Theme: Positioning for Growth in 2026

Lagos, Nigeria — As part of its 2025 executive engagement programme, The Connectors Code convened a closed-door Lagos Executive Roundtable in December, bringing together a distinguished circle of senior executives, policymakers, investors, and institutional leaders for a high-level exchange on Nigeria’s fiscal direction, capital strategy, artificial intelligence readiness, and the leadership mindset required for growth in 2026 and beyond.

Held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, the invitation-only convening formed part of The Connectors Code’s broader mission to build trusted leadership infrastructure across key markets. Designed specifically for CEOs, founders, and senior decision-makers operating at the intersection of policy, capital, and enterprise execution, the roundtable provided a rare environment for thoughtful, unfiltered dialogue grounded in discretion, accountability, and long-term perspective.

Set against a backdrop of fiscal reform, capital constraints, and accelerating technological adoption, the Lagos convening was defined not by noise, but by clarity, credibility, and consequence.

A Room Where Decisions Begin

From the opening session, it was evident this was not a traditional executive event. The roundtable was intentionally structured as a working forum, prioritising peer-level exchange over performance and insight over posturing.

Discussions were candid, deliberate, and future-focused, exploring themes including:

● Fiscal and tax policy interpretation and institutional readiness

● Capital strategy, optimisation, and sustainable capital flows

● Strategic growth positioning in a volatile global economy

● Digital infrastructure maturity and enterprise scalability

● Leadership decision-making under regulatory and market pressure

● Responsible and strategic integration of artificial intelligence within institutions

Throughout the session, dialogue remained focused on how organisations move from awareness to readiness, and from strategy to disciplined execution, viewed through the lens of modern leadership in an increasingly complex operating environment.

A Carefully Curated Leadership Table

What truly distinguished the Lagos Executive Roundtable was the calibre of leadership in the room — individuals who do not simply discuss strategy, but actively deploy it.

Participants included senior representatives and leaders from:

● Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)

● Access Bank

● Zenith Bank

● Shell

● KPMG

● EY

● Danone

● Novac Payment Solutions

● BRB Capital

● And other leading financial, advisory, and enterprise institutions

Notable contributors included Adenike Adegoke (MD/CEO, Novac Payment Solutions), Ladi Asuni (Partner & Head, Tech Platforms, KPMG West Africa), Abiodun Olubitan (Group Head, SME Banking, Access Bank), Olufemi Olarinde (Head, Fiscal and Tax Reforms Division, FIRS), Wale Hassan (CEO, BudPay), Viyon Owolobani Odimmo (Shell Energy), Dr. Azuka Raphael Njokanma (CEO, Ridgecrest Medical Group), and Adesope Okoh (Partner, Tax, EY West Africa).

The diversity and seniority of participation enabled a level of candour and depth rarely achieved in public forums, ensuring discussions reflected lived institutional realities rather than abstract theory.

Leadership Infrastructure by Design

Speaking on the December convening, Nkem Igwe, Founder of The Connectors Code, said:

“The Lagos roundtable was designed to give senior leaders the space to engage with issues at the level of responsibility they carry. When dialogue is grounded in trust, discretion, and intellectual rigour, it enables sharper thinking and more meaningful insight.”

Participant reflections echoed this sentiment:

“The future of fintech isn’t just about technology. It is about people, potential, and progress.”
— Adenike Adegoke, MD/CEO, Novac Payment Solutions

“It is a privilege to share a platform with other distinguished industry leaders and contribute to conversations that drive real economic impact.”
— Adesope Okoh, Partner, EY West Africa.

“For the professionals in the field, we were advised to perform an impact assessment on your company and engage, ask questions, and seek clarification. We need a lot more of meetings like this” (Group Head of Investor Relations at Zenith Bank

“The event was engaging and inspiring, we spoke about tax, AI, leadership and many important topics. I gained a lot from the event.”
–Abiodun Olubitan (Group Head, SME Banking, Access Bank),

“The relaxed mode of the event was refreshing, the atmosphere to sit down and discuss set it apart” – Olufemi Olarinde (Head, Fiscal and Tax Reforms Division, FIRS).

With Thanks to Our Supporting Partners

The success of the Lagos Executive Roundtable was made possible by the confidence and support of organisations committed to leadership, excellence, and long-term impact, including:

Access Bank • Novac Payment Solutions. EY • KPMG • BRB Capital • Danone • RiGO • Kayode Sofola & Associates •

Their partnership reflects a shared belief that the future is shaped in rooms where strategy meets execution and collaboration drives progress.

Extending the Dialogue

The Lagos Executive Roundtable also marked the launch of The Connectors Code Magazine, a premium publication created to capture and extend executive insight, leadership perspective, and strategic dialogue emerging from the platform’s convenings.

The magazine forms part of The Connectors Code’s wider ambition to document serious leadership thinking across sectors and markets, while preserving the integrity and discretion of the conversations themselves.

Looking Ahead

The Lagos Roundtable was not an end, but a signal. With strong appetite for continuity, The Connectors Code will convene further Executive Roundtables and magazine editions in 2026, continuing to bring together senior leaders across Nigeria and the wider diaspora around issues shaping institutional resilience, capital strategy, and long-term economic growth.

Participation will remain selective, reflecting the platform’s commitment to depth, trust, and meaningful engagement.

About The Connectors Code

The Connectors Code is a leadership and convening platform dedicated to creating high-trust environments where senior leaders, institutions, and partners connect to shape strategy, influence outcomes, and drive sustainable growth.

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