The President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria, Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji, has emphasised the need for members to remain committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance and ethical leadership.
Oyebanji also urged members of the institute to prioritise integrity, innovation and membership growth while continuing to serve as a benchmark for excellence.
The CIoD president, who was represented by the Director-General of the institute, Taiwo Noilas-Ajayi, made the call on Wednesday during the second Annual General Meeting and inauguration of new executives for the CIoD South-West, Abeokuta Zone.
Oyebanji said the organisation was no longer merely a member-interest group but a statutory body charged with the professionalisation of directorship in Nigeria.
He said, “As we swear in a new set of executive members today, I am charging you to significantly amplify our membership growth and engagement strategies.
“The South-West zone sits at the heart of Nigeria’s industrial and intellectual hubs, and there is vast, untapped potential of directors who are yet to join our fold.
“I urge the incoming team to move beyond the status quo with aggressive, strategic outreach to all sectors of the economy within this zone.
“Our goal is to ensure that every qualified leader in the South-West recognises CIoD Nigeria as the premier statutory body for professional directorship.”
Oyebanji also called on members of the professional body to actively engage in all zonal activities and initiatives while contributing ideas that could move the South-West branch forward.
While promising the institute’s support for a successful tenure, he urged members to foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement, positioning themselves at the forefront of their profession as dutiful and reliable directors.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of the CIoD Academy, Mr Ibitayo Ogunbanwo, said membership of the institute provides opportunities for networking with accomplished professionals and promotes sound corporate governance practices that help businesses grow.
Ogunbanwo said the academy regularly organises both local and international conferences and training programmes to equip members, non-members, directors and captains of industry with the technical and professional skills required to achieve their organisational goals and guide their companies effectively.
Presenting his stewardship of the past two years, the immediate past Chairman of the South-West Abeokuta Zone, Chief Bode Mustapha, said his leadership, with the support of other executives, brought in 27 new members, bringing the total membership of the zone to 154.
Mustapha, however, noted that since the zone is largely populated by civil servants, excluding Lagos State, the institute should consider reducing the enrolment fee for new members and allowing registration fees to be paid in two instalments.
He said such a measure would help boost membership growth within the zone.
He also urged the new executive, led by Remi Bakare, to remain focused on advancing the ideals of the institute.
“We have laid the foundation, and with the choice of the new executives, I sincerely believe they will keep the flag of excellence flying and make us proud,” he said.
The highlight of the occasion was the swearing-in of the new executives, with the newly elected chairman, Dr Bakare, pledging to build on the achievements of the immediate past leadership and make the South-West Abeokuta Zone of the institute more vibrant and productive.
Dignitaries at the event included Olori Omoshalewa Aboderin-Olubusi, a director at Nigeria Limited, and the immediate past zonal secretary of the institute, Prof Gabriel Onolaja, former Rector of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, and the Provost of the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta, Dr Rafiu Soyele, among others.