LAGOS — While many focus on the macroeconomic hurdles of 2026, Ajilore Obafemi Samuel, founder of DGW and the logistics startup Errand Boy, is championing a narrative of aggressive optimism. Samuel argues that Nigeria’s large population and expanding urban centers remain “goldmines” for entrepreneurs, provided the government can bridge the gap between opportunity and infrastructure.
Samuel’s perspective is rooted in personal sacrifice; he famously sold his car while living in Dubai to raise the seed capital for DGW—a move he views as a strategic bet on the Nigerian market’s long-term viability.
The “Predictability” Gap
According to Samuel, the missing ingredient in Nigeria’s current economic recipe isn’t a lack of talent or market size, but a lack of policy consistency. He emphasizes that for the “massive growth” he envisions to materialize, the government must prioritize:
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Stable Policies: Ensuring that regulations don’t shift mid-venture, allowing for long-term planning.
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Institutional Support: Moving beyond “survivalist” entrepreneurship toward systems that help local businesses scale into continental players.
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Infrastructure Reliability: Reducing the overhead costs that currently stifle the logistics and automotive sectors.
Logistics & Mobility: The Next Big Play
As the founder of Errand Boy, Samuel identifies Logistics and Mobility as the critical backbones of the 2026 economy. With the rise of e-commerce and regional trade (AfCFTA), the ability to move goods efficiently across Nigeria’s urban hubs has become a high-demand service.
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The Opportunity: Leveraging Nigeria’s growing consumer base to build “systems that outlive their founders.”
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The Strategy: Diversifying from core automotive services into broader, technology-driven logistics solutions.
“The opportunity is already here,” Samuel noted. “It just needs the right structure to thrive. When the environment is predictable, investors will come and jobs will be created.”
Entrepreneurial Profile: Ajilore Obafemi Samuel
| Category | Detail |
| Education | Business Administration, Gateway Polytechnic, Igbesa |
| Key Ventures | DGW (Automotive Services), Errand Boy (Logistics) |
| Core Philosophy | Entrepreneurship as a system-building tool for national prosperity. |
| Call to Action | Shift toward an investment-led model supported by stable governance. |
Mapping the 2026 Vision
Samuel’s call for a more enabling environment aligns with the earlier reports in this dossier—specifically the Nile Business School’s focus on African case studies and the CBN’s push for a more inclusive National Payment Stack. Together, these elements suggest a shift toward an “indigenous growth” model.
