News
Lead Without Title (2)
Late ‘Generals’ and ‘Generals’ that lost stars:
Some big organizations that used to be ‘commander-in-chief’’ of their respective industry segment are no more today because they chose to lead with titles. One of such is Polaroid. Polaroid used to be a four –star General and Commander-in-Chief of photography business. But when digital technology for photography came out, ‘General Polaroid’, ( as king of photography with several past laurels as number 1 in this and that) felt it was a fluke, so it failed to embrace it and stayed with its traditional instant image photography technology. Of course, General Polaroid died in the 1990s and was buried in 2001. Similarly, Xerox lost to Sharp photocopier machine when it abandoned the lower-end of the market for high-end market segment. In a jiffy, sharp pulled the rug off the feet of General Xerox. Happily enough, General Xerox has learnt its lessons. General Daewoo, on the other hand, did not have a second chance- it collapsed and died instantly.
Some four-star Generals lost one or two stars to competition. Sonny of Japan used to be a four-star General in electronics and gaming. But it lost to Samsung and Ninentedos. Microsoft lost to Goggle in World Wide Web search engine technology by embracing it two years late. Dell computers eroded IBM market in personal computers in the 1990s because General IBM led with its title as the first and biggest personal computers maker in the world. Sonny, IBM and Microsoft lost grounds to competition in critical segment of the markets because they reasoned and executed as ‘’titled chiefs’’ or Generals, at a time they should not have led with title.
Meanwhile, we have some companies which have imbibed the culture of leading without title like: Nokia, Easy jet, Google, Linux, Red Bull, and Apple among others. These companies remain restless insurgents in words and actions without relying on titles.
In the paragraphs that follow we shall itemize five building blocks which organizations need to put in place to win in the market place without parading their titles:
Building block 1: Groom the ‘Joshuas’’ well ahead of time: not a few corporate analysts were surprised recently when the CEOs of Merrill and Citigroup were laid off and it was embarrassingly discovered that there were no successors on the wings to take over immediately. This is a mistake which most organizations keep making repeatedly. According to research carried out by James Collins and Jerry Porras: ‘of the 18 successful companies studied, only four times – in a combined years of 1700 years! – did one of them go outside the firm for a CEO’. It is only when companies consciously identify and groom the future leaders ahead of time will they escape the temptation of always wanting to lead with title.
Building block 2: Model Insurgent Leadership: to win in the present dog-eat- dog market place of the 21st century, organization needs to focus on delivering the win, the whole win and nothing but the win by erecting an idiot-proof strategy that delivers the win. Globalization cannot be shut out, it can only be beaten says Tony Blair. Many CEOs in Europe and America and Nigeria are having sleepless nights because of the Chinese insurgence marketing strategy. Companies that will be around for the next two decades are the ones which model the insurgent leadership and create a more results-focused aggressive spirit among its employees.
Building block 3: Choose your destiny by defining the future. Winning companies are the ones who can see the road ahead, successfully articulate it and come up with products that customers will require at the right price and quality before competition.
Building block 4: Remain Paranoid. Companies that get scared and remain scared play to win and don’t play to lose, and ride ahead of today’s waves of change will always be two steps ahead of competition.
Building block 5: Culture is king. Cult-like companies bow down to their ideologies and bounce back faster when they are faced with challenges in the macro economic milieu; unlike companies without strong in-built culture. One of the most sustainable competitive advantages for CEOs is the development of what I call ‘’ownership culture’ as opposed to ‘we’ vs. ‘they’ culture that obtains in most companies today between the management and board on one hand, and the employees on the other hand.
In conclusion, what leading without title teaches the CEOs and employees is that they must beware of success. As Robin Sharman succinctly put it: ‘The more successful you and your organization become, the more humble and devoted to your customers you need to be.’
Akano, CEO of New Horizons, is an IT specialist and one of the World’s top coaches in sixth sense corporate strategy
Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has warned local investors and foreign businesses about the activities of fraudsters falsely claiming to represent the company.
The state-owned company said the impostors are reportedly soliciting illegal fees under the guise of arranging meetings with the new NNPC board members, executives, and management.
The disclaimer comes following the change of the NNPCL board.
On April 2, 2025, President Bola Tinubu appointed a new 11-member board with Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) and Ahmadu Musa Kidano as executive chairman.
In a statement signed on Monday by Olufemi Soneye, chief corporate communications officer, NNPC, t said the practice of soliciting fees is completely unauthorised and unlawful.
