Ayeni Adekunle, Chief Executive Officer of BHM Holdings, has called for Nigeria and other African countries to build more businesses capable of competing and operating on a global scale.
Adekunle made the call on September 25, 2026, while speaking at the fourth edition of Africa Breakfast Convos (ABC) in New York, an event held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The gathering brought together business leaders, investors, policymakers and other professionals to discuss trade, investment, partnerships and Africa’s role in the global economy.
Adekunle said Africa’s economic prospects would depend not only on the size of its markets but also on its ability to build companies capable of serving customers across borders and competing internationally.
He said he envisioned a future in which Nigeria could produce 10 or 20 globally competitive companies, arguing that sustained investment and long-term business building could significantly change the continent’s position in the global economy.
“Despite the challenges in Nigeria, South Africa, and across the continent, I choose to focus on the power of possibility,” Adekunle said, according to reports of his remarks.
He added that continued efforts to build and invest in businesses over the next five, 10 or 20 years could produce a substantially different global business landscape.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of partnerships, investment, talent and access to markets in helping African businesses expand beyond their domestic markets. BHM’s account of the event said the broader conversation focused on how Africa could convert its economic potential into sustainable enterprise value.
Adekunle’s comments come amid wider discussions about increasing Africa’s participation in global trade and expanding the international reach of businesses founded on the continent.
Earlier in August, he had similarly urged Nigerian entrepreneurs to use strategic corporate partnerships and trade platforms to build businesses capable of competing in international markets. Speaking at a Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce breakfast forum in Lagos, he said African companies should focus on exporting intellectual property and technology solutions rather than limiting their ambitions to domestic supply contracts.
The latest comments in New York therefore form part of a broader argument for African businesses to move from serving primarily local or regional markets to developing products, services and institutions capable of competing internationally.