Author: Tito Philips
Tito Philips
Hi! My name is Tito Philips, an unusual Nigerian that is MAD – Making A Difference. I'm the Chief Community Leader here and this is where we raise the bar of entrepreneurship. We are a TRIBE of Unusual Entrepreneurs, we are not your every day entrepreneurs who go into business to put food on the table and pay bills. For us, business is more than making ends meet [survival]. It is our means of doing what we love [passion], changing the world [purpose] and being financially rewarded for it [profit]™. Want to become ONE of us?
LAGOS, Nigeria – May 1st, 2026 – In a major push to formalize Nigeria’s fragmented business ecosystem, SBP Ventures has officially opened applications for the inaugural Small Business Innovation Challenge (SBIC), a live, high-stakes television series designed to bridge the gap between grassroots entrepreneurs and institutional capital. The overall winner will walk away with a ₦20,000,000 Grand Prize. Unlike standard pitch competitions, SBIC is structured as market infrastructure, combining a rigorous capacity-building bootcamp with a televised arena format. The initiative responds to proprietary data from SBP Ventures’ active business community, which reveals that over 82% of surveyed SMEs struggle with…
In a recent LinkedIn conversation, the founder/CEO of ACR Global; Funmilola Adedeji-Bajulaiye in one of her CEO Drawing Board posts asked me to respond to the post quoted below; “How can we get Nigerian Brand Owners to dream bigger?” First, let me say this: the question itself is revolutionary. Because what you’re really asking is, “How do we move naijapreneurs from trading to building institutions?” Most Nigerian entrepreneurs are trapped in a survival-minimalist mindset. Revenue and margin feel safe. Locations and investment metrics feel risky—because they require trusting other people (franchisees, multi-unit owners, investors). But until a brand owner dreams…
Introducing MINE 1000: The Largest Profiling of Made In Nigeria Entrepreneurs (MINE) Nigeria’s entrepreneurial spirit is one of its greatest untapped national assets. Across cities, campuses, and communities, millions of small business owners are quietly building, innovating, and creating value—often without recognition, documentation, or visibility. MINE 1000 (Made In Nigeria Entrepreneurs 1000) is a bold national initiative by naijapreneur.com to change that. It is the largest annual profiling of Small Business Owners in Nigeria, capturing 1,000 real entrepreneurial stories from across the country—documenting their journeys, struggles, breakthroughs, and impact. This project is designed to become a permanent digital archive of Nigerian entrepreneurship, accessible…
Introducing MINE 1000: The Largest Profiling of Made In Nigeria Entrepreneurs (MINE) Nigeria’s entrepreneurial spirit is one of its greatest untapped national assets. Across cities, campuses, and communities, millions of small business owners are quietly building, innovating, and creating value—often without recognition, documentation, or visibility. MINE 1000 (Made In Nigeria Entrepreneurs 1000) is a bold national initiative by naijapreneur.com to change that. It is the largest annual profiling of Small Business Owners in Nigeria, capturing 1,000 real entrepreneurial stories from across the country—documenting their journeys, struggles, breakthroughs, and impact. This project is designed to become a permanent digital archive of…
Introducing MINE 1000: The Largest Profiling of Made In Nigeria Entrepreneurs (MINE) Nigeria’s entrepreneurial spirit is one of its greatest untapped national assets. Across cities, campuses, and communities, millions of small business owners are quietly building, innovating, and creating value—often without recognition, documentation, or visibility. MINE 1000 (Made In Nigeria Entrepreneurs 1000) is a bold national initiative by naijapreneur.com to change that. It is the largest annual profiling of Small Business Owners in Nigeria, capturing 1,000 real entrepreneurial stories from across the country—documenting their journeys, struggles, breakthroughs, and impact. This project is designed to become a permanent digital archive of Nigerian entrepreneurship, accessible…
In a bold move to accelerate the growth of small businesses across Nigeria, the Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the 2026 National MSME Awards with a ₦1 billion grant initiative targeting 100 outstanding Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide. The funding, part of the ongoing MSME Clinics Initiative, will be disbursed through the National MSME Awards, a flagship program designed to recognize, reward, and scale high-impact Nigerian businesses contributing to economic growth, job creation, and innovation. Applications officially opened on April 7, 2026, and will close on May 7, 2026, giving entrepreneurs a one-month window to submit their…
