Mr. O’tega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Digital Engagement and New Media, has called on Nigerian companies to develop solutions that can compete globally. Speaking at The Industry Newspaper’s Top 50 Nigerian Companies of Impact 2026 Awards in Lagos, Ogra emphasized the need for Nigerian businesses to build resilience and drive growth beyond the local market. He cited Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited as an example of a Nigerian firm that has successfully expanded its operations to the continental level.
Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited is leading the $3.1 billion AfCFTA customs modernisation project, having proven its model in Nigerian ports. The company, through its subsidiaries AfriTrade CMP Limited and Trade Modernisation Project Limited, will implement the continental project. Ogra highlighted this achievement as a testament to the potential of Nigerian companies to make a significant impact globally. He noted that the Nigerian market has become a proving ground for many businesses, allowing them to develop expertise that can be taken to the continent.
Ogra stressed that the kind of resilience Nigeria needs now is not just about survival, but also about leveraging local challenges to create global advantages. He cited the banking, fintech, Nollywood, and music sectors as examples of industries that have successfully turned local challenges into global opportunities. According to Ogra, Nigeria provides its companies with a huge domestic market in which to learn and develop, and the question is what businesses do with this opportunity.
As President of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Ogra emphasized that Nigerian brands must travel with Nigerian culture. He stressed that trust, not just attention, will define the next decade. Ogra noted that while attention can be bought, trust cannot, and it is the consumer who eventually decides what a brand means. He encouraged Nigerian companies to focus on building trust with their customers.
Ogra also spoke on the importance of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in driving business growth. He noted that AI is no longer a future event, but a current reality that can be leveraged to improve productivity. Ogra cited examples of how AI can be used to anticipate machine failure and reduce the time it takes to complete tasks. He emphasized that the useful question is what happens when businesses can leverage AI to improve their operations.
The annual list recognises Nigerian companies driving national development through job creation, innovation, governance, and measurable social impact. Ogra’s keynote address was part of the awards ceremony, which celebrated the achievements of the top 50 Nigerian companies. The event was themed “Building Resilience, Driving Growth: Nigerian Companies Shaping the Next Decade.”
In conclusion, Ogra’s call to action for Nigerian businesses is to think beyond the local market and develop solutions that can compete globally. He emphasized the need for companies to build resilience, drive growth, and leverage technology to improve productivity. The recognition of the top 50 Nigerian companies is a testament to the achievements of businesses in Nigeria and their potential to make a significant impact globally.
Key points
- Nigerian companies can turn local challenges into global advantages by leveraging their domestic market and developing solutions that can compete globally.
- Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited is a successful example of a Nigerian firm that has expanded its operations to the continental level.
- Trust, not just attention, will define the next decade for Nigerian brands.
