The Nigerian Economic Summit Group has charged directors to rethink their roles and influences to ensure economic development and engender social stability.
Chairman, Board of Directors, NESG, Asue Ighodalo, said this at the investiture of Dr Ije Jidenma as the 17th President and Chairman of Council of Institute of Directors on Sunday in Lagos.
The theme of the investiture was: “Nigeria in Challenging Times: Rethinking the Role of Governance in Leadership.”
Ighodalo said that the charge was due to the central role leadership played in good governance, which would in turn catalyse economic growth.
He noted that countries that achieved economic growth and development had sustained visionary and political leadership, strong institutions and a forward looking, as well as influential private sector.
Ighodalo said that the time was now to strengthen the alliance and deepen the trust between financial institutions, corporate organisations, entrepreneurs and regain the confidence of the international market.
“More than ever, these times require visionary and exemplary leadership in our public and private sector as we have been through two economic recessions and a pandemic in the last six years.
“There has also been contraction in demands for goods and services, fiscal deficit, high unemployment, volatile oil revenues, high inflation, depreciation currency and decaying health facilities, among others.
“Directors and business leaders have not fully realised the power we can wield as a cohesive, transformative body and have not gathered the will and discipline to push effectively for a review of policies and to encourage government to try a different tack.
“We must pay specific attention to our public sector leadership, monitor and review policies in place to create an enabling environment for economic growth.
“We must force and upgrade of discussions to issues of competence, vision, social policies, integrity, love of the Nigerian people and understanding of the dynamic world politics,” he said.
Immediate past President, IoD, Chris Okunowo, charged members of the institute and corporate bodies to provide the support necessary to engender the success of the new president.
The new President, IoD, Ije Jidenma, said that her administration which would span two years would be based on a “future readiness” mantra and hinged on five pillars.
She listed them to include inclusiveness of private-public sector and equal gender participation, digital transformation, chartered status and the growth and development of the institute, and the building project of the institute.
She said, “We would create an opportunity for mentorship and even cross mentorship from the young one to the older generation.
“We would drive processes to ensure that the institute become more digitalisation to serve our members diligently.
“We would continue to educate our members to entrench values of meritocracy, accountability, fairness, good governance and partner with great organisations to move this nation forward.”
Recall that Jidenma, the founder, Leading Edge Consulting, has consulted for Small and Medium Enterprises, indigenous companies, public sector and international non-governmental organisations.
NAN
