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 to the public, investors, government, researchers, policymakers, and future generations.
These are not just success stories.
They are real stories—raw, inspiring, and deeply reflective of what it truly means to build a business in Nigeria.
Meet Funmilola Adedeji-Bajulaiye, ACR Global Consulting
In the ever-evolving landscape of Nigerian entrepreneurship, some stories stand out not just for their success, but for their depth of conviction, resilience, and vision. Funmilola Adedeji-Bajulaiye’s journey is one such story—a powerful blend of purpose, faith, and bold ambition.
Raised in a household where entrepreneurship was not just practiced but embodied daily, Funmilola’s early years were shaped by exposure to high-level business thinking and execution. With a father who worked as an industrial consultant and a mother deeply involved in oil and gas contracting and other thriving ventures, she grew up surrounded by conversations about value creation, systems, and economic impact. This environment didn’t just influence her—it defined her lens on work, money, and possibility.
Yet, her path was not a passive inheritance. A pivotal conversation with her father during her formative years shifted her trajectory in a profound way. Understanding that “accountants do not own the money they count,” she made a deliberate decision early on to become a creator of value rather than a custodian of it. By secondary school, she had already developed a clear sense of direction—choosing entrepreneurship, with a specific focus on consulting, as her life’s work.
What makes Funmilola’s story even more compelling is the spiritual foundation that underpins her journey. She describes herself as “the daughter of the Holy Spirit,” crediting her creativity, resilience, and vision to divine inspiration. This deep-rooted faith would later become a stabilizing force through some of the most challenging seasons of her entrepreneurial journey—moments marked by financial strain, personal struggles, and the pressure to conform to safer, more traditional career paths.
From starting out with nothing more than a desk chair in her father’s office to building ACR Global Consulting into a cross-continental enterprise operating across Africa, Europe, and the United States, her journey reflects not just growth, but intentional evolution. In the early days, she gave away significant value for free, driven by a desire to uplift the labour market, while simultaneously learning hard lessons about sustainability, systems, and structure. Over time, she transformed these lessons into strengths—moving from manual operations to a business that is now significantly automated and strategically positioned.
Her early traction with notable clients like RT Briscoe, Mama Cass, and the Lagos State Football Association validated her unconventional approach and gave her the confidence to push forward, even when resources were limited and doubts were loud. Through referrals, persistence, and a relentless belief in her vision, she began to carve out a niche—one that would eventually evolve into a bold mission: helping African businesses scale globally through franchising.
Today, Funmilola is not just building a company; she is building an ecosystem. With a strong focus on franchise development, capacity building, and global expansion, her work is centered on enabling African founders to create scalable, investment-ready businesses that can compete on the world stage. Her ambition goes beyond individual success—she envisions a future where African-owned franchises populate global markets and where Nigerian entrepreneurs confidently wear the “Made in Nigeria” identity as a badge of excellence.
Her story is not just about starting and growing a business—it is about vision sustained through adversity, faith translated into action, and a lifelong commitment to shaping the economic narrative of a continent.
SECTION A — THE FOUNDER’S ORIGIN STORY
Every giant once stood on wobbly legs.
What is your full name and what do you prefer to be called ?
Ms. Funmilola Adedeji- Bajulaiye
Where did you grow up: (Town, State, and a brief description of your childhood environment) ?
Ikeja, Lagos.
What did your parents or guardians do for a living, and how did that shape your view of work and money ?
Both my parents were enterpreneurs. My Dad was an industrial Consultant and my Mum was a contractor for oil and gas and other thriving businesses.
Before entrepreneurship, what did the younger version of you dream of becoming ?
All I saw before me were very successful entrepreneurs. However, after a lengthy conversation with my dad; about how accountants do not own the money they count; I opted to become a consultant
Describe the moment you realized you wanted to run your own business. Was it a gradual awakening or a lightning bolt moment ?
I knew I was going to an Entrepreneur with focus on consulting in secondary school, after having this career talk with my Dad.
Who is the one person (alive or dead, known personally or not) that you would credit as an inspiration for your entrepreneurial journey ?
I refer to myself as the daughter of the Holy Spirit. He is the singular inspiration for my creativity. He also blessed my earthly parents with the entrepreneurship drive which I also learnt from
SECTION B: THE BUSINESS BIRTH
“From idea to first sale.”
What is your official business name and registration number (if registered) ?
ACR Global Consulting
In one sentence, what does your business do ?
Large organizations in Africa have exhausted their steam to scale because of fund raising, inefficient systems and the infrastructure battle. We are the rescue team that turns your current business success into a Franchise system and work with you to scale globally through our network of Franchise focused investors.
What year did you start, and how old were you at the time ?
2012
What were you doing for money in the 12 months before you started this business ?
I was restructuring my Dad’s company in the capacity of Executive Director
How much did you start with ? (₦)
Personal Savings and seed capital from client transactions.
