Emphasising its imperatives to current realities, the institute said embracing change would promote better decision-making and strategy within an organisation.
President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Prof. Pius Olanrewaju, gave the charge at this year’s induction of ICSAN, in Lagos, where he spoke on ‘Building a Successful Career as a Governance Professional: An Effective and Pragmatic Guidance’.
Noting that continuous learning through formal and informal was very critical for professional competence, he said it guarantees the chartered secretary and administrator’s versatility.
According to him, the versatility imbued in a chartered secretary and administrator, helps to chart the course as well as thrive in different companies and circumstances.
Olanrewaju charged them with inherent qualities such as self-confidence, industry, competence and cheerfulness as measures in developing a strong understanding of governance principles that would assist them to withstand all professional pressures.
“You are expected to always pursue ethics and professionalism. You are the epitome of good governance. Therefore, you must be a person of good character. Your word must be your bond. You should be resolute and possess integrity. Avoid unethical practices like a plague. We must be the epitome of integrity and always uphold the principle of good corporate governance,” he said.
In her remark, ICSAN President, Funmi Ekundayo, said that even though its members are occupying various responsible positions across all sectors of the Nigerian economy and contributing their quota to national development, they have not fully explored the entire gamut of lucrative fields and disciplines the institute’s competencies and skills could cover.
With the many opportunities that abound, she urged the newly inducted members to explore to their advantage the opportunities.
According to her, apart from the core corporate secretarial practice, “A chartered secretary and administrator can function effectively as compliance manager, governance advisor, insolvency practitioner, corporate governance auditor, and board evaluator among others.”
