•CEOs tap technology to boost productivity
About 72 per cent of businesses in Nigeria are exploring artificial intelligence (AI) to overhaul their workforce strategies, underpinning the depth of disruption the new technology is already causing in the country.

Also, chief executive officers of leading global companies are increasingly regarding AI as a dependable enabler of productivity, revenue growth, customer experience and efficiency.

These are the positions of the EY-Parthenon 2026 CEO Outlook report just released. The report said sustained transformation would separate leaders from laggards in an uncertain global environment.

EY conducted a survey of 1,200 CEOs from large companies around the world between November and December 2025. In Nigeria, about 93 per cent of companies are adopting AI to drive efficiency, while 72 per cent are expecting it to overhaul their workforce strategies.

The survey was to provide valuable insights into the main trends and developments impacting the world’s leading companies, as well as business leaders’ expectations for future growth and long-term value creation.

The survey report further states that even though CEOs face continued geopolitical uncertainty and cost pressure, they remain confident in driving growth through AI, talent and operational efficiency.

The report said geopolitics and technology are reshaping the global economy and business environment faster than ever.

“Those who invest intentionally, rethink their operating models and use AI and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to accelerate change will create their own tailwinds and outpace competitors long before the environment stabilises”, the report said.

The 2025 global economy was characterised by several uncertainties, including escalating tariffs, protectionism and trade wars that are disrupting global supply chains and investment decisions.

To navigate the uncertainty, according to the report, CEOs should focus on three priorities: sharper cost discipline through productivity-driving investments such as AI, more precise pricing grounded in customer insight to protect margins and a faster shift to skills-powered organisations, with teams equipped to scale new technologies and manage geopolitical and macro volatility.

“With global inflation continuing to ease but remaining highly divergent, tariff-imposing economies are expected to see higher import costs and renewed price pressures, while targeted economies will continue to experience demand- and commodity price-driven disinflation”, the report said.

Some of the report findings revealed that CEOs who double down on people and technology while addressing cost and growth pressures head on will be best placed to create their own momentum in a challenging year ahead.

The EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook Survey also pointed to a decline in global CEO sentiment from 83 per cent to 78.5 per quarter on quarter, driven by weakening demand, geopolitical instability and rising operating costs.

Despite the challenges, the report said nearly 90 per cent of CEOs expect increases in revenue, profitability and productivity, believing they can achieve growth through operational efficiency and strategic investments in talent and technology.

EY Regional Managing Partner for West Africa, Anthony Oputa, believes the global business environment faces myriad challenges ahead that demand even greater discipline, noting that slow and fragile economic growth would compel business leaders globally to make sharper choices about where and how to deploy investments.

“In terms of AI, broad experimentation is giving way to targeted scaling, identifying the business units where AI can accelerate productivity, transform decision-making, or unlock differentiated customer value.

“The key tension for 2026 is balancing short-term cost pressure with long-term competitiveness. For EY as a leading global professional service firm, we will continue to support businesses across the globe to shape the future with confidence,” he said.