L-R: Mr. Segun Adeleye, President/CEO, World Stage Limited; Prof. Lere Baale, CEO, Business School Netherlands International receiving a plaque from Chief Emeka Obegolu, President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI) at the WorldStage Business Forum Q2 2026 and Public Presentation of the WorldStage Nigeria Economic Report Q1 2026 on June 30, 2026 in Lagos. 

Prof. Lere Baale, CEO, Business School Netherlands International has made a case for Nigerian organisations to intentionally build cultures around five pillars of responsiveness, respect, reliability, responsibility and relationships if they really want to compete globally.

A distinguished global pracademic, scholar-practitioner and transformational leader with over 40 years of cross-sector experience spanning healthcare, telecommunications, education, corporate strategy and public policy, Prof. Baale in his presentation as a Guest Speaker at the WorldStage Business Forum Q2 2026 and Public Presentation of the WorldStage Nigeria Economic Report Q1 2026 on June 30, 2026, said  leading organisations in Europe, North America, Asia or emerging economies have been consistently  investing in culture, a pattern that Nigeria cannot ignore.

Dissecting the theme of the talk, “Nigeria’s Corporate Culture and Global Standard”, Prof Laabe addressed the topic from four parts – Corporate Culture and Why it matters; Customer Experience is the New Competitive Advantage & The Human Side of Business; Building a World-Class Nigerian Corporate Culture & The Nigerian Opportunity; and A New Corporate Social Contract. 

His invitation by WorldStage to deliver the business lecture specifically asked him to address what could be regarded as “Corporate Terrorism” where big corporate organisations now disregard the least reasonable courtesy at relating to the public and small businesses, regarding things like responding to correspondences- physically or electronically, returning phone calls, non-granting of interviews by MDs except to foreign media among others.

Commending WorldStage for consistently providing a platform for meaningful national conversations on business, governance, leadership, and economic development, Prof Laabe said: “While the phrase “Corporate Terrorism” may be provocative, the concern is real.”

He explained that many people had experienced situations where emails to these big organisations remain unanswered for months, telephone calls are ignored, customer complaints disappear into a black hole, business proposals receive no acknowledgement, media inquiries are treated with disdain, senior executives become inaccessible, meetings are postponed indefinitely, stakeholders are treated as inconveniences rather than partners.

“The irony is that many of these organisations were once small businesses themselves,” he pondered

He therefore offered to approach the theme that indicted Nigeria’s culture as an honest conversation, not merely about profits, not merely about growth, not merely about economic indicators, but about something that ultimately determines whether organisations survive, thrive, or decline.

According to him, “culture is what people experience when they interact with an organisation; Culture is how decisions are made; Culture is how customers are treated; Culture is how employees are valued.  Culture is how leaders behave when nobody is watching; Culture is the invisible force that ultimately becomes visible in performance.”

He went ahead to point out the danger of bad culture common to many Nigeria’s big organisations, saying, the truth is simple, as an organisation can only fake a strategy for a while, but it can never fake culture for long.

He argued that we live in a world where reputation travels faster than products, where a single customer experience can reach millions of people within minutes.

For instance, he said, a delayed response, an ignored email, an unanswered complaint, a disrespectful interaction, a broken promise among others have the power to influence public perception instantly.

“The era when organisations could hide behind size, market dominance, bureaucracy, or regulatory protection is over,” he said.

“We are now operating in an age of transparency, accountability, and stakeholder scrutiny. The organisations that will win in the future are not necessarily the biggest. They are the most trusted.”

On the emerging challenge of corporate arrogance, he pointed out that many organisations that exhibit pride had benefited from relationships, responsiveness and trust before success arrived.

“And somewhere along the journey, humility departed. The greatest danger of corporate success is not failure. It is arrogance,” he said.

He agreed that there are global standards to corporate culture, but many organisations tend to misunderstand them.

According to him, global standards are not expensive buildings, they are not imported furniture, they are not sophisticated websites, they are not foreign accents, they are not international awards, but they “are fundamentally about behaviour.”

“Global standards begin with professional discipline.

