Adapt or die, By Osmund Agbo

A Nigerian man's return to his hometown after fifteen years in the United Kingdom revealed a startling transformation in the local commercial landscape. Upon his return, he found that many of the established furniture stores and businesses he remembered had disappeared, replaced by a new ecosystem of retail and commerce.

His initial assumption was to patronize the same furniture stores that had once been institutions in the city. To his surprise, most had either closed down or faded into obscurity. He was directed to Spar, a supermarket chain that now offers a wide range of goods, but even that was no longer the primary destination for many consumers. Instead, he was introduced to Jiji, a thriving e-commerce platform often compared to Amazon, where he could browse, compare prices, negotiate, and arrange doorstep delivery from his home.

This experience highlights a fundamental shift in consumer behavior and expectations, driven by technological advancements. The bustling markets and numerous individual stores that once characterized the city's commercial fabric have given way to digital marketplaces and a more convenient, technology-enabled shopping experience. Consumers no longer need to spend days navigating traditional markets or visiting multiple physical stores.

The article posits that this transformation extends beyond retail, affecting traditional systems like the famed Igbo apprenticeship system. The long-standing practice of young men serving masters for years before starting their own businesses is evolving, with salaried employees, commissioned sales representatives, and digitally integrated enterprises becoming more common. This indicates a broader societal and economic adaptation to the changing times.

The author draws a parallel to the decline of once-powerful Igbo business empires, such as those of the Ekenedilichukwus and Nkwuochas, suggesting that in today's rapidly changing world, businesses and institutions must adapt or face obsolescence. The core lesson, as reflected in the friend's experience and historical examples, is that the world is in constant flux, with industries evolving, technologies emerging, and consumer preferences shifting irrevocably.