CWG gathers executives to push bold tech leadership in Africa

CWG Plc convened nearly 200 senior business leaders and public sector executives at its closed-door Texcellence Leadership Prelude in Lagos, calling for bold, risk-informed leadership to navigate Africa’s rapidly evolving technology landscape.

The event, themed “Betting on the Future: Making Bold Decisions in a Tech-Driven World,” featured a keynote by decision science expert and former poker professional Caspar Berry, who likened executive decision-making to high-stakes gaming, where certainty is elusive, and courage is key.

“In business, as in poker, the goal isn’t to eliminate uncertainty, but to operate within it,” Berry said. “Impactful decisions rarely come with perfect information.”

Panellists included Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general of the National Identity Management Commission; Abubakar Suleiman, CEO of Sterling Bank; and Adewale Adeyipo, group CEO of CWG Plc. Others were Yomi Jemibewon, managing partner at CardinalStone Capital, and Julius Oni, founder of Ortho Nigeria International.

Discussions centred on how African leaders can make forward-looking decisions amid market volatility, and how organisational cultures can better support strategic risk-taking.

“Waiting for 100% certainty is a sure way to miss what the future holds,” Adeyipo said. “The best leaders observe the market, anticipate shifts, and build anyway.”

The Prelude also drew executives from Nigeria’s top financial and tech institutions, including the CEOs of Parallex Bank, Globus Bank, Galaxy Backbone, and the Nigerian Exchange, alongside senior leaders from Dell, Parthian Capital, and Waveline Growth.

CWG’s Texcellence initiative, now in its fourth year, has become a platform for catalysing dialogue at the intersection of technology, leadership, and African competitiveness.

The main Texcellence Conference returns October 14, with the theme “Future-Forward Africa: Leveraging Technology for Global Competitiveness.” The 2025 edition is expected to host investors, policymakers, regulators, and founders across the continent.

“What we witnessed at the Prelude was a room full of decision-makers reflecting not just on what they’ve built, but on what lies ahead,” said Afolabi Sobande, Group COO, CWG Plc. “It’s that forward-looking spirit that defines Texcellence, and indeed CWG’s vision for Africa.”