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•As Ekundayo leads with 6-point agenda
By Henry Uche
Special Adviser to the President on Monetary Policy, Adebayo Olawale Edun, has charged the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) to contribute more towards national economic growth and development.
Edun who gave the charge at the investiture of the first female president and 29th President & Chairman of the Governing Council of the Institute, Mrs. Funmi Ekundayo in Lagos, admonished ICSAN to remain in the vanguard of promotion of good governance both in the public and private sectors in Nigeria.
Speaking as chairman of the occasion, he said, “I enjoin all ICSAN members to continue to contribute their quota to national development with passion and commitment.
“As a leading professional body in Nigeria dedicated to enhancing the ethos and practice of corporate governance and public administration, ICSAN governance professionals must remain catalyst of national development”
In an address, the Managing Director of LOTUS Bank Mrs. Kafilat Araoye, who spoke on ‘Diversity, Inclusiveness and Corporate Governance as Tools for Sustainable Development,’ stressed that improving diversity and inclusiveness would enhance Board performance… “If the Board does well, institutions get stronger and more productive, leading to long term sustainable development”
LOTUS bank boss alerted that it is important not to compromise ‘competence’ in a bid to achieve diversity and inclusiveness, however equal opportunity for all, irrespective of background will help build a diverse workforce.
Araoye posited that in Nigeria, the ‘Quota system’ originally designed to promote diversity and fair representation has on occasions led its promoters to compromising competence, thus, corporate organizations must be mindful of such mistake.
“Corporate Governance improves capital flow, enables better strategic planning, limit conflict of interest and improve decision making. Therefore, we must continue to push for diversity, inclusiveness and strong corporate governance” she added.
In her acceptance speech, the new president said she was ready to hit the ground running immediately with a six point agenda to move the Institute to enviable height.
ICSAN president who spoke on “At The Speed Of Thought, Innovating Impact And Thriving Through Emerging Trends” rolled the agenda thus: Professional Development and Education; Advocacy and Representation; Innovation and Technology; Collaborations and Partnerships; Transition from ICSAN to ‘Corporate Governance Institute of Nigeria’ (CGIN) and laying the foundation for ICSAN House.
“I promise to lead with integrity and excellence. On behalf of the council, we promise to work tirelessly to uphold the highest standards of our esteemed and noble organization”
The legal practitioner affirmed she was ready to pursue holistic transformation of the Institute with the deployment of technological tools. “We must be able to adapt quickly to emerging trends, harness the power of technology, and drive innovation to create meaningful impact. Using AI tools to drive efficiency and productivity is key.
“We are witnessing an unprecedented shift in the way we work, and this is largely driven by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. We must be able to leverage technology and creativity to drive impact. We must embrace innovation and change.
“We must be willing to experiment, take risks, and learn from our mistakes. We must be open to new ideas and approaches and be willing to collaborate across disciplines and sectors. We must also invest in our people, providing them with the training, tools, and the support they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape.”
Ekundayo decried the mass exodus of young Nigerians who are scattered across the globe in search of better opportunities to maximize their potential, thereby increasing the number of brain drain. To combat the ‘Japa’ trend, she said it is essential that government create a business environment that is conducive for all, creating a culture of innovation and creativity, and ensuring that there is a level playing field for all.
She gave assurance to take charge (in action) to building a culture of innovation, collaboration, and impact within ICSAN and beyond. “I am committed to leveraging technology and creativity to drive positive change and to advance the mission and vision of ICSAN.
“We would be committed to driving a vision of promoting corporate governance by collaborating with both the private and public sectors to raise the bar of corporate governance in the places we work and in the communities we serve.
“For the next two years, I have no other duty or responsibility from this moment and onward but to lead and leave ICSAN stronger, greater and more prosperous that we met it. We need to build strong foundations to ensure that in the era of pandemics, technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI), our Institute is future ready,” she maintained.
