The Federal Government has called for a shift from routine administrative oversight to strategic foresight as part of efforts to achieve Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Owan Enoh, made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the investiture of Mrs Rose Eshiett as Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Nigeria, Abuja Zone, and the inauguration of its 11th Executive Committee.

The event, which brought together key players in governance and corporate leadership, focused on strengthening boardroom excellence and promoting sustainable value creation in a period of economic uncertainty.

Enoh said Nigeria can no longer rely on outdated systems of supervision if it hopes to meet its long-term development goals, stressing that leadership must become more proactive and forward-looking.

“The model of oversight and all of that is long expired. It is the initiative and the foresight of leadership that is going to make the difference in corporate organisations, even in government establishments,” he said.

He noted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is already pursuing bold economic reforms aimed at repositioning the economy and laying the foundation for long-term growth under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to him, achieving a $1 trillion economy will depend largely on the ability of leaders in both public and private sectors to think ahead, anticipate challenges and design policies that respond to future realities rather than current pressures.

In her remarks, the newly inaugurated Chairman of CIoD Abuja Zone, Mrs Rose Eshiett, pledged to reposition the institute to become more visible, more influential and more financially sustainable.

She said the institute must play a stronger role in promoting ethical leadership, corporate governance and professionalism across sectors in Nigeria.

“Not so many people know that the CIoD exists in Nigeria. So we want it more visible because of the advantages it carries. And the other one is also to increase in membership, because Nigeria is at a stage where we need good governance, ethical leadership and boardroom excellence,” she said.

Eshiett added that revenue generation would be a key focus of her administration, noting that stronger funding is necessary to sustain governance training and capacity-building programmes.

“The third one is revenue generation. You can’t do these programmes without money. So one of the visions is to make sure there’s increased revenue so that we can be able to run all those programmes we have in mind to improve boardroom excellence and ethical excellence,” she added.

She pledged to draw from her 35 years of experience at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to strengthen mentorship and governance training for decision-makers across sectors.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Esther Walson-Jack, also praised the new CIoD leadership, saying the civil service is undergoing reforms anchored on professionalism, innovation and accountability.

She called for closer collaboration between the civil service and CIoD to strengthen leadership capacity among senior public servants and improve service delivery to citizens.

Also speaking, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIoD Nigeria, Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji, said corporate governance remains central to Nigeria’s economic stability, as decisions taken at board level have direct impact on national performance.

He said the institute is working with government institutions, including the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, to improve the capacity of directors in public enterprises and reduce inefficiencies linked to political interference.

He added that CIoD Nigeria remains committed to promoting ethical leadership, governance reforms and professional development across both public and private sectors.

The institute also reaffirmed its role in training directors and senior executives through globally recognised programmes aimed at strengthening governance systems and improving accountability in Nigeria’s corporate space.

The CIOD Nigeria serves as the country’s apex professional body for directors across sectors. It works with government, private organisations, and international partners to promote ethical leadership and corporate governance.