to grow your business, you’ll be shocked.”
  •  “The best strategy is one that achieves the intended outcome.”
  • “Any model adopted must drive towards intended outcomes.”

Quotes By Herbert Wigwe

  •  “The world is changing and Nigeria is beginning to pay attention to young creative people. No matter the outcome, I urge you to keep telling your stories. Don’t be scared to make your mark in the creative space. The future is beautiful.”
  •  “Increasingly, you’ll find that any task that is repetitive will be replaced by technology. We must, therefore, retrain and reskill our people and ourselves to fit into the new world.”

We hope you are inspired so, get back to your workspace and keep grinding.

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