ONLY 30% OF NIGERIAN BUSINESSES SURVIVE THIRD GENERATION — EXPERT BLAMES POOR SUCCESSION PLANNING- PROF. ISIDAHOMEN
Speaking with journalists in Lagos, the Managing Director of Cutting-Edge Africa Leadership and Management Training said only about 30 per cent of indigenous companies survive beyond the third generation, with many collapsing after the death or incapacitation of their founders.
According to him, the failure to establish clear leadership transition frameworks often leads to power struggles among family members, directors and management teams — battles that weaken or destroy otherwise thriving enterprises.
“Our objective is to prepare business owners and corporate leaders for a successful transfer of power and ownership without creating bad blood,” Isidahomen said.
“When founders pass on without a succession plan, conflicts arise. In many cases, the business suffers or collapses entirely.”
SOLUTION SUMMIT IN LAGOS
To address the gap, Cutting-Edge Africa, in partnership with Pebble Hills University, United States, will host a two-day C-Suite Exclusive Masterclass on Succession Blueprint in Lagos on August 19 and 20
The programme targets founders, CEOs, MDs, board members and CHROs. Participants will receive practical succession templates, regulatory guidelines and documentation checklists required by institutions like the Securities and Exchange Commission and financial bodies.
“This is not just another training programme. It is a solution summit,” Isidahomen said. Participants will leave with actionable documents and succession blueprints that can help their organisations remain operational even in the absence of the founder.”
BROADER BUSINESS CHALLENGES
The professor also flagged other threats to enterprise growth: soaring production costs, high energy prices, insecurity, corruption, and the mass migration of skilled professionals.
He lamented the loss of experienced manpower and declining societal values, noting that weak integrity and mistrust are further undermining the business environment.
While calling for stronger public-private collaboration, he stressed that citizens also have a role to play through community support and intelligence sharing.
SPEAKERS
The summit will feature Hannibal Uwaifo, SAN, Prof. Eze Nwauba, Nkem Chima of Pan-Atlantic University and other experts on corporate governance and sustainable business management.
Prof. Ezekiel Isidahomen, Managing Director, Cutting-Edge Africa Leadership and Management Training