NNPCL said, “The general public is advised to beware of individuals and companies falsely claiming to represent NNPC Limited.
” Their tactics include soliciting fees for meetings with the NNPC board of directors, executives, and management staff. These actions are unauthorised and illegal.
“Foreign investors and international business entities are especially urged to remain cautious. If approached, report the incident to the appropriate authorities immediately.”
The company clarified that engagements with its boards or executives must follow official channels in line with company policy.
The oil giant said, “All legitimate engagements with NNPC Limited occur strictly through official channels or business units only.
“For further enquiries, please contact us at contactus@nnpcgroup.com.
“NNPC Limited remains committed to transparency, integrity, and the protection of our stakeholders in all interactions.”
The company called for public cooperation to prevent scammers from defrauding investors.
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMCIDE) has announced that plans to support the country’s farmers with its AgriConnect initiative have kicked off with a pilot scheme launched in Ogun State in southwestern Nigeria.
Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, minister, communications, Innovation and Digital Economy,
Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, minister, communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, last week launched the initiative at the Ogum State Cultural Centre Complex. AgriConnect is described as a transformative programme designed to digitally empower Nigerian farmers through real-time access to agronomic services, weather insights, financial tools and market intelligence.
The pilot scheme is being implemented in partnership with technology vendor Huawei Technologies and operator MTN Nigeria.
AgriConnect will initially benefit over 1,000 farmers, selected from the Ogun State Farmers Information Management System (OGFIMS), with over 160,000 registered farmers.
Each beneficiary will receive mobile-data-enabled smart devices, embedded with Huawei’s AI-powered tools and MTN-supported connectivity to enable smarter planting, better risk mitigation and streamlined communication with government data centres.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Tijani noted that AgriConnect highlighted the importance of food security. Referring to a target of cultivating 500,000 hectares of land, he pointed out that innovation would be an important part of the effort.
As the government builds out the framework from this pilot in Ogun State (a leader in cassava production), he said, it aims to scale the AgriConnect model across other states – “ensuring that every farmer, regardless of geography, has the opportunity to benefit from the digital economy”, as he put it.
The AgriConnect initiative reflects an FMCIDE commitment under the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to promote rural inclusion and leverage Nigeria’s comparative advantage in agriculture.
By fusing AI, connectivity, and human-centred design, the ministry says that AgriConnect stands as a scalable model for advancing food security, driving innovation, and improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers across the country.
Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) has extended its heartfelt congratulations to Steve Babaeko and the entire X3M Ideas team following their remarkable achievement of being ranked 31st on the Financial Times’ prestigious 2025 list of Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies.
This recognition by the Financial Times, in collaboration with global research firm Statista, highlights X3M Ideas’ outstanding performance and resilience in a highly competitive and challenging business landscape.
The agency’s ranking was determined based on its compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2020 and 2023, verified through independently certified financial data, underscoring the credibility and transparency of the accolade.
Founded by renowned advertising executive Steve Babaeko, X3M Ideas has consistently demonstrated innovation, operational excellence, and creative leadership. The agency’s bold campaigns and commitment to impactful storytelling have not only elevated its profile in Nigeria but have also established its presence across several African markets.
This milestone marks a significant moment for Nigeria’s creative sector, traditionally overshadowed by industries such as fintech and energy in continental rankings.
AAAN President, Lanre Adisa, in a statement, congratulated Babaeko and X3M Ideas on the remarkable recognition. He said: “Steve’s tenure as AAAN President was quite revolutionary. He raised the bar for our association and industry at large. His leadership brought bold ideas to life, executed with brilliance and a deep sense of purpose for the creative community.
“This global acknowledgment is a testament to his enduring impact, not just as a creative force but as a trailblazer on the African continent.”
The Financial Times’ 2025 list features 130 top-performing companies from across Africa, with Nigeria and South Africa accounting for a significant share, reflecting the economic strength and entrepreneurial spirit of the continent’s largest economies.
X3M Ideas’ recognition not only celebrates its own growth but also signals the rising influence of the creative economy in shaping Africa’s future.
This latest accolade adds to a string of recent achievements for X3M Ideas, including being named Independent Network of the Year at the 2025 Pitcher Awards, further cementing the agency’s status as a leader in African creativity and innovation.
AAAN commends Steve Babaeko and the entire X3M Ideas team for their outstanding contribution to the industry and for flying the flag of Nigerian creativity high on the global stage.
Beware!, Fraudsters Using our Name to Defraud Investors- NNPCL
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