By Francis Ajuonuma
In a bold push to recalibrate how Nigerian professionals perceive and negotiate their value in the marketplace, the International Visitor Leadership Programme Alumni Association of Nigeria (IVLPAAN) has hosted a strategic masterclass under its “Empower-to-Prosper” series, targeting one of the most underdeveloped skills among local talent- pricing with confidence.
The session, titled “Negotiate With Power: How to Charge Appropriately for Your Value,” drew over 80 professionals, entrepreneurs, and creative to the American Corner in Ikeja, Lagos, amid growing concerns that many high-performing individuals in Nigeria continue to undersell themselves in client negotiations and salary conversations.
IVLPAAN President, Adedayo Oketola, noted that the initiative aims to address a troubling trend in Nigeria’s professional culture—where talents are frequently undervalued, not due to a lack of competence, but rather a systemic failure to teach negotiation as a critical life and career skill.
“Too many changemakers are delivering top-tier services and yet earning bottom-tier returns. This is not just an economic issue; it’s a confidence issue,” Oketola said in his welcome address.
Leading the first session, “Mastering Your Value & Crafting Winning Negotiation Strategies,” Odunola Onadipe, Chief Operating Officer at Detail Commercial Solicitors, challenged participants first to understand and internalise their market worth.
She emphasised the importance of crafting compelling personal value propositions and stressed that negotiation is both a technical and psychological challenge.
“You must master your BATNA—your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement. If you don’t know your walk-away point, you’ve already lost the deal,” she told attendees.
In a second session titled “From Pitch to Payment – Closing High-Value Deals Without Underselling Yourself,” Dr Peter Ogudoro delivered a powerful call to action: stop chasing clients and start attracting them through consistency, clarity, and emotional intelligence.
Ogudoro, a respected educationist and leadership strategist, warned professionals against the desperation that leads to undervaluing their work. “People respect value—and value begins with how you carry and price yourself,” he said, urging participants to lead negotiations with strategic humility, firm conviction, and active listening.
He further encouraged professionals to use empathy and inquiry—asking clarifying questions even in disagreement—to preserve relationships while holding firm to their pricing logic.
The event ended with a certificate presentation to participants, including notable personalities such as Akeem Aponmade (President, US Government Exchange Alumni Association Lagos Chapter), Dr Maymunah Kadiri (CEO, Pinnacle Medical Services), Adetoun Tade (former IVLPAAN President), and publisher Bunmi Yekini of Heapnews.
By addressing the cultural and psychological roadblocks that hinder professionals from negotiating effectively, IVLPAAN’s masterclass is not just teaching a skill—it is shifting a mindset.
