By Emmanuel Babafemi
August 15, 2026
Former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has urged business leaders to develop the courage, judgement and adaptability required to make sound decisions in situations where no established model exists.
Osinbajo gave the charge while speaking at the 2026 Lagos Business School, LBS, MBA Students’ Conference held at the Honeywell Auditorium of the institution on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The conference, organised around the theme, “Leading Without a Blueprint: How to Build and Lead When There Are No Proven Models to Follow,” brought together MBA students, alumni, faculty members, business executives and other professionals to examine the realities of leadership in an uncertain business environment.
The event focused on how leaders and organisations can respond to economic uncertainty, technological disruption, organisational transformation and the demands of building new ventures when conventional strategies no longer provide adequate answers.
In his special guest address, Osinbajo challenged participants to see leadership as a responsibility that often requires action before complete certainty is achieved.
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His message centred on the need for leaders to think critically, challenge assumptions and make responsible decisions even when information is incomplete.
The former vice president’s intervention reinforced the central argument of the conference, that leadership is not defined only by the ability to apply proven strategies, but also by the capacity to create new solutions when existing frameworks fail to address emerging challenges.
The conference also featured a keynote address by Owen Omogiafo, OON, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Plc, who shared insights from her experience of leading a major Nigerian conglomerate through growth, transformation and complex business conditions.
Omogiafo emphasised the importance of strategic thinking, resilience and long term value creation.
Her address demonstrated how leaders can build effective systems, teams and organisations while navigating changing market conditions and uncertain outcomes.
A fireside conversation featuring Professor Pat Utomi, Founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership, and Ashwin Ravichandran, Africa Director of BMONI, further expanded the discussion.
The speakers examined the relationship between innovation, values and leadership, stressing the importance of remaining focused, responsive and ethically grounded when circumstances change rapidly.
The session also explored the need for leaders to learn continuously, engage diverse perspectives and balance innovation with sound judgement.
These qualities, participants heard, are essential for organisations operating in environments where social, economic and technological conditions are constantly shifting.
MBA students were also given an opportunity to contribute to the conference through a dedicated panel session.
The panel featured Tunde Majekodunmi, Seun Adewumi and Olamidun Akinde, and was moderated by Chinedu Udeze.
The student focused session highlighted the fact that leading without a blueprint is not a challenge reserved for chief executives and senior managers.
Emerging leaders also face the responsibility of navigating unfamiliar problems, making decisions with limited information and building careers and organisations in unpredictable circumstances.
The conference was convened with the support of Professor Olayinka David West, Dean of Lagos Business School.
It also received support from sponsors and partners, including BMONI, PUNUKA Attorneys and Solicitors, Zeta Brent Education and Itura.
Lagos Business School, the graduate business school of Pan Atlantic University, provides management education through academic programmes, executive programmes, seminars and customised executive training.
The institution says its programmes place emphasis on professional ethics, practical learning and service to the community.
The school is accredited by the Association of MBAs and was the first business school in West Africa to receive accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
The 2026 MBA Students’ Conference concluded with a renewed call for leaders to embrace uncertainty as an opportunity to learn, innovate and create new pathways rather than wait indefinitely for a perfect model to emerge.