“Global standards are not about geography.

“They are about mindset.”

He listed certain characteristics that the world’s most respected organisations shared to include, they respond, they communicate, they respect people, they keep promises, they listen, they are accountable, they are transparent, they solve problems, they create value.

He therefore asked, “If a multinational organisation can acknowledge an email within hours, why should a local organisation take months? If world-class institutions can respond professionally to inquiries, why should Nigerian organisations consider responsiveness optional?”

Talking about trust deficit in Corporate Nigeria, he observed that one of the greatest challenges facing many organisations today is declining trust.

Regarding trust as the currency of sustainable business, he said without trust customers would leave, employees would disengage, investors would hesitate, partners could withdraw while reputations will suffer.

“Trust is earned through consistency. It is built through integrity. It is strengthened through transparency. And it is maintained through responsiveness,” he said.

“Every ignored stakeholder interaction is a withdrawal from the trust account. Every fulfilled commitment is a deposit.

“The future belongs to organisations that understand that trust is not a public relations exercise.  It is a leadership responsibility.”

For the big organisations that care to re-examine themselves, Prof Baale said customer experience is the new competitive advantage rather than corporate arrogance.

Whereas there was a time when organisations competed primarily on products, on price and on quality, he said, “today, they increasingly compete on experience.”

While customers remember how they were treated, he said, suppliers remember how they were respected, employees remember how they were valued, communities remember how they were engaged.        

“The most successful organisations understand a simple principle that people may forget what you said, they may forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel,” he said.

“Customer experience is no longer a department; it is a culture.”

Looking at the leadership dimension of corporate culture, he argued that corporate culture does not emerge accidentally, but it is created intentionally as culture flows from leadership.

He said, “Employees rarely behave differently from what leaders tolerate. If leaders ignore stakeholders, employees will ignore stakeholders. If leaders are inaccessible, employees will become inaccessible. If leaders demonstrate humility, professionalism, and responsiveness, employees are likely to do the same.

“Culture is not what is written on office walls. Culture is what leaders repeatedly model.

“The strongest organisations build cultures where respect is normal, professionalism is expected, learning is encouraged, innovation is rewarded, accountability is embraced, and excellence becomes habitual.”

On the human side of business, he warned that one of the dangers of modern corporate life is the tendency to forget that businesses exist to serve people, saying, “Global standards require us to combine efficiency with empathy.”

He said: “Behind every email is a human being, behind every complaint is a human being, behind every application is a human being, behind every supplier is a family depending on that business relationship, behind every stakeholder interaction is a relationship that deserves dignity.”

For corporate organsations not to lose humanity to technology, he said, technology should improve responsiveness, it should not eliminate humanity; automation should improve efficiency, it should not replace courtesy.

He shared story of a Level One Manager at Pfizer where he earlier worked, who became so terribly sick, requiring dialysis to live.

He said the company responded by sending him abroad for dialysis. He was there for about six years.

At a time when he was missing his family and home, he said the family was flown abroad to stay with him on the account of the company.

At a point when he needed to come back home, he said two dialysis machines were bought for him by the company to continue treatment in Nigeria. He was not allowed to share the machines with anyone to avoid been infected with HIV as it was rampant then.

For intensive care, the company employed personal home maids to care for him.

Baale said that experience at Pfizer made him to change his plan from working for the company for only five years to 25 years.

He argued that a good corporate culture will have a positive impact on the employees and this will also rub off on every stakeholder and the prosperity of the organisation.

On steps to build a World-Class Nigerian Corporate Culture, he said organisations must intentionally build cultures around five pillars of responsiveness, respect, reliability, responsibility, and relationships.

“Every stakeholder deserves acknowledgement, not every request requires approval, but every request deserves a response,” he said.

“People should never have to fight for basic courtesy; respect must become non-negotiable.

“Promises made must become promises kept, execution remains the ultimate test of professionalism.

“Leaders must own outcomes, excuses do not build trust, accountability does.

“Sustainable success is built on relationships, not transactions. The strongest brands are those that consistently nurture stakeholder trust.”

