The President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria, Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji, has called on the newly inaugurated executives of the institute’s South-West Abeokuta Zone to intensify efforts toward expanding the organisation’s membership while promoting sound corporate governance.
Oyebanji made the call in Abeokuta on Wednesday during the second Annual General Meeting and inauguration of the new executive council of the zone. He was represented at the event by the institute’s Director-General, Taiwo Noilas-Ajayi.
Addressing members at the gathering, Oyebanji said the institute expects the new leadership to deepen engagement with professionals and directors across the region in order to strengthen the institute’s presence and influence.
“As we swear in a new set of executives today, I urge you to broaden our membership base and deepen engagement with professionals across sectors,” he said.
According to him, the South-West remains one of Nigeria’s most vibrant economic zones with enormous potential for the institute to attract more directors and industry leaders into its fold.
“The South-West is home to major industrial and intellectual hubs in the country. There are many accomplished directors who are yet to join the institute, and I encourage the new leadership to reach out to them and bring them into the CIoD family,” Oyebanji added.
He noted that the institute has grown into a statutory professional body dedicated to promoting responsible leadership and best practices in corporate governance across organisations in Nigeria.
Oyebanji also urged members to actively participate in the institute’s programmes and initiatives, saying their contributions would help strengthen the organisation and expand its impact.
Also speaking, the Director of the CIoD Academy, Mr Ibitayo Ogunbanwo, said membership of the institute provides professionals with opportunities to build strong networks and enhance their leadership capacity.
He explained that the academy organises both local and international conferences as well as specialised training programmes designed to equip directors and industry leaders with the skills required to guide their organisations effectively.
“Through our conferences and training programmes, we ensure that directors are equipped with the professional and technical knowledge needed to lead their organisations in line with global best practices,” Ogunbanwo said.
Earlier, the immediate past Chairman of the South-West Abeokuta Zone, Chief Bode Mustapha, presented the stewardship report of the outgoing leadership, noting that the zone recorded the admission of 27 new members in the last two years, bringing the total membership to 154.
Mustapha, however, observed that many of the members in the zone are civil servants, with Lagos State being an exception, and suggested that reducing the enrolment fee and allowing new members to pay in instalments could attract more professionals into the institute.
“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.
He also expressed confidence in the new executive council led by the newly elected chairman, Dr Remilekun Bakare, urging them to sustain the progress recorded by the outgoing leadership.
“We have laid a solid foundation for the growth of this zone. With the calibre of individuals elected into the new executive council, I believe they will build on what has been achieved and take the zone to greater heights,” Mustapha added.
The highlight of the event was the swearing-in of the new executives, with Bakare pledging that the new leadership would work to make the South-West Abeokuta Zone more active and impactful.
“Our goal is to build on the achievements of the past leadership while expanding membership and strengthening the institute’s activities across the zone,” Bakare said.
The newly inaugurated executives include Dr Remilekun Bakare as Chairman, 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.
