You Don’t Need These 15 Things to Start a Business in Nigeria

Starting a business in Nigeria can feel like staring up at a steep mountain. Between the endless headlines about funding rounds and startup pitches, it’s easy to believe you need an MBA, millions of naira, and a flawless business plan just to get moving. 

But the truth? Many of the things we think are “must-haves” are just nice-to-haves or even complete distractions.

You might be surprised at what you don’t actually need to get started. Here are the things you can safely toss out of your startup checklist.

A business degree

You don’t need to go back to school before you start. Some of Nigeria’s most inspiring entrepreneurs learned through trial and error. The real value lies in learning on the job, asking for help, and being open to mentorship, not in memorising theory.

A lot of money

Most great businesses started with limited funds. What’s more important than cash is proving your idea works. Start small, stay lean, and keep testing your value.

Fancy branding

That sleek logo or perfectly designed Instagram feed? Not urgent. Your early customers care more about what you offer than how pretty your brand looks. Focus first on delivering value.

A secret idea

Keeping your idea locked away won’t help you refine it. Share it, get feedback, and evolve. Market fit matters more than secrecy.

A huge business plan

Lengthy documents can slow you down. A one-page outline that answers: what you do, who it’s for, how you’ll make money, that’s often enough to get you moving.

External investors

Raising money too early can complicate things. Bootstrap if you can. Grow slowly, learn as you go, and only seek capital when it makes sense for your growth, not your ego.

A “Perfect” idea

You don’t need to invent something brand new. Execution matters more than originality. Many successful businesses are just better versions of existing ones.

A big network

A tight circle of people who believe in you is more valuable than a long list of contacts. Start with who you know. You’ll grow your network as your business grows.

A hustle-24/7 mentality

Working yourself into the ground is not a badge of honour. Burnout is real and costly. Build a pace you can sustain. Rest is part of the process, not a luxury.

Perfection

Waiting until your product or service is “just right” can hold you back. Launch something small. Learn. Improve. Repeat.

A Co-Founder

You can start alone. What you do need is support—a mentor, a freelancer, a friend who listens. Partnerships are great, but they’re not required.

Explosive growth

Not every business has to “go viral” or scale overnight. Focus on sustainability, especially in a market like Nigeria where things change fast.

Perfect timing

There will never be a “perfect” moment. The naira might be unstable, fuel might be scarce, or you might still be learning. Start anyway.

A finished product

MVPs (minimum viable products) are your friend. You can start with basic packaging or a simple version of your idea. Your customers will help you shape it.

A beautiful pitch deck

If you’re not pitching for investment yet, you don’t need a 20-slide deck. What matters is clarity: what problem you’re solving, how you’re solving it, and why it matters. The design can come later.

What You Do Need

All that said, you do need a few essentials:

• A real problem to solve
  
• A clear understanding of your customer
  
• A way to make money sustainably
  
• A willingness to learn, fail, and try again
  

And most of all, you need courage. In Nigeria, where challenges are everywhere from erratic policies to poor infrastructure, being resourceful is a skill. If you can find a way forward despite the chaos, then you’ve already got the most valuable asset a founder can have.

So, if you’ve been waiting until you’ve saved enough money or perfected your pitch deck, this is your nudge to stop waiting.

Just start.