The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Lagos State Chapter, has urged professionals to transcend their role as mere observers in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The body emphasised the imperative of comprehending and adapting to the profound impact of AI on the global workforce.

The institute’s Chairperson, Efosa Ewere, while speaking on the effect of AI on the world of work, stressed the importance for professionals to interrogate the concept and extent of the technology and also seek ways to embrace the new shifts.

She said this during a press briefing on its upcoming yearly summit with the theme, ‘Governance Redefined in the Business Environment: A Continuum or New Paradigms’, scheduled for October 30, in Lagos.

She explained that the summit would address rapid transformation, navigating the corporate space from AI disruption to Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) demands, stakeholders’ expectations, and regulatory shifts within the space.

She reiterated the role of governance professionals in organisations, saying that no business, whether formal or informal, can function without having a chartered secretary or secretary, who would help provide the support in navigating the peculiarities of businesses.

According to her, due to the shifts in workspace, organisations are now creating separate roles to tackle specific needs, such as sustainability advisory, compliance advisory, all of which speak to the role of a governance professional.

“We have gone beyond taking minutes; now we are talking about sustainability compliance, data protection, and regulatory compliance,” Ewere said.

She said the summit is an activity for the association’s Corporate Governance Week, which starts on October 25, with a charity visit, health and wellness webinar, and members’ fun day.

Some of the speakers for the event, she said, include the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola; Founder, Etin Power Limited, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, and Founder, Digital Encode Limited, Prof Obadare Adewale among others.