Lagos Business School (LBS) has recognized the contributions of Gbenga Adigun for his role in supporting emerging business leaders at the 2025 Alumni Mentoring Programme. The recognition follows his involvement in guiding mentees through business challenges, with a focus on practical learning, access to funding, and leadership development.
Adigun's Motivation for Joining the Programme
Speaking on his decision to join the programme, Adigun said his goal was to share lessons gathered over time and help bridge the gap between academic learning and real business conditions. “I joined the LBS mentoring initiative because I wanted to provide the ‘operating manual’ I wish I had almost 2 decades ago. The classroom teaches strategy, but the ‘street’ teaches reality, and I wanted to bridge that gap for the next generation,” he said.
Mentoring Approach
He explained that his mentoring approach was centred on helping participants think through problems rather than offering direct answers. “It wasn’t about giving them answers but teaching them to ask the right questions,” he said. According to him, the programme emphasized key ideas that shape business leadership in Nigeria. He pointed to resilience, describing leadership as managing friction and staying standing when policies shift. He also highlighted the power of trust, noting that even in tech, human connection is our most important currency. He added that a focus on inclusion remains necessary, as growth involves building solutions that reach the underserved in every corner of the country.
Key Mentoring Success Story
A key moment in the mentoring process came when one of his mentees moved from planning to execution. The mentee had developed a strategy to introduce new product lines but faced funding limits. He said the outcome showed the value of combining mentorship with financial support. “Seeing that capital translate into consistent sales and now receiving steady returns on that investment is the ultimate validation. It proved that the mentorship wasn’t just about sharing almost 2 decades of experience; it was about providing the tangible ‘fuel’ needed to scale,” he said.
Impact on the Mentee
Reflecting on the result, he added: “Realizing I had helped a founder cross the bridge from ‘potential’ to ‘profitable’ was when I knew the impact was real.” Adigun also said the experience influenced his own thinking, as it required him to review his methods and adapt to current conditions. “It’s easy to get caught up in boardrooms and scaling targets, but seeing the ambition and grit of a mentee reminds you why you started,” he said, adding that it moved his focus from just hitting numbers to building people.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, he said he hopes his mentee will maintain a balance between financial results and social impact. He added that mentorship remains part of leadership responsibility.
