Governance experts, business leaders and public officials have charged the new President of the Chartered Institute of Directors, Dr. Adetunji Oyebanji, and directors across sectors to promote ethical, purpose-driven and adaptive governance.
The call was made on Thursday in Lagos during the investiture of Oyebanji as the 19th President of the institute.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, governance advisor and legal author, said centralised and traditional governance models were no longer sufficient in a rapidly changing world. He stressed that the future of governance must be “ethically grounded, technologically adaptive and institutionally focused.”
According to him, “If Nigeria is to rise and secure its rightful place among nations, both leaders and citizens must accept these truths: to lead with integrity, to build lasting legacies, and to collectively commit to governance that will make the nation proud.”
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, represented by Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, described leadership as service, sacrifice and vision.
He praised CIoD’s long-standing role in promoting corporate governance and ethical standards, and urged directors to embrace innovation, meritocracy, transparency and global competitiveness.
Prof. Enase Okonedo, Vice Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, highlighted the need for directors to act with moral uprightness and courage in the face of ethical dilemmas. She described Oyebanji’s four-decade career in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, including his tenure as Managing Director and CEO of 11 Plc, as a model of professionalism and integrity.
In his acceptance speech, Oyebanji unveiled a three-point agenda: Implementation, Collaboration and Engagement, as the guiding principle of his service. He pledged to lead with humility, integrity and dedication while positioning CIoD Nigeria as a hub of governance and leadership excellence in Africa.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), also prayed for Oyebanji’s success, noting his cultural advocacy and expressing confidence in his ability to make a mark in the governance space.
