Professionals charge businesses on corporate governance, open new office

To improve standards of business operations in Nigeria, the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria (SCGN), has stressed the need for businesses to imbibe corporate governance culture.

Former Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and founding president of the society, Christopher Kolade, gave the charge at the opening of its office in Lagos.He noted that the charge became necessary, as the country was not performing at its optimum capacity in all sectors, and especially in corporate governance issues.

Speaking at the event attended by Chairman of Diamond Bank, Chris Ogbechie and the SCGN founder, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, he urged members to help bring high standards and values that Nigeria urgently needed.

He said just as negative noise abound in the country, there are a lot of positive development but such developments are usually quiet, adding that the society can help to stem the tide of negative calls and corruption in the country.

While urging members to see themselves as role models, he said: “We are not only strong internally, we are the ones to show the right values for others to follow.

“It is a step to take that we are not going back from our determination to help the country back to its track.”Kolade lauded the society for transiting from a one- room apartment to an edifice, saying their efforts would continue to yield fruits in the service of humanity.

The immediate past president of the Society and Chairman, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Olusegun Osunkeye, said the movement of the society to its permanent office in Victoria Island was an indication of success.

A board member of the society and Vice Chancellor of the Pan Africa University, Prof Juan Elegido, described the successes recorded as indication of growth and acceptance in the country.

He stressed that the SCGN, which was formed to continually project the ideals of the society had brought an impressive level of acceptance.Founded 12 years ago, the SCGN aims to be the reference point nationally and internationally in corporate governance and provide a template for the formulation and enforcement of corporate governance standards for Nigeria and other emerging economies through rankings, seminars, workshops and trainings.