The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, ICSAN has reaffirmed its resolve to deepen the implementation of sound corporate governance across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Mr. Babatunde Oladipo Okuneye, ACIS; Registrar/CEO, ICSAN, Mrs. Uto Ukpanah, FCIS; Vice President, ICSAN, Mrs. Funmi Ekundayo, FCIS; President and Chairman of Council, Mr. Francis Olawale, FCIS; Honorary Treasurer, ICSAN, Mrs. Nkechi Onyenso, FCIS; Chairman, Publicity and Advocacy Committee, ICSAN, during the Presidential Press Parley commemorating the President’s one year in Office.


ICSAN urges the public sector to imbibe the same corporate governance code as the private sector, saying this would help in achieving the desired economic development of the nation.
It believes that there was need for both sectors to be regulated by the same practices and rules aligned with best global practices to engender growth.
Its President, Funmi Ekundayo says in every economy, there is always the private and public sectors and it is only when both sectors are doing the right thing that the desired economic development can be achieved.
On how the country’s unemployment can be tackled, the ICSAN President said the government must diversifying its economy, enhancing the agriculture and manufacturing sectors, and improving infrastructural development.
Ekundayo a lawyer called for the provision of requisite support for start-up businesses, from funding to mentorship and business guidelines, to help them put the right structures in place to thrive.
She also advocated tax rebates for businesses to spur investments and more training to enhance digital economy development.
On ways to drive the development of public administration in Nigeria, Ekundayo said the entrenchment of sound corporate governance principles was critical.
She noted ICSAN visits to ministries, departments, and agencies to propagate the principles of corporate governance showed that government institutions were very receptive to its adoption.
According to her, once the country has stronger institutions as a nation, there is no stopping, and the country must do whatever it takes to institutionalise good reforms.
In her words, ICSAN encourages the government to continue to strengthen anti-corruption agencies and anti-corruption laws.
Ekundayo who is also the Council Chairman said this while briefing newsmen on her tenure as ICSAN President over the past one year.
Ekundayo who is the first female President said the institute under her leadership had recorded modest but significant achievements, such as the groundbreaking ceremony of its official secretariat.
According to her, administrations plans to build a modest secretariat, while adopting the self-funding model, they crave the support of federal and state governments and well-meaning corporate entities that know the importance of good corporate governance to lend the much-required financial support.
According to her, the institute brokered partnerships with various professional bodies, tertiary institutions, and organisations across public and private sectors to entrench good governance in the country.
She also mentioned that the bill to change the institute’s name to the Corporate Governance Institute of Nigeria had gained momentum and was about to enter its second reading.
She also noted that it recorded a significant milestone by its incursion into the Northern Nigeria space with the ICSAN brand, as it successfully birthed the Kaduna State chapter.
The chapter which is functioning, she noted, had started to make a lot of penetration within the State Civil Service.
Another milestone, she noted, was the memorandum of understanding in collaboration with University of Benin, for the Masters in Governance programme.
She said, “Currently, we’re putting finishing touches to the implementation plan as the programme is scheduled to start, come next session, and that will be September. So in our quest to continue to propagate quality education and knowledge on governance matters in Nigeria, this collaboration has also come into play.”
Publication of its textbook on governance, she added, was also another key achievement.
She noted that ICSAN has critical stakeholders that it partners with on the subject of corporate governance
According to her, “ICSAN happens to be one of the professional bodies that have been authorised by law to certify people who want to play within the space. We have submitted a curriculum to the Corporate Affairs Commission for its approval, to enable us to commence professional examination and certification for those who want to play within that space.”
She noted that it had been engaging with the key MDAs within the public sector.
The ICSAN president also said the institute has submitted different advocacy documents and position papers to relevant stakeholders.
“We continued our strategic engagement with our global partner, the Corporate Secretaries International Association,” she said.
She disclosed that it had also rebranded the institute’s magazine to reflect the name that the institute will be translated to very soon after the nod of the National Assembly, from the chartered secretary and administrator, to the rebranded governance professional.
In her words, the last year has been one with a tighter economic trajectory, and as an institute, they are not insulated from what goes on, but have done their best to turn around deficit position in finances to weather the storm of the general economic climate.
Ekundayo said, “ICSAN is a leading institution on corporate governance, on corporate secretaryship and also, public administration. The education we offer our members is top-notch and world class. ICSAN continues to produce members who have the expertise, who have been thoroughly baked to add tremendous value whether they find themselves in the public sector’ space or the private sector, or the not for profit space.
“In that area, we have been able to add value by exporting our members into different ecosystems in Nigeria. The value we create as ICSAN member is usually evident wherever you find our members.”
According to her, good governance is not limited to just a corporate setting alone, not just the private sector alone, but it wants to also continue to see improved corporate governance practices within the public sector.
She lauded the principal office holders, governing council, and the entire secretariat, members and stakeholders for the significant, remarkable progress recorded in the last year.