Sharing lessons from Global Best Practices, he said whether it was a case of examining leading organisations in Europe, North America, Asia, or emerging economies, the patterns that consistently emerge include, they invest in culture, they train their people, they measure customer satisfaction, they encourage feedback, they embrace transparency, they continuously improve, most importantly, they understand that every stakeholder interaction contributes to organisational reputation.

“The future belongs to organisations that learn faster, adapt faster, and serve better,” he said.

Despite our challenges he highlighted, he still expressed his optimism about Nigeria, saying, “I have worked across multiple sectors, industries, and countries, I have seen extraordinary Nigerian talent, I have witnessed remarkable entrepreneurial resilience, I have encountered exceptional leaders, I have observed organisations that are already operating at world-class levels. The issue is not capability. The issue is consistency. The issue is scale.  The issue is culture.”

He said Nigeria possesses all the ingredients required to build globally competitive organisations and what is needed is a collective commitment to excellence.

A new corporate social contract he envisaged for Nigeria is a commitment that customers will be respected, employees will be valued, suppliers will be treated fairly, communities will be engaged responsibly, media professionals will be treated as partners, stakeholders will not be ignored, trust will be protected, and professionalism will be elevated.

“This is not merely good ethics. It is good business,” he said.

On the way forward, he said, “as we look towards the future, we must remember that greatness is not measured by market share alone. It is measured by impact.  It is measured by trust.  It is measured by reputation.

It is measured by the quality of relationships an organisation builds and sustains.

“The organisations that will define the future of Nigeria will not simply be those with the largest balance sheets. They will be those with the strongest cultures. They will be organisations that understand that responsiveness is respect. That professionalism is power. That trust is capital. That culture is strategy. And that global standards begin with everyday behaviour.

“Let us therefore commit ourselves to building organisations that are not only profitable but respected. Not only successful but trusted. Not only large but admired. Not only Nigerian in origin but global in standard. Because when Nigerian organisations embrace world-class corporate culture, they will not merely compete globally. They will lead globally.”

Mr. Segun Adeleye, President/CEO, World Stage Limited in his opening remark at the Business Forum said the Guest Speaker, Prof Baale and the panelists should be able to do justice to the theme Nigeria’s Corporate Culture and Global Standard.

He said Nigerians would like to know whether there is anything like global standard in the corporate world or it’s a jungle for the survival of the fittest.

“Maybe if we discuss this, some of the big organisations that are guilty may have a rethink,” he said.

“We all operate in a corporate culture that translates to the economy we have today. Most parts of this culture, either good or bad are inherited and have been modified over the years. But one would expect that there will be a minimum standard of how businesses should relate with each other.

He made reference to the Vice President, Kashim Shettima who few days earlier said at a public function that the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) account for 90% of businesses, 60 million jobs in Nigeria.

“But if we take a critical look, we will find out that these small businesses are at the receiving end of oppressive corporate culture. The big businesses of today hardly remember that they once started small,” he said.

“What we have now can be regarded as “Corporate Terrorism” or “Corporate Oppression” where big corporate organisations disregard the least reasonable courtesy at relating to the public and small businesses, as regards things like responding to correspondences- physically or electronically, returning phone calls. In the media space, you can hardly see chief executives of blue-chip companies granting interviews, except to foreign media.”

The business forum attracted top corporate officials and media executives including the Chief Emeka Obegolu, President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI); Hon. Mosopefoluwa George, Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget who was represented by Mr Olufemi Orojimi, Director Budget.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “over the failure to investigate the allegations that governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) diverted N800 billion for political and campaign purposes.”

According to reports, APC governors are allegedly making monthly contributions from their Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations to a dedicated campaign fund to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026 filed last week at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to investigate the allegations that governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) diverted N800 billion for political and campaign purposes.”

SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to request full disclosure from the governors and APC regarding the alleged contributions made to any dedicated campaign fund, including the names of donors and the lawful origin of funds.”

SERAP is also seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to promptly initiate a formal review and investigation into compliance with Section 91 of the Electoral Act by all political parties and candidates, particularly in relation to the sources and scale of political or campaign financing in the current political cycle.”