Where did the money come from: (Be specific: personal savings, cooperative, friends, bank loan, etc.) ?
Personal Savings and seed capital from client transactions.
SECTION C: THE STRUGGLE CHRONICLES
“What didn’t kill the business…”
How many times did you hear “no” before you got to “yes” ?
Several times but most Nos were turned to Yes
Where did you operate from on Day 1: (Your bedroom, a shop, under a tree, online only:) ?
A Desk Chair in one the rooms in my Dad’s office.
Tell us about your very first customer. Who were they, how did they find you, and how did you feel when they paid you ?
My first major customer was RT Briscoe, then Mama Cass, followed by Lagos State Football Association. These clients encouraged my Novel approach to doing businesses. When I got paid I felt like I received capacity and there was more I could do for our economy.
What was your biggest mistake in the first year, and what did it teach you ?
In the first year of business I was giving away a lot of time and services free because I wanted to help lift up the Labour Market. We also handled all our processes manually at the time. I learnt very quickly to have a sustainable plan attract capital and build a seperate CSR system. Also I keep on reworking the system to find effective and smarter ways of achieving our goals. Now we are at 70% automation with less staff.
If your business were a child, describe its difficult birth or toddler years ?
I have a very macro economic and futuristic mind. So when starting up the business some people thought my goals where too ambitious (apart from my dad). When the finances where not picking up due to distractions in my personal life, the Nay sayers came advising me to quit and start a job. I remember in the early stages of business , I couldnt pay salaries because. The journey so far involved a lot of learning, vulnerability and partnerships.
Describe a moment when you almost quit. What pushed you to the edge, and what pulled you back ?
I almost quit 2 major times, because I wasn’t getting enought to cover my cost and banks were not giving loans or overdrafts. However my business was a vision given to me by God. I remember the last time I tried to quit, some clients just called me out of the blues and mentioned that they were referred to me by some individuals that I didnt know. My business grew through a strong referral network.
What was your lowest financial point: (e.g., couldn’t pay rent, staff salaries, almost bankrupt) ?
The lowest point was not being able to pay corporate and domestic staff salary and even personal needs.
Have you ever been betrayed in business: By a partner, employee, or customer: How did you handle it ?
Hmmm..
What sacrifices have you made personally for this business: (Time with family, health, relationships, sleep, etc.) ?
Well, when I meet the new member of my Advisory Board, Mr. Adedotun Sulaiman, I told him that while other ladies were using their money to buy makeup, travel and bags, I was investing mine in building our economy and trying to raise a family. It was a lot of sacrifice and learning but it paid off..
SECTION D: THE BREAKTHROUGH MOMENTS
“The tide turns.”
How has entrepreneurship affected your mental and emotional health: What do you do to stay grounded ?
I am the daughter of the Holyspirit. My anchor is in the Lord Jesus and in His word. I spend a lot of time studying His word and understanding, God’s oerspective to life. I also come from a very supportive biological family, who provided financial anchors in my personal life whenever they could. Finally I love to have fun and explore beauty while working. I went through challenges, in my past marriage and health wise, but the Lord brought me through all.
What criticism or doubt did you face from friends or family when you started, and do they still doubt you ?
Criticisms came from the most unexpected places and I got over when I began to hear the stories from other successful founders. I had partners who though I should use their brand name instead of mine, others who though I was taking a role in society that was too big for me and I was better off getting a job. But I just kept going with the vision that I saw…
Have you ever had to lay someone off: How did that feel, and how did you handle it ?
Yes. I always invest training in my team, so when I lay any of, I am confident that with the gift of my training they will excell in other fields in life
What was the single biggest opportunity that changed your business trajectory ?
This is a though provoking question but I am grateful for all my cliebts and business opportunities. I celebrated every business transaction as we grew as an organization.
Describe your “first million” moment (first ₦1 million in revenue or profit). How long did it take, and how did you celebrate ?
It took 2 years and it was a moment I rellished!
Who believed in you when it mattered most, and what did they do?
The current Director at ACR Global gave me a final push that brought all the pieces together. This is a story for another day.
What is the one decision you made that turned out to be brilliantly right, even if it seemed risky at the time ?
We decided to break up our services as an organization into subsidiaries and focus heavily on building the African Franchise Ecosystem over the last 4 years. It was a risky decision which is beginning to pay off.
Tell us about a mentor, advisor, or supporter who made a difference. What specific advice changed your approach ?
The 5 human mentors that spurred me on with vested support are Dr. Ayo Adegboye, Group CEO Arravo Technologies, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Former Presidential Aspirant, Evelyn Okputu, Former MD of Bank of Industry, Kebour Ghenna, E D Pan African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PACCI) through his office, and Adedotun Sulaimon
When did you first realize, “I might actually pull this off” ?
After CEO Drawing Board 6.0 in 2024 when people from 100 countries participated in our conversations…
SECTION E: THE BUSINESS TODAY
“Where things stand.”
