The University of Lagos played host to scholars and industry professionals from across Nigeria on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, as the Faculty of Management Sciences flagged off its 2025 Annual Academic Conference with the compelling theme: “Navigating Volatile Business Environments: Mitigation and Adaptive Strategies.”
The two-day conference, which drew both physical and virtual participants from universities nationwide, provided a vibrant platform for robust intellectual engagement on the dynamics of modern business challenges and practical solutions.
The conference was officially declared open by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, who lauded the Faculty for choosing a theme focused on actionable solutions.
“I love your topic because it is one that speaks to problem solving, not problem finding. This theme situates us in the present; and that’s our job as academics – to stand in front of society, anticipate challenges, and create solutions,” she said.
Professor Ogunsola challenged participants to deepen industry-academic engagement, stressing that research should not only earn promotions but serve as “torch bearers for truth” that address real-world issues. “Our papers are not just our opinion. They must engage with the lived realities around us.”
Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Dr. Simeon Ifere, described today’s local and global business landscapes as VUCA: Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous. He called on management scholars to rise to the occasion, develop context-relevant theories, and pursue research that finds genuine application in industry.
“This is a moment for scholars to become solution architects, not just commentators,” he said.
In his remarks, Dean of the Faculty, Professor Adeola Sulaimon, gave a comprehensive overview of the conference activities, highlighting the blend of perspectives from academia, industry, and entrepreneurship in the keynote addresses. He disclosed that over 100 papers would be presented across various parallel sessions, tackling issues from economic volatility to business resilience and innovation.
The intellectual tone of the conference was lifted further by a powerful keynote address delivered virtually by Professor Kamil Omoteso, an alumnus of the Faculty and current Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Anglia Ruskin University, United Kingdom
Drawing on the Theory of Dynamic Capabilities, he outlined the strategic imperative for businesses to sense threats, seize opportunities, and transform resources in response to volatility.
Professor Omoteso identified the “human factor” as a central driver and casualty of business instability. He expanded on other volatility triggers such as global diplomacy shifts, climate change, government policy inconsistencies, and demographic trends. On the impact side, he pointed to inflation, unemployment, inequality, and health crises as major consequences of unstable environments.
He also underscored the vital role of leadership in navigating these turbulent times.
“In periods of volatility, leaders must not appear with dropped shoulders. They must be ready to take the tough decisions and give inspiration to their people,” he stated, calling for transparent and accountable leadership as a stabilizing force in uncertain contexts.
The conference proceeded into several parallel sessions where scholars presented papers offering practical, data-driven insights into various facets of business resilience. The academic conversations continue into Thursday, April 24, promising more engagement, learning, and collaboration.
With its mix of theoretical depth and real-world urgency, the 2025 Annual Academic Conference of the Faculty of Management Sciences stands as a powerful call to action, one that urges academia to not only run commentary on the storm but to chart a path through it.
REPORT: Isaiah Kumuyi
PHOTOGRAPHY: Samuel Dosumu
