IoD Delegation Pays Courtesy Visits to Former President Obasanjo and Others
The President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Chief Chris O. Okunowo, F.IoD has led members of the IoD Delegation to meet with the Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library located at Presidential Boulevard Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The meeting which took place at 9am on Wednesday, 9th June 2021, had the following as members of the IoD Nigeria delegation:
1. Chief Chris O. Okunowo, F.IoD, Chairman & President of Council
2. Dr. Mrs. Ije Jidenma, F.IoD, First Vice President
3. Alhaji Tijjani Borodo, F.IoD, Second Vice President
4. Iyalode Alaba Lawson, F.IoD, Chairman Abeokuta Branch
5. Chief Bode Mustapha, M.IoD, Vice Chairman, Abeokuta Branch
6. Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, F.IoD, Vice Chairman Health& Social Security Committee
7. Mr. Dele Alimi, M.IoD, Director General/CEO
8. Alhaji Wasiu Olaleye, President Ogun State Chamber of Commerce
9. Mr. Kene Nwanegbo, Secretary to the Governing Council
10. Mrs. Joy Ogbesan, General Manager OGBTV
11. Ms. Imebong Okon, Asst. Manager, Programs
12. Mr. Adedamola Ade-Onojobi, Membership & Branch Relations Officer, Abeokuta
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, received the delegation at the Presidential Library. In his remarks, Chief Chris Okunowo, started by honoring the service of the President to the Nation and while thanking him for the leadership role he plays in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. He provided a brief about IoD Nigeria by outlining its core mandate, leadership role and objectives in helping directors to fulfill their legal and professional responsibilities for the benefit of business and society as a whole. He further stated that IoD Nigeria remained committed to sharpening the professional skills of directors, business leaders, technocrats as well as representing the views of its members locally and at the continental level and international levels as a member of the African Corporate Governance Network and a full-fledged affiliate of the IoD UK. He further stated that IoD Nigeria’s core focus areas were in the following:
* Advocacy
* Capacity Development
* Membership Services
He therefore solicited the support of the former President as a global statesman for the support of IoD Nigeria both locally and internationally.
Responding, the former President thanked the President and Chairman of the Governing Council for the visit. He particularly commended the Chairman of the Abeokuta Branch, Iyalode Alaba Lawson for her efforts in scheduling this visit. He acknowledged the important role that IoD Nigeria plays in the Corporate and Public space and noted the importance of Corporate Integrity both in the Private and Public Sectors of our National polity. He also stated that the Core values of IoD Nigeria as espoused by the President are values to be internalized in the Country particularly across Private and Public organizations. He thanked the IoD for its role in leadership and capacity development and noted that Politics alone was not enough without building and nurturing Corporate and Diplomatic leadership across all spheres of Nigeria.
He urged the IoD to do more particularly in its advocacy role and sensitization of its members who span across the private and public sectors. He promised to support the IoD in its membership drive and requested the Abeokuta branch to see him later for a list of nominations of individuals to join the Institute.
The President and Chairman of Council expressed the gratitude of the IoD to the former President for accepting to see them despite his very tight schedule. The meeting ended with exchange of pleasantries, souvenirs and the Director Magazine. The former President while expressing his delight on the souvenirs and the magazine received, requested for the IoD to send him quarterly editions of the Director Magazine.
Other personalities and places visited included the following:
Visit to His Excellency, Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Adedapo Abiodun, F.IoD
The President and his delegation proceeded to meet with his Excellency the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Adedapo Abiodun, F.IoD. The meeting had the IoD delegation warmly received by the Governor, Prince Adedapo Abiodun and some members of his cabinet, the Chief of Staff and the Secretary to the State Government etc.
In his remarks, the President and Chairman of Council of IoD Nigeria, Chief Chris Okunowo F.IoD, thanked His Excellency, Prince Adedapo Abiodun, F.IoD, the Executive Governor of Ogun State for honoring the Institute’s request to pay a Courtesy call on him and for the very warm reception accorded to the IoD delegation.
He noted that he was very mindful of the busy nature of the office of His Excellency, and accordingly considered the honor of the visit to be a clear and unambiguous manifestation of the high esteem in which the Governor holds the leadership of the Private Sector and his recognition of the important role of IoD Nigeria as a partner with his administration.
He informed the Governor about the strides taken by the Institute since the IoD’s visit six (6) months ago and stated the purpose of the delegation’s visit He noted that the Abeokuta branch is intended to become the Corporate Governance hub for the Southwest region. He informed the Governor that the Institute intends to have a strong foothold in Ogun State, especially considering the fast-paced industrialization and the growth of the private sector in the State.
He also informed the Governor about the recent groundbreaking Ceremony of the IoD House Project at 8 Temple Road, Ikoyi Lagos. He noted that the project is expected to cost the Institute the sum of Ten Billion Naira (N10 billion naira) and informed His Excellency that every member of the Institute had been requested to pay a development levy of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N150,000) naira. He informed the Governor that there has been tremendous response from members to this request.
He solicited the Governor’s support for the allocation of a permanent site for the Abeokuta branch Office as he noted that the current office was donated by the Vice-Chairman of the Abeokuta Branch, Chief Bode Mustapha, M.IoD. He also solicited for the Governor’s financial support for the IoD House Project. Lastly, he informed the Governor that his tenure as President of the Institute would come to an end on the 24th June 2021 and solicited the support of the Governor to extend the same support offered to him to his successor. He thanked the Governor for the honor of the meeting and prayed to Almighty to keep him and grant him a successful tenure and beyond
In his response, the Governor, Prince Adedapo Abiodun thanked the President and Chairman of Governing Council, Chief Chris Okunowo IoD Nigeria for the visit. He apologized for the short notice of the rescheduling of the visit and noted that he had to be in Lagos for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s visit to Lagos to commission the rail-line project.