Current team size: How many full-time and part-time employees do you have ?
We have a growing team that work out of 3 continents ( Africa, Europe and USA)
Current locations: Where do you operate now compared to where you started ?
We have a growing team that work out of 3 continents ( Africa, Europe and USA)
Annual revenue range (optional but helpful) ?
₦25M – ₦100M
What is your most popular product or service, and why do customers love it ?
Franchise Development/ Expansion and Staff Training through our Franchise School. This two solutions allow our client businesses to Scale and penetrate new markets with greater stability.
SECTION F: LESSONS FROM THE TRENCHES
“If I knew then what I know now.”
Who is your ideal customer, and how do you reach them ?
Founders and Founders with a Global mindset who are interested in scaling through business assets. We work with these groups through our partnerships in Africa, Carribean and the Middle East. It a strong referral network through Financial and Entrepreurship groups.
What sets you apart from competitors: (Be honest—what do you do better than anyone else:) ?
It is the Holy Spirit Advantage
What is the biggest operational challenge you face right now ?
In Nigeria, we love the show and the glamour
How has your role as founder changed from when you started to now ?
When I started our I was very operational but now I have a very supportive and efficient so I can take up my role in Strategy, Capacity Building and Content Curation with greater focus.
What do you know now about running a business in Nigeria that you wish you knew on Day 1 ?
Branding, Relationship Management, Content Curation, Future Framing, Sales and Negotiation
SECTION G: IMPACT & LEGACY
“Beyond the balance sheet.”
What is the biggest myth about entrepreneurship that you want to debunk ?
Planning, listing and Delegation
What specific skill has proven most valuable to your success ?
Branding, Relationship Management, Content Curation, Future Framing, Sales and Negotiation
What system, tool, or habit has made the biggest difference to your productivity ?
Planning, listing and Delegation
How do you handle the “government factor” (taxes, regulations, permits) in Nigeria ?
I have a very good Tax Consultant. We do what they say.
Beyond making money, what problem does your business solve for your community or Nigeria ?
Our business improves Trade Export through brands and encourages FDI into our economy.
What does “Made In Nigeria” mean to you personally ?
We must believe in our heritage and amplify our successes. Our story as Nigerians forms the basis of our greatness. We must believe in our genius and wear Made-In-Nigeria proudly!
SECTION H: THE FUTURE
“What’s next:”
What kind of legacy you want to leave through this business ?
An Africa that understands its strengths and redefines its successes, which our children proudly saying ” I am an African born in Naija”
Where do you see your business in 5 years ?
If the Lord tarries, we plan to put our clients on the list of Fortune 500 companies and build a global economic network that provides leverage for African Founders .
What is the biggest goal you haven’t achieved yet ?
Developing 100 African Owned Franchises. We are on the journey..
If you had access to unlimited capital tomorrow, what’s the first thing you would do ?
We plan set up Capacity Building centres for Founders and Teams who have chosen the route of Franchising.
What markets outside Nigeria are you eyeing for expansion ?
We are firm positioned to work accross Africa, Carribean Islands, Middle East and now Europe
SECTION I: PERSONAL & REFLECTIVE
“The human behind the brand.”
What new product or service are you excited about developing ?
It is a secret
What kind of support do you need most right now to reach the next level ?
Media reach to get the right founders to connect with us and start on the journey of Franchising. We also welcome funding partners into this ecosystem.
What do you do when you’re not working ?
I loving watching movies, visiting beautiful locations and have innovative conversations.
What book, podcast, or movie has influenced your business thinking most ?
I loved watching Oprah, Dragons Den and the Apprentice as a younger lady.
What’s your favorite Nigerian food, and where do you get the best version of it ?
Amala and Ewedu and Dodo with gizzard.
SECTION J: VISUAL STORYTELLING
“Show, don’t just tell.”
Complete this sentence: “Most people don’t know that I…”
am very spirtual yet love to have fun
If you weren’t running this business, what would you be doing:
Pastoring a Church
Conclusion: Building a Legacy of Faith, Systems, and Global Impact
Funmilola Adedeji-Bajulaiye’s story is a compelling reminder that entrepreneurship is not just about profit—it is about purpose, persistence, and perspective. From navigating financial uncertainty and societal doubt to building a multi-continental consulting firm, her journey reflects the true essence of resilience.
What sets her apart is not just her strategic mind or global ambition, but her unwavering belief in a higher calling and her commitment to transforming African businesses into globally scalable enterprises. Through ACR Global Consulting, she is not only helping companies grow—she is shaping an ecosystem, empowering founders, and contributing to a stronger, more confident African economy.
As the MINE 1000 movement continues to document the real stories behind Nigeria’s entrepreneurs, Funmilola’s journey stands as both inspiration and blueprint—a powerful testament that with vision, faith, and consistency, Nigerian businesses can indeed take their place on the global stage.