Introducing MINE 1000: The Largest Profiling of Made In Nigeria Entrepreneurs (MINE) Nigeria’s entrepreneurial spirit is one of its greatest untapped national assets. Across cities, campuses, and communities, millions of small business owners are quietly building, innovating, and creating value—often without recognition, documentation, or visibility. MINE 1000 (Made In Nigeria Entrepreneurs 1000) is a bold national initiative by naijapreneur.com to change that. It is the largest annual profiling of Small Business Owners in Nigeria, capturing 1,000 real entrepreneurial stories from across the country—documenting their journeys, struggles, breakthroughs, and impact. This project is designed to become a permanent digital archive of Nigerian entrepreneurship, accessible…
Introducing MINE 1000: The Largest Profiling of Made In Nigeria Entrepreneurs (MINE) Nigeria’s entrepreneurial spirit is one of its greatest untapped national assets. Across cities, campuses, and communities, millions of small business owners are quietly building, innovating, and creating value—often without recognition, documentation, or visibility. MINE 1000 (Made In Nigeria Entrepreneurs 1000) is a bold national initiative by naijapreneur.com to change that. It is the largest annual profiling of Small Business Owners in Nigeria, capturing 1,000 real entrepreneurial stories from across the country—documenting their journeys, struggles, breakthroughs, and impact. This project is designed to become a permanent digital archive of Nigerian entrepreneurship, accessible…
Introducing MINE 1000: The Largest Profiling of Made In Nigeria Entrepreneurs (MINE) Nigeria’s entrepreneurial spirit is one of its greatest untapped national assets. Across cities, campuses, and communities, millions of small business owners are quietly building, innovating, and creating value—often without recognition, documentation, or visibility. MINE 1000 (Made In Nigeria Entrepreneurs 1000) is a bold national initiative by naijapreneur.com to change that. It is the largest annual profiling of Small Business Owners in Nigeria, capturing 1,000 real entrepreneurial stories from across the country—documenting their journeys, struggles, breakthroughs, and impact. This project is designed to become a permanent digital archive of…
International Women’s Day 2026 arrives at a pivotal moment for Nigeria. As our nation navigates economic recalibration, currency fluctuations, and the urgent need for homegrown solutions, one truth has never been clearer: the future of Nigerian enterprise is female. This year, naijapreneur.com set out to identify 26 Nigerian women entrepreneurs who are not merely surviving the current economic climate but thriving within it—building institution-grade companies, creating dignified employment, and solving fundamental problems with ingenuity and resilience. These are Nigerian women entrepreneurs who have moved beyond the “hustle culture” narrative to establish businesses with fiscal visibility, strong governance, and genuine scalability. IWD…
This is a naijapreneur.com Industry Spotlight Feature. We’ve put together a rigorously researched assessment of top 10 private security companies in Nigeria for year 2026. Enjoy! PUBLISHER’S NOTE: WHY THIS LIST MATTERS NOW The private security industry in Nigeria stands at a critical inflection point. As of March 2026, the sector employs over 250,000 personnel across more than 2,000 NSCDC-licensed companies, yet it operates in an environment of escalating complexity—from the withdrawal of police from VIP protection duties to the rise of sophisticated criminal networks targeting critical infrastructure. This list is not merely a ranking. It is a response to…
On the 20th of December 2025, I had the privilege of attending the Capital Clarity Masterclass, a powerful learning experience curated by my mentor, Dr. Solomon King. It wasn’t another motivational talk or surface-level fundraising seminar. It was a deep, unfiltered dive into the mindset, mechanics, myths, and realities of raising capital and building a truly fundable business. The session was rich with brutal honesty, strategic frameworks, and foundational wisdom drawn from years of real-world experience. Alongside Dr. Solomon King were two outstanding voices in the capital ecosystem—Audrey Odogu and David Lanre Messan (DLM)—each bringing clarity from different but complementary…
Adeyemi Ademola’s The BIG BUILD Company is leveraging space as an accelerant of progress for Nigerians and investors. 1. What does ‘building beyond function’ mean to you on a personal level? For me, building beyond function is a deeply personal philosophy. It means designing with soul. It’s about creating spaces that don’t just serve a structural or aesthetic purpose but actually elevate the human experience. A house should do more than provide shelter; it should inspire. An office should be more than desks and walls; it should energise and connect people. Personally, I see space as a silent partner in…
