By Kayode Ajiboye

Copyright independent

ABUJA – Nigeria Idris Usman, GCEO of FOAN Group, has launched a scathing critique of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial culture, calling it “a mirage sustained by photo-ops and political endorsements rather than genuine innovation.”

In a statement issued this week, Usman argued that the country’s business environment has drifted away from the global definition of entrepreneurship, which centers on solving problems, developing products, and delivering services that benefit consumers at scale.

“Entrepreneurship around the world is market-driven,” Usman said. “It is about creating, innovating, and serving. But in Nigeria, the word has been hijacked. Legitimacy is too often measured by who an entrepreneur poses with rather than what they build.”

Usman pointed to what he described as a culture of influence-chasing, where many Nigerian business figures present themselves beside former presidents, governors, or other political elites. According to him, such displays have become the yardstick of credibility, sidelining the real work of innovation, product development, and consumer service.

“This is not entrepreneurship it is a performance,” he said. “And in many cases, it is nothing more than a vehicle for money laundering. The energy that should be spent creating value is spent curating access.”

A contrast with global markets

Usman contrasted the Nigerian model with international examples, noting that in regions such as the United States, Dubai, and Asia, entrepreneurs rarely rely on political proximity as proof of success. Instead, he said, they are consumed with scaling businesses, refining services, and earning market trust.

“Real estate leaders in Dubai do not measure their achievements by photographs with rulers,” he said. “They measure it by the communities they build, the quality they deliver, and the innovations they introduce. Nigeria has inverted this logic, and it has left our market shallow.”

Consequences for development

According to Usman, the distortion carries heavy consequences for national development. He warned that when entrepreneurship is reduced to political visibility, the masses remain underserved, jobs are not created, and innovation stalls.

“When credibility is determined by endorsements rather than execution, entire sectors stagnate,” he said. “Nigeria deceives itself by mistaking access for achievement, visibility for value.”

Usman added that the country risks alienating its global reputation as a hub of resilience and talent if the culture of “influence over innovation” persists.

The FOAN Group executive called for a redefinition of entrepreneurship in Nigeria, one that returns to fundamentals. He argued that entrepreneurs should be judged by their products, their services, and the measurable impact they create in society.

“An entrepreneur does not have time for political photo-ops,” Usman said. “The market itself is endorsement enough. Success should be measured by what we build, the jobs we create, and the innovations we deliver. Until Nigeria realigns with this truth, we will remain trapped in self-deception.”

Under Usman’s leadership, FOAN Group has positioned itself as a champion of innovation-driven enterprises across Africa. The conglomerate has pushed for businesses that prioritize consumer value and long-term sustainability rather than visibility or political endorsement.

For Usman, the issue goes beyond semantics. It is about reshaping the country’s economic foundation.

“If we do not change the narrative, we cannot build the kind of ecosystem that drives lasting growth,” he said. “Entrepreneurship is about work, sacrifice, and service to the people not staged photographs and borrowed legitimacy.”