LOTUS Bank MD, Salami, others challenge business Leaders to shatter limitations in 2025
Renowned Performance Strategist and summit host, Dr. Abiola Salami, LOTUS Bank MD Kafilat Araoye, Digital Encode CEO, Prof. Adewale Obadare and Founder of OLCA, Dr. Lanre Olusola, among other experts have challenged business leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs to uphold excellence, quality, and consistency in 2025.
This was the crux of the discussion at the 2025 New Year Kickoff Summit organized by CHAMP GLC in Lagos. The event focused on “Navigating Innovation & Growth in 2025”, provided strategic insights for participants to elevate their performance in the new year.
Salami challenged the attendees to transform past limitations, describing mediocrity as simply repeating the previous year’s performance.
“Stagnation in performance is mediocrity, not poor performance. Our goal is to empower career professionals and entrepreneurs to achieve unprecedented success in 2025, ensuring this year’s results significantly surpass those of 2024,” Salami declared.
There were top professionals and thought leaders present to inspire strategic thinking and personal development for the year ahead.
Echoing Dr. Salami’s perspective, LOTUS Bank MD, Araoye, emphasized three key traits that drive workplace performance which includes flexibility, focus, and consistency.
“You cannot achieve peak performance without these qualities,” she admitted. “A peak performer is adaptable, focused, and consistent. He embraces feedback, identifies areas for improvement, and views mistakes as stepping stones to growth. Above all, humility is the hallmark of a true peak performer.”
In another session, Digital Encode CEO, Prof. Adewale Obadare and Founder of OLCA, Dr. Lanre Olusola, shared insights on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI); and developing a money mindset for innovation and growth in 2025, respectively.
While Dr. Salami moderated the panel discussion, which was both engaging and enlightening, he skillfully guided the conversation, ensuring the panelists provided actionable strategies to help participants navigate challenges and opportunities in the coming year.
Prof. Obadare highlighted the transformative impact of technology on daily life, emphasizing how it has reshaped the way people manage their activities.
He also issued a caution about the risks of public Wi-Fi. “Be mindful of what you do on public Wi-Fi. Your phone can be hacked using certain technological tools. The safest approach is to avoid public Wi-Fi altogether.”
Meanwhile, Olusola delved into the concept of a “Growth Mindset,” offering valuable advice on wealth creation.
He remarked: “The only way to create and sustain wealth is to identify a problem and solve it. Once you’ve mastered solving that problem, the next step is to scale it.”
Shifting the focus to the challenges of addiction and its harmful impact on health, social media influencer, Dr. Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, described it as a form of mental imprisonment created by the individual.
“If you’re struggling with something right now, it’s because of the story you’ve told yourself about it and the strong belief you’ve attached to it. That’s why breaking free feels so difficult,” he explained.
He, therefore, encouraged participants to prioritize healthy living by envisioning the person they aspire to become in 2025 and actively working toward that goal.
Austin Avuru, Founder of AA Holdings and one of the sponsors of the event, shared nuggets on “Leading in Challenging Times”.
He defined a Peak Performer as someone who excels with minimal supervision and shared his formula for success: “Discipline, focus, and integrity. Combine these with hard work, play hard, and stay focused on your goals, and you’re unlikely to fail. Obstacles may arise, but you’ll ultimately succeed.”
Meanwhile, there were individuals and organizations from all over Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Abuja, and Kebbi, among other states; other virtual participants joined in from West and East Africa, North America, and Europe.
The event featured three workshops that encouraged attendees to engage in reflection and self-appraisal as well envisioning and strategizing all geared towards fostering personal and professional growth for 2025.
