AMI LAUNCHES ENTERPRISE AND IMPACT BUSINESSES TO DRIVE ORGANISATIONAL GROWTH AND EMPOWER ENTREPRENEURS IN NIGERIA

The African Management Institute (AMI) has officially launched its presence in Nigeria with a 2-day event for its learning solutions under AMI Enterprise and AMI Impact, reinforcing its commitment to supporting the growth of entrepreneurs and organisations across the country. These launch events which were held on September 25th and 26th in Lagos, Nigeria, marked a pivotal moment in AMI’s mission to drive measurable business growth and build high-performing teams across Africa.

The launch of AMI Enterprise, themed “Winning Behaviours: The Blueprint for High-Performing Teams,” took place on Wednesday, September 25th, 2024. This event was followed by the launch of AMI Impact, under the theme “Bridging the Gap: Key Insights from a Decade of Empowering SMEs,” on Thursday, September 26th, 2024.

AMI Enterprise: Empowering Businesses through Practical Tools and Training

AMI Enterprise is AMI’s business arm focused on equipping entrepreneurs, managers, and organisations across Africa with hands-on training and practical business management tools designed to deliver measurable growth. Asha Mweru, MD of AMI Enterprise, addressed the need to understand the right mix of winning behaviours that lead to lasting change in an organisation, driving business outcomes during the launch event.

“The level of importance of these behaviours will vary across strategic stakeholders, creating misalignment within the organisation. Therefore, it is imperative to know your organization’s winning behaviours to enable you to gain insights to create effective strategies for learning, growth, and boosting overall business performance,” said Mweru.

“AMI Enterprise addresses this gap by equipping businesses with diagnostic tools needed to identify their specific winning behaviours, allowing them to create actionable strategies for success”.

Mweru further emphasised that these winning behaviours fall into four core categories:

• Manages Self: Fostering personal integrity, initiative, and continuous learning.
• Leads & Manages Others: Promoting fairness, demanding performance, and listening to understand.
• Gets Things Done: Strategic prioritisation, monitoring performance, and effective execution.
• Sets Direction: Providing a clear vision, solving problems, and identifying opportunities.

The launch featured a panel session moderated by Sheila Ojei, AMI’s Country Manager, which included Precious Imuwahen Ajoonu, Director-General of the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), and Ireayomide Oladunjoye, Managing Director of Endeavor Nigeria. The panel explored the topic “Driving Organisational Change from the top”, underscoring the critical role of continuous learning in fostering a culture of innovation, adaptability, and high performance.

Ajoonu stressed, “If you want to build a million-dollar company, your team will be the ones to get you there.” Both panellists agreed that learning and leadership development are key drivers of organisational growth, with AMI Enterprise offering the tools and training needed to build high-performing teams capable of navigating change and driving sustained business success.

AMI Impact: Empowering Entrepreneurs with Strategic Partnerships

On Thursday, September 26th, AMI launched AMI Impact, a business initiative focused on partnering with funders to empower entrepreneurs and small businesses across Africa. It is designed to drive systemic change by working with development partners, governments, and NGOs to deliver large-scale business training and development programs.

The theme of the AMI Impact launch, “Bridging the Gap: Key Insights from a Decade of Empowering SMEs,” reflected on AMI’s journey in supporting entrepreneurs over the past 10 years. AMI CEO/Co-Founder Rebecca Harrison noted, “AMI Impact is about scaling our reach and working with funders to ensure that entrepreneurs in Africa, especially those in underserved markets, have the resources, tools, and skills they need to grow and succeed.”

Sheila Ojei, AMI’s Country Manager, shared that AMI Impact has already partnered with prominent organisations, such as Ecobank, Bank of Industry, GIZ, MasterCard Foundation, and many more, to implement programs that directly address the needs of small businesses across the continent. AMI Impact leverages its experience from a decade of empowering African entrepreneurs and SMEs to create initiatives that drive business growth, create jobs, and foster economic development.

AMI’s 10-Year Impact Journey: Key Insights

Over the last decade, AMI has actively supported over 50,000 SMEs in 39 African countries, creating over 97,000 direct and indirect jobs. AMI’s work has demonstrated a 48-fold return on investment in SME revenue, with every $1 invested yielding $48 in revenue. Notably, women-led businesses and youth have outperformed their peers in job creation and revenue growth, a testament to AMI’s commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable business development.

The AMI Impact launch featured a panel discussion featuring Eke Hart, CEO of Harley Offshore Services Ltd, and Adeola Balogun, CEO of Limlim Food Production Company. The panellists shared personal stories of how AMI’s tools and training helped them overcome business challenges and achieve growth.

Hart, who has over 20 years of experience in the offshore industry, credited AMI with providing him with the practical tools needed to ensure his business’s success. Balogun, an accountant-turned-CEO, highlighted the importance of tailored support for companies in Nigeria’s food processing industry, stressing that tools like AMI’s business strategy frameworks have been crucial in her company’s growth.

Key Lessons from AMI’s 10-Year Impact on African Entrepreneurs

Drawing from a decade of experience, AMI shared key insights from its journey. One significant finding is that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work for Africa’s diverse SME landscape. Instead, segmentation, localization, and investment in women-led enterprises have proven to be the most effective strategies for long-term impact.

AMI also emphasised the importance of localization, noting that working closely with local partners and governments ensures solutions are contextually relevant and scalable across different regions.

Looking Ahead: AMI’s Continued Commitment

With the successful launches of AMI Enterprise and AMI Impact, AMI is well-positioned to continue driving business growth across Africa. By equipping entrepreneurs, managers, and organisations with practical tools and tailored training, AMI remains committed to fostering a culture of learning, innovation, and sustainable business success.

About African Management Institute (AMI)

AMI equips entrepreneurs, managers, and organisations across Africa with the practical tools and hands-on training they need to build high-performing teams and achieve measurable business growth. Through partnerships with funders and development organisations, AMI also scales impact-driven initiatives that empower entrepreneurs across the continent.