Professor Nkemdilim Ezenwa Iheanachor, Professor of Strategic Management at Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos Business School, delivered the University’s 22nd Inaugural Lecture titled “From Firms to Ecosystems: Rethinking Strategy and Value Creation in Africa’s Digital Economies.”
The Vice-Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, Professor Enase Okonedo, formally introduced Professor Iheanachor at the well-attended event held at the Honeywell Auditorium, Lagos Business School.
In his lecture, Professor Iheanachor delivered powerful insights on the future of African businesses in the digital era. He stated, “It is high time for African firms to build strategies around institutional voids and leverage on these strategies they have built to compete and survive.”
He further emphasised that ownership alone no longer guarantees success, declaring, “Your real competitive advantage is no longer what you own. It’s who you can connect, coordinate, and enable at scale.”
Professor Iheanachor explained that what matters most today is the strength and evolution of the ecosystems firms create. He outlined three core strategies that firms in Africa’s digital economy must embrace: the death of the solo firm, ecosystem orchestration, and the paradox of constraint.
He reiterated, “It’s now time for African firms to build strategies around institutional voids and leverage on these strategies they have built to compete and survive.”
The Vice-Chancellor later gave the vote of thanks, appreciating Professor Iheanachor for his profound and timely contribution to strategic management discourse in Africa.