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By Henry Uche
Experts have urged African corporate leaders to step beyond the boardroom and champion governance reforms, inclusive investment, and innovation to drive sustainable national development for the people.
The advice came during the two-day Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Annual Directors’ Conference (ADC 2025) held in October 22 and 23, in Abuja. The conference, themed “Leading Through Change: Building Sustainable and Inclusive Enterprises,” brought together corporate executives, policymakers, and thought leaders to deliberate on strategies for building resilient and inclusive enterprises in Nigeria and across Africa.
Opening the conference on Wednesday, Otunba Bimbola Ashiru, Chairman of the National Organising Committee, highlighted the role of sound governance and leadership in driving economic growth. He urged participants to actively engage in discussions and translate insights into actionable strategies, noting that good governance is a practical tool for fostering economic resilience and sustainable progress.
The conference featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, and case studies designed to challenge assumptions, encourage critical engagement, and provide a platform for direct interaction between private and public sector leaders.
Mr Kola Adesina, Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, emphasised that corporate prosperity without national progress is meaningless. He noted that while companies excel in strategy, risk management, and accountability, many communities still lack basic infrastructure, employment, and thriving enterprises.
He cited Singapore as an example of a nation that applied corporate discipline to public purpose, achieving efficiency, meritocracy, and measurable outcomes. Adesina identified three priorities for sustainable transformation: Championing smart regulation, Promoting MSME inclusion, and building shared innovation ecosystems.
Mr Abayomi Salami, Director of Policy Advocacy at the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to drive sustainable investment growth. He stressed that aligning policy, capital, and people is essential as Nigeria positions for an investment-led decade amid global economic volatility.
Salami advocated for governance charters that clearly define engagement between government, investors, communities, and employees, and reassured investors of NIPC’s commitment to facilitating government engagement and local partnerships.
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Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji, President of CIoD Nigeria, urged leaders to balance profitability with responsibility, growth with inclusion, and innovation with integrity. He highlighted the importance of MSMEs, which contribute nearly 50 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and 75 per cent of jobs, and emphasised that inclusive strategies must integrate vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth, into sectors such as renewable energy and fintech.
The closing day featured the Business Meets Government Dinner, attended by Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senate President, and Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, among other top government officials.
The event provided a high-level networking opportunity for public and private sector leaders to discuss policy alignment, collaboration, and innovative strategies to drive inclusive national development.
Oyebanji described the dinner as a critical platform for dialogue, building trust, and strengthening collaboration between business and government, which he said are vital pillars for sustainable enterprises in Nigeria. He noted that despite global economic headwinds, the country’s economy shows promise in technology, agriculture, renewable energy, and financial markets, provided policy alignment and governance discipline are strengthened.
The conference concluded with a call to action for corporate leaders to embrace shared responsibility and collective effort in driving sustainable economic growth. Organisers expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Governing Council of CIoD, sponsors, and participants for supporting the successful execution of ADC 2025.
Stakeholders left with renewed commitment to fostering inclusive growth, promoting governance reforms, and leveraging innovation to unlock Africa’s economic potential.
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