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By Henry Uche
The Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Nigeria and Lagos Business School (LBS), Pan-Atlantic University, have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening risk management, corporate governance and ethical conduct among corporate leaders in Nigeria and across Africa.
The collaboration was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which both institutions described as a decisive step toward improving leadership quality, board effectiveness and institutional integrity within Nigeria’s corporate and public sectors.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIoD Nigeria, Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji, said the partnership was designed to reinforce leadership practice and enhance boardroom performance in an era of rising regulatory scrutiny and complex business risks.
While commiserating with Lagos Business School over the recent loss of a staff member, Oyebanji noted that the MoU represented a deliberate and structured commitment to collaboration in director education, research, advocacy and membership development.
According to him, the agreement provides a framework for joint programmes, shared intellectual capital and coordinated initiatives that would enrich professional practice and raise governance standards across Nigeria. “This MoU also represents another clear milestone under my administration’s ICE Agenda, which is anchored on Innovation, Collaboration and Engagement,” Oyebanji said.
He explained that innovation under the partnership would be reflected in the scope and relevance of capacity-building initiatives targeted at directors and senior executives. “With this partnership, the Institute will support director education programmes that address leadership, strategy, risk, sustainability, artificial intelligence, integrated reporting, talent management and corporate governance. These offerings respond to the changing demands placed on boards and reaffirm our determination to promote continuous learning and forward-looking board practice,” he said.
Oyebanji stressed that collaboration lies at the heart of the MoU, noting that both institutions would jointly undertake research, baseline studies and thought-leadership publications on corporate governance, ethical leadership, business ethics, sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.
“Through co-authored sector reports and applied research projects delivered through CIoD networks, we aim to strengthen evidence-based decision-making and contribute to higher standards of governance across industries,” he added.
He further said the engagement component of the partnership would be driven by exclusive value-added benefits embedded in the agreement, including tailored membership pathways, joint awareness programmes, recognition of LBS as a governance knowledge partner and access to executive education opportunities.
“These initiatives will deepen engagement with directors, executives, alumni and emerging leaders. I am particularly encouraged by the strong emphasis this agreement places on integrity, accountability and ethical conduct,” Oyebanji said.
The CIoD president also noted that provisions in the MoU addressing anti-corruption obligations, conflicts of interest, confidentiality and responsible communication are consistent with the Institute’s Code of Conduct and its long-standing advocacy for principled leadership.
According to him, the framework reinforces a core message of the Institute: that competence without character is insufficient for effective directorship.
Oyebanji emphasised that the quality of leadership at board level remains a determining factor in organisational performance and public confidence, particularly as Nigeria pursues economic growth, regulatory reform and regional integration.
“Corporate boards must provide sound oversight, clear direction and an ethical tone. Through this partnership, CIoD Nigeria and Lagos Business School are making a deliberate contribution to preparing directors to meet these responsibilities with confidence and discipline,” he said.
He added that with the formalisation of the agreement, attention would now shift to implementation.
“As we formalise this agreement, our focus must now turn to delivery.
The steering arrangements set out in the MoU will ensure coordination, accountability and continuity. With sustained commitment from both institutions, this collaboration will yield programmes and research that deliver practical value to boards and contribute to national development,” Oyebanji said.
Reaffirming CIoD’s broader mission, he added: “I reaffirm the Institute’s commitment to advancing innovation, deepening collaboration and strengthening engagement in pursuit of better governance and stronger institutions. This MoU stands as a further testament to that commitment.”
Supporting this position, Director of Research at Lagos Business School, Professor Okechukwu Amah, said the partnership would be firmly grounded in rigorous and relevant research.
“By championing evidence-based decision-making, the partnership aims to ensure that board appointments and boardroom practices are intellectually sound and well-informed,” Amah said.
The Dean of Lagos Business School, Professor Olayinka David-West, broadened the discussion by calling for greater diversity in corporate directorship.
She urged organisations to move beyond traditional board structures and intentionally embrace gender, ethnic and intergenerational diversity as drivers of stronger governance outcomes and more resilient institutions.
David-West also noted that the collaboration would extend beyond the private sector to support capacity building in public institutions, stressing that national development depends on strong leadership across all spheres of society.
Both CIoD Nigeria and Lagos Business School reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the partnership delivers lasting value, describing the MoU as a new benchmark for how academic excellence and professional discipline can combine to shape the future of Nigerian and African enterprise.
