Oyebanji, CIoD president, charges chartered directors to change Nigeria’s economic climate

Adetunji Oyebanji, President of the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD), has charged chartered directors all over Nigeria to step up and change Nigeria’s economic climate.

Oyebanji further charged them to rise up and rescue the Nigerian Economy.

Oyebanji, who spoke in Port Harcourt on Thursday evening, said the chartered directors have the training and capacity to create certified and reliable corporate governance structure that can guarantee the survival of corporations.

He said the CIoD experts have the capacity to draw up codes that must be followed by any chartered director in both private and public corporations so that incorporated organisations would no longer fail.

He spoke at the investiture of Chamberlain Peterside, an Economist and Director-General of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA), as the fifth Chairman of the CIoD, South-South & South East, headquartered in Port Harcourt.

The CIoD President said there is need for the members to become very active and build a canopy of strength on corporate governance that would boost the private sector and promote the economy.

He said he wants to see quality programmes, growth, and the development of the members to be trusted with leadership of both the private and public institutions, saying the landscape of corporate governance is always growing.

Calling for a new surge of advocacy, Oyebanji said he expects programmes that would give maximum impact on members and their businesses such as breakfast forums, roundtables, etc. He harped on training, saying this should be so intensified that chartered directors would acquire a new level in competence and character.

He urged them to push for young directors programmes that would develop them into strong directors and business managers. “Today, we are investing on a new chairman, and we expect outcomes through partnerships, mentorship, strengthening of corporate governance strategies, etc.

“The CIoD has built stronger branches. They are beginning to bubble. We urge you to build on the successes of your predecessors.”

Declaring his strategy, the new chairman of the CIoD announced plans to build what he called the CIoD House in Port Harcourt which he said would be the centre of activities, training, and resource centre.

He said: “Our focus during my service year will be encapsulated by the acronym VMM, which I credit to the able Vice President, Theodora Leo Edochie. And this VMM stands for Visibility, Membership, and Mentorship.

“We aim to increase the institute’s visibility in the region and expand its presence; promote the vision and philosophy of the national body; and to mentor/groom the next generation of corporate leaders from amongst young professionals.

In his welcome remarks, John Mbata, Chairman of the occasion and President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, said strong institutions inspire confidence, attract investment, protect the rule of law, create opportunities, and endure beyond political cycles and individual tenures.

He, however, said behind every strong institution are competent, ethical, courageous, and visionary directors.

He expressed confidence in the new chairman, saying “From the vision he has articulated to me previously and other situations that we have operated, it is evident that this administration seeks to build not merely a successful tenure, but a lasting legacy.”

He reminded the members that a director must demonstrate integrity.

“A director must exercise sound judgment. A director must ask difficult questions. A director must always place the long-term interest of the institution above personal interests.

“Nigeria needs more directors who are guided by principle rather than convenience. Chartered Institute of Nigeria must continue to lead this transformation. The South-South and South-East regions possess extraordinary human and economic potential. We are blessed with entrepreneurs, professionals, innovators, with abundant intellectual resources.

“Our challenge is not a lack of potential, but ensuring that our institutions are governed with vision, discipline, transparency, and accountability.”