By Henry Uche
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nyesom Wike, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, and other prominent Nigerians from both the public and private sectors will on April 14 grace the N3.5 billion National Secretariat project of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), in Abuja.
At a Media brief in Lagos, the president of the institute, Mrs. Funmi Ekundayo, told newsmen that while Cardoso Chairs the fundraising event, FCT Minister and others, Members of the Diplomatic Corp, Heads of Government Agencies, captains of industries and other promoters of good governance and administration would equally throw their weight behind the project.
According to the ICSAN President, the goal is to strengthen the governance, leadership, and public administration structure of Nigeria by the very act of grooming thousands of young professionals to fill in the widened gaps at all levels of governance and leadership in the country.
“We have a state-of-the-art project envisioned to strengthen the institute’s capacity and influence in advancing corporate governance and administrative excellence across Nigeria because we are committed to engendering professionalism”
Speaking, ICSAN’s Honorary Treasurer and Vice President-elect, Francis Olawale, emphasised the broader significance of the initiative. “In every sphere of life, everybody needs support at some point in time. When we looked at the project, its magnitude, and how enormous it is, we decided to call on our friends, well-wishers, members, and other stakeholders to join hands and build a fitting edifice.”
Olawale further highlighted the evolving needs of the profession, stating that organisations must adapt to remain sustainable and responsive to modern developments.
“The secretariat we have been using, erected many years ago, was once considered glamorous. However, times have changed, and development has overtaken what was once a befitting edifice. We believe it is time to align with current trends and realities by pursuing a new outlook that reflects contemporary architectural and organisational standards,” he maintained.
Beyond infrastructure, the administrator reiterated that ICSAN is dedicated to promoting the tenets and ethos of good governance. “Governance is critical everywhere. One of Africa’s major needs today is good governance, and this isn’t just limited to Africa; good governance is required all over the world,” Olawale remarked.
He also spoke about ICSAN’s broader role within society, noting its contributions as a sounding board for successive governments. “Through our events, we issue communiqués that have proven useful for guiding policies. This has led to invitations from government agencies seeking further guidance from our institute.
“Our contributions are not limited to policy; we produce professionals who serve various sectors of the economy and have always been at the heart of governance through the role of company secretaries. Every thriving entity, including many that you are familiar with, depends on competent company secretaries to manage their boards effectively,” Olawale affirmed.
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