Veteran Nigerian comedian and entrepreneur Ali Baba has urged Nigerians to intentionally develop and monetise their talents to create both commercial and societal value.

Ali Baba, whose real name is Atunyota Akpobome, made the call while speaking at the Life Guide Colloquium held in Lagos on Wednesday.

The event also featured brand strategist and leadership architect Jide Adeyemi, who presented his book titled Life Guide: Stories, Lessons, and Insights to Empower Your Journey.

Speaking on the theme “Influence Engineering,” Ali Baba stressed that talent alone is insufficient without deliberate development and refinement.

“We are talking about mining your potential properly until it becomes an asset,” he said.

“Potential is where to start from, but you have to develop it enough to the point where people begin to seek it for commercial or societal value.”

The comedian added that influence is built through consistency, value creation, and intentional growth, encouraging Nigerians to nurture their abilities until they become indispensable.

He also called on society to recognise and appreciate individuals who create opportunities and contribute positively to national development, noting that recognition inspires more people to make meaningful contributions.

Also speaking at the event, Adeyemi said Nigeria’s leadership challenges stem more from a lack of purposeful and consistent governance than from a shortage of capable leaders.

According to him, many administrations abandon existing programmes instead of building on them, leading to poor continuity and stalled development.

“We have amazing leaders in Nigeria, but what is lacking is intentionality and purposeful leadership,” he said.

“One government comes with fantastic programmes, and immediately they leave office, the next person starts something new. That is why we don’t have continuity.”

Adeyemi described Nigeria as a country filled with opportunities despite its challenges, saying gaps in critical sectors create room for innovation, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation.

“This is one country where you can go to bed with nothing and wake up the next morning a millionaire because someone gives you an opportunity,” he stated.

He explained that the colloquium aimed to provide direction and clarity for individuals navigating leadership, business, faith, and personal growth in an increasingly distracting world.

Adeyemi also noted that leadership, branding, communication, and values are deeply interconnected in nation-building and sustainable development.