IOD NIGERIA IS SET TO HOLDS ITS ANNUAL DIRECTORS’ CONFERENCE
The Institute of Directors Nigeria (IoD Nigeria), the foremost corporate governance advocacy Institution in Nigeria is set to hold the 2020 edition of its Annual Directors’ Conference.
The IoD Nigeria Annual Directors' conference is the Institute's flagship event, which is attended by captains of industry and directors in both private and public sectors of the Nigerian economy. It is a forum where contemporary issues affecting leadership and corporate governance of Nigeria's businesses are x-rayed and global best practice solutions provided by professionals and practitioners in corporate administrations. In addition, it provides a once-a-year rare opportunity for board members and management staff of different organisations to meet and network thereby creating business opportunities for their organisations.
According to the President and Chairman of Governing Council of the Institute, Chief Chris O. Okunowo, F.IoD, who spoke during the pre-event Press Conference held on Monday, 26 October 2020, the Conference holds from Tuesday, 3rd to Wednesday, 4th November 2020 as a virtual event due to the restrictions imposed by government as an aftermath of the Covid 19 pandemic.
He explained that one of the key mandates of the Institute of Directors Nigeria is to champion the principles of corporate governance and sustain standards, values, ethics, best traditions and continuously improve the capacities of Directors to fulfil their roles of delivering value to all stakeholders and that the 2020 edition of the Annual Directors Conference with the theme: "Business Ethics, Leadership & Sustainability as new frontiers of Corporate Governance," presents another opportunity for deepening of the discourse in good corporate governance, leadership and sustainability of organisations in a fast changing and challenging business, political and social environment.
Also speaking at the pre-event Press Conference, the Chairman of the National Organising Committee for the Conference, Alhaji Lamis Dikko, F.IoD noted that the 2020 edition of the Annual Directors Conference is a must-attend for all Directors of public and private enterprise. He added that the National Organising Committee had meticulously planned this year’s Conference to feature two unique changes compared to the previous editions: First, the event is holding over a two-day period unlike all previous editions which had held only as a one-day event. Second, in consonance with government’s directives on social distancing, the event will be holding virtually. “As we are all aware, the prohibition of large gathering is still very much in place and as law abiding corporate organisation, the IoD Nigeria will be hosting the event virtually,” he stated.
Continuing, he noted that the Conference is designed to attract an array of top notch professionals and leading governance practitioners, who will lead discussions at the conference. He added that the Keynote Speaker at the event is Prof. Marc Menestrel, Professor of Decision Sciences, Insead, Fontainebleau, France, while session Speakers include: Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Plc; Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission; Prof. David Beatty, Rodman School of Management, University of Toronto, Canada; and Dr. Chris Pierce, CEO of Corporate Governance Services Limited, UK.
“Over the two days period, there would be four plenary sessions and each session would have a lead speaker. On Tuesday, 3rd November 2020, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, F.IoD, Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, will address the first plenary session with the sub-theme, “The Nexus between Ethical Leadership & Corporate Governance Practice,” while Prof. Umar C. Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission is the Session Speaker for the second plenary session with the sub-theme, “Ethical Leadership as an Instrument for National Sustainability in the Post-Oil Nigerian Economy – A Public Sector Perspective,” he added.
Alhaji Dikko further said that during the second day of the Conference on Wednesday, 4th November 2020, the first plenary session with the theme, “The Leadership Roles of the Board in Setting & Sustaining Organisational Ethical Standards” will have Dr. Chris Pierce, Chief Executive Officer, Global Governance Services Limited, UK, as Session Speaker, while the last plenary session of the Conference will have Prof. David Beatty, a Professor of Strategy with the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, Canada as the Speaker.
He added that “the Conference would have an enviable array of Moderators and Discussants for all the sessions. These are: Mr. Adetunji Oyebanji, Managing Director of 11 Plc; Mr. Soji Apampa, Co-Founder and CEO of Integrity Nigeria Organisation; Dr. Ndidi Nnoli Edozien, Co-Chair of the Welt-ethos Institute Research Group on Finance & Economy; Dr. Ibilola Amao, Founder & Principal Consultant, Lonadek Consulting Limited.”
The NOC Chairman pointed out that the Institute painstakingly chose very relevant Discussants for all the plenary sessions. These include: Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, M.IoD, Chief Executive Officer of Central Securities Clearing Systems Plc; Mrs. Eileen Shaiyen, Founder/CEO, H. Pierson Associates Limited; Dr. Andrew Nevin, Partner, Financial Services Leader and Chief Economist, PwC Nigeria; Mr. Abubakar Balarabe Mahmud, SAN, former NBA President & Managing Partner, Dikko & Mahmud Solicitors; Mrs. Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, MFR, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Sahel Consulting; Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, OFR, M.IoD, Chairman, Zinox Technologies Limited; and Dr. Ayotunde Coker, Chief Executive Officer, Rach Centre.
The Institute of Directors Nigeria (IoD) is a Professional Institute and the foremost leadership organization which among other things, develops professional skills of directors and business leaders, promotes corporate governance, and represents her members to government, etc. The Institute undertakes, provides and supports research, thought leadership, peer interaction, education and training of directors and leaders. Through its Centre - IoD Corporate Governance, the Institute also carries out corporate governance research and advocacy as well as training, which are targeted at the organisation as a whole, in recognition of the role of other stakeholders who are impacting or impacted by the activities of directors and leaders in Nigeria.
Bamidele Alimi, M.IoD
Director General/CEO