ICSAN remains leading voice on corporate governance, public administration – Ayeku

President and Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administration of Nigeria, ICSAN, Bode Ayeku, has stated that the Institute remains the leading voice on corporate governance and public administration in Nigeria with its various advocacy programmes.

Ayeku reiterated this at the 2021 Public Lecture of the Institute Held On Friday July 16, 2021, At the Institute Secretariat, Alausa Ikeja.

He said one of the major ways the ICSAN has acquired this enviable reputation is through the various programs on topical business and national issues like Public Lecture, The Conversation, among other enlightening and educative programs.

 “The Public Lecture is an important event in the Institute’s calendar. It has become an established platform through which the Institute contributes to national discourse on trending issues of national or global significance.

 “ICSAN is a leading, statutorily established professional body, dedicated to enhancing the status and practice of Corporate Governance and Public Administration. It is the only professional body authorized in Nigeria to conduct the examinations leading to the qualification as Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

“Over the years, we have consistently promoted the ideals of Corporate Governance through periodic issuance of policy papers and Guidance materials on Corporate and Public Administration.

For the past 55 years that we have been in existence, we have regularly produced seasoned professionals who have contributed their quota to the nation’s economic advancement.

“The theme of this year’s lecture is “Sustainability Beyond Rhetoric as a Corporate Survival Strategy”. Year in and year out, the Institute has consistently chosen very apt and trendy themes for her Annual Public Lecture (and indeed for all her programmes) and this year’s theme is not an exception.

Ayeku said sustainability concepts as espoused in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) therefore refers to the inclusion of the non-financial topics within investment decision-making. It is a business approach that, through policy mainstreaming, seeks to build long-term competitiveness without unduly compromising short-term profitability and cash flows.

 “You would agree with me that the challenges foisted by COVID 19 pandemic have exacerbated the problems of sustainability in many companies and industries, the concept has become more relevant now.  When we now say sustainability beyond rhetoric, what are we talking about? Nearly everyone will agree that the concept of sustainability is very vital not only for the present business operations, but for the future of human society as well.

He however pointed out how many organisations or people are really committed to the ideals of sustainability.

“So, when we say sustainability beyond rhetoric, we mean sustainability beyond mere words, beyond mere lip service, sustainability beyond mere box-ticking; a kind of “they say we should comply and we have complied.”

 “I will refrain from delving too much into the theme in order not to usurp the assigned responsibilities of our Speaker and Discussants who are more than qualified to do justice to the theme in all its ramifications,” he added.

The Chairman of the Occasion was the Executive Chairman, CMC Logistics, Mr. Sonny Allison. The Guest Speaker is no other person than the Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mrs. Sade Morgan.

Other discussants were: enriching perspectives to the discourse at this forum are the Chief Executive Officer, CSR in Action, Mrs. Bekemo Masade Olowola, and Director, Corporate Affairs and Sustenance Business (West Africa) Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Oluwasoromidayo George.