Dr Remilekun Bakare has emerged as the new Chairman of the South-West Abeokuta Zone of the Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria, succeeding Chief Bode Mustapha for a two year term.
Bakare was sworn in during the zone’s second Annual General Meeting held in Abeokuta, where a new executive council was inaugurated to steer the affairs of the zone.
Members of the new executive council include Mr Olaoluwa Osundina as Vice Chairman, Mrs Funmi Ogidan as Honorary Secretary, Mrs Ronke Akinleye as Honorary Assistant Secretary, Mr Taiwo Olalekan as Honorary Treasurer, and Dr (Mrs) Olaitan Aworonke as Public Relations Officer.
While speaking, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the institute, Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji, urged the new leadership to intensify efforts aimed at strengthening membership growth and deepening corporate governance practices across the region.
Oyebanji, who was represented at the event by the Director-General of the institute, Taiwo Noilas-Ajayi, said the South-West holds enormous potential for the expansion of the institute’s membership.
“As we swear in a new set of executive members today, I am charging you to significantly amplify our membership growth and engagement strategies,” he said.
According to him, the South-West remains one of the country’s most vibrant industrial and intellectual hubs with many qualified directors yet to join the institute.
“The South-West zone sits at the heart of Nigeria’s industrial and intellectual hubs, and there is vast untapped potential of directors who are yet to join our fold. I urge the incoming team to move beyond the status quo with aggressive and strategic outreach to all sectors of the economy within this zone,” Oyebanji added.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of the CIoD Academy, Mr Ibitayo Ogunbanwo, said membership of the institute provides professionals with the opportunity to connect with accomplished industry leaders while promoting sound corporate governance.
He explained that the academy regularly organises conferences and training programmes locally and internationally to equip directors and captains of industry with the knowledge required to guide their organisations effectively.
“Through our conferences and training programmes, we ensure that directors and business leaders are equipped with the professional and technical skills required to lead their organisations in line with global best practices,” Ogunbanwo said.
Earlier in his stewardship report, the immediate past Chairman of the South-West Abeokuta Zone, Chief Bode Mustapha, said the outgoing leadership admitted 27 new members within the last two years, increasing the zone’s membership strength to 154.
Mustapha, however, noted that membership in the zone is largely dominated by civil servants, except in Lagos State, and suggested that the institute should consider reducing the enrolment fee and allow new members to pay the registration fee in instalments.
“If the institute considers making the registration process more flexible, particularly with payment options, it will encourage more professionals to join and strengthen membership growth in the zone,” he said.
In his acceptance remarks, Bakare pledged to build on the achievements of the immediate past leadership and work toward making the Abeokuta Zone more active and impactful.
“We will consolidate on the progress made by the past leadership while expanding membership engagement and strengthening the institute’s activities within the zone,” Bakare said.