The Lagos Agrinnovation Summit 1.0 is a premier platform designed to foster meaningful conversations, collaboration, and groundbreaking innovations within the agricultural sector. Focused on shaping sustainable agriculture and food systems, this summit will bring together industry professionals, thought leaders, and policymakers to explore emerging trends, share best practices, and drive forward-thinking solutions across the Agriculture and Food Systems Value Chain. Here’s what you stand to gain: Engage in keynotes, plenary sessions, exhibitions, and workshops designed to elevate your understanding of agritech. Learn from industry leaders and ask burning questions that can transform your approach to sustainable agriculture. Network with a…
This is the maiden unveiling of our #40Under40NaijaCEOs: 40 Under 40 Nigerian CEOs in 2024. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is home to a burgeoning generation of young entrepreneurs and business leaders. And the business world is constantly evolving, with new technologies and trends emerging at an unprecedented pace. In this rapidly changing landscape, it is these young and innovative minds who are leading the charge into the future. In recognition of their exceptional achievements and potentials, we present the “40 Under 40 Naija CEOs” list, featuring some of the most promising Nigerian entrepreneurs under the age of 40. These…
Source: Pixabay Most startups don’t start up with a good business slogan. Some others make effort but fall short of creating truly remarkable slogans or taglines for their fledgling businesses. If only these knew the enormous powers of a good business slogan! Thankfully, some entrepreneurs know the value of a good business slogan and spare nothing in order to create a befitting business or company slogan. These know that a good business name with a matching slogan, motto or tagline are an asset, a formidable branding strategy which can help keep their brands top of mind for consumers.…
The organizer of The Strategic Business Masterclass, a practical business development training program aimed at translating local business into global brands hereby announces the date for the next edition. The first edition was held in February 2017. The focus was on STRUCTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY. The facilitators addressed the following areas: Market research, Branding, Customer experience, Funding, ICT, Business model, Accounting, Law, Sales, Talent management and Business structure. The second edition will feature insightful speakers such as; Williams Bankole (Founder, LiveYourDreamsAfrica), Victor Bassey (Founder, Highly paid Expert Network), Theophilus cornerstone (Director of Training, Strategy, and Communications, IMLPD), Shola Ajani (Founder, human…
Entrepreneurship is like many other things – you tend to get better at it over time. It’s true of the saying, practice does make perfect. By identifying and emulating the qualities of other successful entrepreneurs who have more experience than you, you improve yourself. Since these qualities are not peculiar to them alone, their transferability makes becoming a better entrepreneur much easier for you. I recently came in contact with 10 of such winning qualities of successful entrepreneurs compiled by Williams D. Bygrave, Professor Emeritus at Babson College and founder of Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). In his book, The Portable…
What’s your entrepreneurial vision? All great companies were first conceived as an idea in the mind of the founder. This founding idea must metamorphose into an entrepreneurial vision and brought to life if the startup is to succeed. As an entrepreneur, having an entrepreneurial vision is a starting point; you are never too busy to look into the future. If you do not deliberately create the time to look into the future by creating an entrepreneurial vision for your startup, there’s no way you will survive long. Why? Because entrepreneurial vision defines your business and the foundation on which your…
The unending news of one tech startup or the other getting massive VC funding in the media is fast becoming the norm rather than the exception. Not only is this very distracting to budding entrepreneurs, it’s gradually killing the age long startup strategy of bootstrapping to success. Bootstrapping is a process whereby an entrepreneur starts a self-sustaining business, markets it, and grows the business by using limited resources or money – this is accomplished without the use of venture capital firms or even significant angel investment. Many of the successful companies that we see today – Dell Computers, FaceBook, Apple,…