The Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Nigeria has urged newly elected young directors to deepen their governance competence and strengthen advocacy for sustainable, value-driven governance practices.
President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the body, Adetunji Oyebanji, advised the Young Directors Forum (YDF) annual general meeting.

He urged the incoming executive committee to embrace innovation and be the generation that raises the bar for directorship in Nigeria.
He said their assumption into office came at a time when the demands on directors have never been greater, as boards are now deeply navigating economic volatility, regulatory scrutiny, technological disruption, sustainability expectations and heightened stakeholder activism.

According to him, the quality of governance has become a defining differentiator of institutional success.
Oyebanji said the meeting represents not just a leadership transition but a reaffirmation of the institute’s collective commitment to institutional excellence, ethical leadership, and the advancement of corporate governance in Nigeria.

The Young Directors’ Forum, the CIoD boss said, is not an adjunct to the institute but a strategic investment in the future of directorship in the nation, which serves as a leadership pipeline — grooming principled, competent and forward-thinking directors who will shape boardrooms across both the private and public sectors.
“As members of the YDF, you are expected to embody the core values of our institute, encapsulated in the IMPACT acronym, which means Integrity, Meritocracy, Professionalism, Accountability, Customer-centricity and Teamwork. These are not aspirational ideals; they are governance imperatives,” he said.

In her acceptance speech, Chairman of the Young Directors Forum, CIoD Nigeria, Omobola Adekola said by the end of his tenure, she envisions a YDF that consistently produces boardroom-ready leaders, becomes the reference point for emerging directors in Nigeria and a forum that transitions into a new phase of influence not only within the institute, but across corporate Nigeria and beyond.
While she sought collective ownership to achieve the mandate, she said the future of governance in the country would not shape itself except by those who prepare for it.

“Our responsibility is not simply to convene young professionals; it is to shape governance-ready leaders; leaders who can steer organisations through complexity, volatility, disruption and transformation,” she said.
The YDF’s immediate Chairman, Eyo Eyo, gave a detailed report on how the forum fared under his leadership, highlighting key achievements and performance as well as challenges and lessons learned.