In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “these allegations raise serious concerns about political finance transparency, electoral fairness, and the constitutional right of Nigerians to participate freely in their own government.”

SERAP is also arguing that, “opaque political financing remains a major entry point for corruption and a threat to democratic legitimacy. Nigerians deserve to know who funds the candidates or political parties of their choice and the sources of any such funding.”

According to SERAP, “The abuse of state resources for electoral advantage undermines democratic integrity and public trust. Fairness, transparency, and accountability in political or campaign finance are essential safeguards against corruption, state capture, and undue influence in democratic processes.”

The lawsuit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Kehinde Oyewumi, read in part: “the allegations of diversion or opaque use of public funds pose a grave risk to the integrity of the 2027 general elections.”

“Large-scale public fiscal flows, coupled with weak transparency and oversight mechanisms, provide a compelling basis for INEC to activate its constitutional and statutory mandates.”

“Political finance in Nigeria remains characterised by limited transparency, inadequate disclosure, and weak enforcement, creating significant risks of the misuse of public resources for political purposes.”

“Section 91 of the Electoral Act empowers and requires INEC to set limits on political donations that individuals or entities can make to political parties or candidates and demand disclosure of contributions and sources of funds, and enforce sanctions against violations.”

“Section 91 establishes that any political party that exceeds the prescribed donation limit is liable to a fine of up to ₦10,000,000, plus forfeiture of the excess amount. It provides that any individual who exceeds the donation limit commits an offence and is liable to a fine equal to five times the amount donated in excess of the legal limit.”

“Section 91(2) of the Electoral Act provides that any individual, candidate, or political party that exceeds the donation limits set by INEC commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to sanctions.”

“For political parties, this includes a fine of up to ₦10,000,000 and forfeiture of any amount received above the prescribed limit, while individuals are liable to a penalty of five times the amount contributed in excess of the allowable limit.”

“Exceeding donation limits attracts sanctions including fines, forfeiture of excess funds, and penalties of up to five times the amount contributed in excess for individuals.”

“The right to political participation requires that citizens have a real opportunity to exercise their political rights. The right to free, fair and transparent elections is a fundamental human right. This imposes a duty on state institutions to ensure that elections are credible, transparent, and inclusive.”

“The allegations of diversion or opaque use of public funds—particularly on the scale reported—pose a grave threat to the integrity of the 2027 general elections.”

“The combination of large-scale public fiscal flows, opaque deduction structures, and allegations of misuse public funds for political and campaign purposes creates a reasonable basis to direct INEC to exercise its investigative and monitoring mandates under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the Electoral Act.”

“The Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act and anticorruption and human rights standards prohibit the misuse of state resources and impose clear obligations regarding campaign finance transparency and fairness.”

“The Commission has constitutional and statutory obligations to ensure that no individual or political party exceeds legally prescribed contribution limits, whether directly or indirectly, and to ensure full transparency regarding the origin and quantum of political funding.”

“Where allegations exist that large-scale financial resources—including potentially state-derived or publicly controlled funds—may be influencing political activity outside lawful channels, such circumstances fall squarely within the preventive and investigative mandate of the Commission, as provided for by the Electoral Act.”

“INEC continues to fail to proactively enforce the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act regarding the allegations of political finance distortion, thereby undermining public trust in electoral institutions and the right of Nigerians to participate in their own government.”

“Section 14(2)(c) of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees that: “the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured.” This provision imposes a positive constitutional obligation to maintain electoral conditions that are free, fair, and not distorted by undue influence.”

“The provision also imposes a binding obligation on all institutions, including INEC, to safeguard the integrity of the democratic process.”

“Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 13 imposes clear responsibility on INEC to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.”

“Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights guarantees every citizen the right to participate freely in government. Similarly, Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, requires that elections reflect the free expression of the will of the electorate. Nigeria has ratified both treaties.”

“Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources. Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on the Commission to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds.”

“These commitments ought to be fully upheld and respected. Article 7(3) of the Convention requires institutions including INEC to ensure political finance transparency. The provisions aim to prevent corruption in and through elections.”