He noted that IoD Nigeria has been at the forefront of Corporate Governance in Nigeria. He noted that his administration was guided by the pillars of Corporate Governance, Transparency, Accountability, Fairness and Responsibility and noted that his administration had keyed to the concept of the words in the State Anthem, Iseya, and explained that the word, Iseya represented Infrastructure, Social welfare, Education, Youth empowerment and Agriculture, which he said were in line with the Global Sustainable Goals.
On the institute’s request for a permanent site for the Abeokuta Branch, he directed the Secretary of the State Government to work with the IoD to find a befitting site for the permanent site of the Abeokuta Branch. On the Institute’s request for support of its IoD House project, he promised to send his contributions to the Institute. On the request for support of IoD’s activities and membership drive, he promised to get senior members of his administration and Public Servants to be enrolled with the Institute.
He thanked the Outgoing President for his service to the nation and the Institute and promised to support the Incoming President’s administration. The meeting ended with exchange of pleasantries and souvenirs between the two teams, as well as taking of group photographs.
Visit to His Royal Majesty, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, CFR
The President and members of the IoD Delegation also visited the Palace of the Alake of Egbaland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, CFR who received the President and his team along with his Council Chiefs.
In his opening remarks, the President thanked His Royal Majesty for honoring the Institute’s request to pay a courtesy call on him and the very warm reception accorded to him and members of his team. The President noted that His Royal Majesty who is a Fellow of the Institute had always supported the Institute’s activities and its programs. He informed his Majesty that his tenure in office will come to an end on the 24th June 2021 and solicited the support of His Royal Majesty to extend the same support shown him to his successor.
Responding, His Royal Majesty, thanked the IoD team for visiting him at his Palace. He acknowledged the very critical role that the IoD plays in building the capacity of leaders of both the private and public sectors. He acknowledged that he had personally benefited from some of the capacity development programs of the Institute and urged business leaders to take advantage of the professional directorship programs offered by the Institute. He thanked the President for his services to the Institute and his nation and noted that he was incredibly proud of the achievements of the President and his team during his tenure.
He urged the Incoming President to do more in its advocacy and capacity development drive and promised to support the IoD as a member of the Institute. He promised to host the President at a befitting event before his tenure ends and implored him to visit before his exit from office. He also promised to sustain the support of the Institute and promised to ensure that all his Council Chiefs and notable sons and daughters of Egbaland are enrolled in the Institute. The President and Chairman of Council expressed the gratitude of the IoD for accepting to see them. The meeting ended with exchange of pleasantries, souvenirs and refreshments.
Visit to Apple and Pears Limited and International Breweries Limited
The President and Chairman of Council also led members of the IoD delegation to pay a scheduled visit to Apple and Pears Limited and International Breweries Ltd. The IoD Delegation was received by the Apple and Pears Limited delegation led by their General Manager. A brief of the company’s activities was provided and afterwards, the IoD Delegation was taken on a tour of the Factory Processing plants and premises.
While thanking the Apple and Pears team for the warm reception, the President highlighted the importance of their Board members joining the institute. He noted that some of the challenges currently faced by Apple and Pears particularly in the area of infrastructure, and availability of raw materials could be better articulated to the Government through the Institute. He also solicited the support of the Institute’s activities in Ogun State. The General Manager thanked the President and his delegation for the visit and indicated willingness to join the Institute and support its activities. He requested for details of the membership registration to be forwarded to him for the attention of members of his Board.
At International Breweries Limited, the President and his delegation was received by the Corporate Relations Manager and afterwards taken on a tour of the Factory Processing Plants.
Visit to the IoD Nigeria Abeokuta Branch
At the request of the Chairman and members of the Abeokuta Branch, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council led members of the Presidency to the Abeokuta Zonal Office of IoD Nigeria. The climax of the visit was the unveiling of the IoD Nigeria Abeokuta Branch signage by the President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Chief Chris O. Okunowo, F.IoD. The unveiling of the IoD Abeokuta branch signage was witnessed by members of the Presidency, the Chairman and Members of the Abeokuta Branch, gentlemen of the Press and well-wishers.
The President thanked the Abeokuta Branch for the honor bestowed on him and his team. He particularly commended the Chairman of the Abeokuta Branch, Iyalode Alaba Lawson, MFR, F.IoD for her leadership role at the branch and urged them to ensure that the Abeokuta branch becomes the Corporate Governance hub of the Southwest for IoD Nigeria.
Thereafter, the delegation led by the President proceeded to the Green Legacy Resort where the President and his delegation were hosted to a dinner party by the Abeokuta Branch. The dinner which was attended by dignitaries and special guests had in attendance the Honorable Commissioner of Trade and Commerce, in Ogun state, Mrs Kikelomo Longe who presented the President with a gift item from the branch.
Gift items to the IoD Delegation were also given by the Abeokuta Branch to the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President and other members of the IoD Delegation present. The delegation was subsequently entertained with food and drinks at the resort and ended at about 10pm.
Visit to Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation and Ogun State Television
On the 10th of June 2021, the President and members of his delegation visited the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation and the Ogun State Television where he had interview sessions on Radio and Television.