The Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria has said there is a need to increase stakeholders’ awareness of the imperatives of good corporate governance and best practices.

President and Chairman of the Governing Council, IoD, Dr. Ije Jidenma, said this during a media briefing ahead of its 40th anniversary, stating that the events will generate new thoughts and practicable ideas on corporate governance, leadership, ethics, economy and business, especially with peculiar references to the Nigerian business environment.

She said it would also provide the forum opportunity to enlighten stakeholders on the institute’s diverse advocacy, capacity development and membership engagement tools, as well as its platforms.

She said the theme of the anniversary, ‘Celebrating 40 Years of Visionary Leadership and Corporate Governance’, was chosen to bring to the limelight, the various contributions of IoD Nigeria to enhancing the quality of corporate governance since its inception.

According to her, the programmes will help crystalise a deeper understanding of good governance, which will have positive effects on all sectors, including public institutions and regulatory agencies across various professional and business sectors.

The IoD chief expressed optimism that the programmes would set the tone for IoD’s enhanced leadership role as an advocate of corporate governance in the coming years.

According to her, there will be a documentary during the flag-off that is expected to situate “the subject within the context of advocacy in Nigeria’s corporate governance trajectories and taking special note of the present status without losing sight of the future.”

Hopeful that the anniversary celebrations promise to attract policymakers and bigwigs in the private and public sectors, she added that the awards that would be given during the programme would inspire recipients and non-recipients to increase their commitment to service excellence and the ideals of good corporate governance.

Chairman of the 40th-anniversary committee, Yemi Akeju, who gave details of programmes lined up for the anniversary, said they have been structured to add immense value to players in the Nigerian corporate governance space.

He said the programme would commence with a courtesy call to President Muhammadu Buhari, while a flag-off will hold in Lagos in April. Other activities, he said, will include a health and fitness programme, ‘Walk for Life’, that would be held in Lagos and the institute’s branches in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Abeokuta and a special Golf tourney in Lagos.

He added that the Institute would hold the foundation laying ceremony of its national headquarters building, tagged ‘IoD Towers’ in Lagos, while a special anniversary gala is scheduled to hold on May 17, 2023, to climax the anniversary celebration.