“Where public resources are allegedly diverted or deployed for political and campaign purposes, the result is not merely financial impropriety—it is a direct distortion of electoral competition. Such actions undermine the principle of a level playing field and erode the ability of citizens to freely choose their representatives.”

“Any use of public funds for political advantage would constitute a grave violation of these national and international standards and a threat to electoral credibility.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Renowned Nigerian communication scholar, public relations leader, and Associate Professor of Mass Communication at Achievers University, Owo, Dr. Chike Walter Duru, has been appointed a Research Fellow of INTI International University, Malaysia, in recognition of his distinguished contributions to strategic communication, media studies, governance, international development and communication research.

The appointment, which takes effect from 19 May 2026 through 31 December 2028, places Dr. Duru among an international network of scholars committed to advancing collaborative research, innovation, and global academic engagement.

According to the official appointment letter signed by the Vice-Chancellor of INTI International University, Professor Joseph Lee, the fellowship is designed to promote excellence in research, enhance institutional research standards, and foster international scholarly collaboration.

As a Research Fellow, Dr. Duru will participate in a broad range of academic and research activities, including collaborative research projects, international conferences, research symposiums, postgraduate supervision, guest lectures, research consultancy, curriculum development, and scholarly publications. The fellowship also provides opportunities for research funding and institutional support for the dissemination of research outputs.

The appointment represents another milestone in the career of one of Nigeria’s most accomplished strategic communication and development experts.

Dr. Duru currently serves as the Head of the Department of Mass Communication at Achievers University, Owo, where he combines academic leadership with extensive practical experience gained across the public, private, humanitarian, and international development sectors.

With more than two decades of professional experience, Dr. Duru has distinguished himself through exemplary leadership in strategic communication, governance reform, humanitarian response, media management, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and institutional capacity development.

Until recently, he served as a Communication Expert with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Nigeria. He previously led communications for the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project, a landmark World Bank-supported national programme co-funded by the European Investment Bank and the French Development Agency.

His extensive consultancy portfolio includes serving as Lead Communication and Advocacy Consultant on major donor-funded governance initiatives such as the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) Programme and the UK Department for International Development (DFID)-supported Justice for All (J4A) Programme. His work has contributed significantly to strengthening transparency, Freedom of Information implementation, justice sector reforms, and citizen engagement.

Dr. Duru also served as Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Governor of Imo State, where he spearheaded strategic government communication and public engagement initiatives. He is widely acknowledged as one of the pioneers of Nigeria’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) process, having co-chaired the Access to Information Working Group that advanced transparency and accountability reforms nationwide.

In 2015, Duru was named among Nigeria’s leading media executives after being screened and selected among the top four percent of executives in the sector. The recognition came with an Award of Excellence presented by a business research and publication firm led by Harvard-trained American executive Elvis Krivokuca.

His academic journey includes teaching and leadership appointments at the American University of Nigeria, Yola, Prime University, Abuja, Madonna University, and currently Achievers University, Owo. He has authored several textbooks, contributed chapters to scholarly publications, and published more than fifty peer-reviewed journal articles covering public relations, development communication, journalism, media studies, advertising, and African communication systems.

Reacting to the appointment, Dr. Duru described it as an important opportunity to deepen international research collaboration and contribute to knowledge production that addresses contemporary communication and development challenges.

“This fellowship provides an excellent platform for international academic collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and knowledge exchange. I look forward to working with colleagues at INTI International University to produce impactful research that contributes to communication scholarship and sustainable development.”

Colleagues and associates have described the appointment as a well-deserved recognition of Dr. Duru’s longstanding contributions to scholarship, policy development, governance reforms, and strategic communication practice across Africa.

Observers note that the fellowship further strengthens the international profile of Achievers University, Owo, and reflects the growing global recognition of Nigerian scholars making significant contributions to research, innovation, and development.

Dr. Duru holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Uyo, a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Imo State University, Owerri.

He is a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the African Council for Communication Education (ACCE), and the Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).