The successful exploitation of new ideas is crucial to a business being able to improve its processes, bring new and improved products and services to market, increase its efficiency and, most importantly, improve its profitability. Marketplaces — whether local, regional, national or global — are becoming highly competitive. Competition has increased as a result of…
Nigeria has lacked an internationally recognized quality infrastructure which would ensure the safety, integrity and marketability of goods and services and remove technical barriers to local, regional and international trade. To address this, the National Quality Infrastructure Project (NQIP) for Nigeria was launched in 2013. The project was funded by the European Union and implemented…
Quality infrastructure refers “to all aspects of metrology, standardization, testing, quality management, certification and accreditation that have a bearing on conformity assessment. This includes both public and private institutions and the regulatory framework within which they operate.” (BMZ, 2004) This institutional complex plays a vital role within national innovation systems, especially in a context of…
Prior to 2013, Nigeria was experiencing trade imbalance as a result of increase in import of goods some of which were of very poor quality. Although there was no substitute production for a large number of imported substandard goods, Nigeria had a promising industry that required support to improve the quality of its products. In…
HOW TO CREATE AN INNOVATION HUB Many cities are pinning their hopes on innovation hubs, clusters of innovators and entrepreneurs from different disciplines under one roof, mixing together and, the hope goes, creating businesses. Innovation hubs are still relatively new and their effectiveness is uncertain, but a pair of academics has produced this report on…
As a manager or CEO, growing a business or building one goes beyond just opening and closing the doors of your office or just resuming every day or running the business without looking forward or backward to plan for the future. Some years back as a COO with Center Point Network (an IT company in…
In a world that is often loud, cluttered, and chaotic, there is something truly beautiful about simplicity. It is a breath of fresh air, a moment of clarity in the midst of the storm. And, as Leonardo da Vinci so famously said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” There are many ways to embrace simplicity in…
Let’s talk reality. Building a successful business isn’t about dreaming up grand visions or crafting flawless business plans. It’s about taking action, embracing the mess, and learning through doing. Yes, strategy is important. Vision is crucial. But if those things remain trapped in PowerPoint slides or your head, they’re nothing more than expensive daydreams. That’s…
Ah, the age-old adage: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” We’ve all heard it, probably on endless motivational posters and slapped across countless calendars. But here’s the thing – in the real world, where entrepreneurial dreams meet the messy reality of building a business, it’s time to flip that script. Don’t get…
Leadership isn’t about pointing fingers and assigning blame. It’s about taking responsibility, finding solutions, and uniting your team in the face of challenges. In today’s volatile environment, where problems arise faster than coffee cups get emptied, this mantra becomes your most potent weapon: Don’t find fault, find a remedy. Yes, mistakes happen. Plans go awry….
