At dinner, awards recognition, ICSAN preaches good corporate governance

The Institute of Chattered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), last week, held its yearly conference and dinner with the theme, Corporate governance as a tool for sustainable development, with sub-themes Galvanizing Government Policies Towards Sustainable Growth, A Culture of Good Corporate Governance as Ingredient for Business Development and The Chartered Secretary and Administrator in Contemporary Nigeria: Responsibilities.

President of the governing council, ICSAN, Samuel Kolawole, said, the conference was to take another important step towards the achievement of best practices in the sector, as well as, influence public policy direction as part of the institute’s contribution to nation building, knowing that the whole world is facing challenges with growth and development.

Urging everyone to rise up and raise the flag of good governance, Chairman of the occasion and PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc., Kola Jamodu, said, The importance of Corporate Governance as a mechanism that allows companies, and by extension, the entire economy to function effectively and thus create the confidence necessary for the existence of a virile market economy could not be overemphasized.

Managing Director Heritage Bank Plc., Ifie Sekibo, represented by Olusegun Akanji, affirmed, “Corporate governance has as aim to increase the responsibility of a company in order to avoid corporate failure. Currently, good corporate governance is recognized worldwide as essential for the efficiency and growth of the national economy.”

Emphasising, “Modern corporate governance now requires company managers to think beyond profits and think sustainably, since the long-term survival of companies depends largely on this.”

Representing the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, Haruna Ayodeji, in his speech he said: “the position of corporate governance and ensuring that Lagos state sustains the tempo of this development is very important, I want to implore you to apply yourself maximally to this opportunity that this gathering has afforded you this morning and tomorrow, so that as you leave you are better prepared to give your best.”

At the dinner, which took place the following day, awards of recognition bestowed with ICSAN Honourary Fellowship were given to some distinguished Nigerians who have made their marks through significant contribution to corporate governance and administration in Nigeria.

Some of the honorary awardees for this year were past Chairman of Council of Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, Prince Adefulu Adeyemi (MFR), a lawyer, publisher, consummate businessman and professional administrator, and national honour recipient who has served on the board of several companies and has proven himself to be a foremost professional on governance and administration, and Company Secretary FBN Holdings Plc., Alhaji Tijjani Borodo, a seasoned governance professional with decades of experience in corporate secretarial practice. A man of proven integrity, unblemished record and laudable accomplishments in his chosen field and somebody many young professional look up to.