Artificial Intelligence, AI, is indeed transforming various sectors, including industries, government, and personal lives, by offering new solutions, enhancing efficiency, and reducing costs. 

Its impact is evident in areas like healthcare, finance, and transportation, with applications ranging from disease detection and personalised medicine to fraud prevention and self-driving vehicles. 

L-R Vice President of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Francis Olawale, FCIS, President of ICSAN, Uto Ukpanah, FCIS, Immediate Past President, Funmi Ekundayo, FCIS, Registrar/CEO of ICSAN, Babatunde Okuneye, ACIS, during the Investiture of the 30th President and Chairman of the Governing Council held recently.

This is according to expert at the Investiture Ceremony of the thirtieth President of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, ICSAN, Uto Ukpanah.

The expert said the Artificial Intelligence has already transformed numerous industries, government agencies, and personal aspects of modern life, as it continues to evolve and develop, its influence and importance.

The expert tasked companies’ secretaries, registrars and administrators on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence while enhancing Environmental, Social, and Governance practices and data management.

In the expert words, as governance professionals, secretaries and registrars played a crucial role in ensuring compliance, transparency, and efficient corporate decision-making.

The expert stressed that AI is no longer just an emerging trend but a critical tool for strengthening governance frameworks, improving compliance, and ensuring sustainable business practices.

A former Minister of Communication Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson, urged company secretaries and corporate boards to take leading roles in establishing robust Artificial Intelligence, governance frameworks.

Johnson said establishing robust Artificial Intelligence governance frameworks would ensure its safe use in Nigeria, as AI governance frameworks must uphold transparency, accountability, and human oversight while balancing innovation with compliance and ethical responsibility.

She noted that there had been cases of an algorithm bias present in AI, she said organisations must have more vigilant boards and an appropriate AI governance structure to identify and mitigate possible risks during use.

Johnson urged company secretaries to, when necessary, publicly disclose major AI issues, uses, and the safeguards around it, develop clear AI ethics policies and ensure that boards do not forego the human element.

In her valedictory speech, ICSAN outgoing President, Funmi Ekundayo, said the tremendous privilege to serve as president had been humbling and uplifting, challenging and transformative.

Ekundayo listed some of her administration’s achievements to include promotion of corporate governance in public and private sectors, and strengthened partnership with regulatory authorities.

She added that the institute began the building of its national secretariat during her tenure, secured linkage agreements with reputable institutions, enhanced publicity projections and a host of others.

She, however, noted that challenges of membership size and lingering stereotypes that confined ICSAN to secretarial functions still lingered.

“The passage of the Chartered Governance Institute of Nigeria (CGIN) Bill, which seeks to rebrand and reposition the institute, is a vital part of that journey, and I remain hopeful that this noble aspiration will soon be realised,” she said.

Ekundayo commended ICSAN, its corporate partners and all stakeholders for their contributions to her administration’s success.

She expressed absolute confidence in the leadership of her successor, Ukpanah, describing her as a woman of substance that was principled and equipped with the leadership depth required to move ICSAN to greater heights.

“I have no doubt that she will consolidate on the gains we have made and chart new territories in the growth of ICSAN and I encourage every member to give her their full and unwavering support,” she said.

In her acceptance speech, Ukpanah said the tenure of the pioneer female president of the institute, Funmi Ekundayo, was remarkable, bold, brilliant and impactful.

Ukpanah noted that the outgoing president led ICSAN with great foresight, navigating the tides of change with clarity and strength.

She noted that the fact that two women were succeeding one another affirmed ICSAN’s commitment to gender inclusion, meritocracy, excellence and flourishing of talent regardless of gender.

She stated that her tenure’s theme: “Expanding the Scope of Developments, Building on Legacy of Visionary Leadership”, was not merely a slogan; but a philosophical and strategic call to action.

Ukpanah said her administration would amplify existing initiatives while exploring new terrains that challenged comfort zones and awakened the latent potentials of the community.

“We will prioritise continuity, but we will also innovate, preserve heritage, yet remain receptive to disruption.

“With deep feeling of humility and remarkable sense of purpose, I hereby formally accept the mantle of leadership as the 30th President and Chairman of the Governing Council of ICSAN for the next two years,” she said.

Ukpanah, a distinguished legal practitioner and governance professional, is the first-ever recipient of the Global Corporate Secretary of the Year Award, instituted in 2024 by the Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA), the umbrella body representing governance professionals across four continents.

Currently serving as the Company Secretary of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and the MTN Nigeria Foundation, Ukpanah was said to have earned recognition for her contributions to corporate governance, playing a key role in MTN Nigeria’s historic direct listing on the Premium Board of the Nigerian Exchange Limited.

She also oversees governance at MTN’s affiliated entities including MoMo Payment Service Bank, XS Broadband, and Yello Digital Financial Services.

It was said her investiture comes months after she was named the first-ever recipient of the Global Corporate Secretary of the Year Award by the Corporate Secretaries International Association.

The award, instituted in 2024 and spanning four continents, honoured her for pioneering work in governance, strategy and ethics, which the award panel described as globally replicable.

The incoming ICSAN President will assume office with the theme, ’Expanding the Scope of Developments, Building on the Legacy of Visionary Leadership’.

Her administration is expected to focus on deepening corporate governance standards across sectors, reinforcing ICSAN’s collaboration with key regulators including the Corporate Affairs Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Financial Reporting Council while driving progress of ICSAN’s new national secretariat construction.

“Her presidency will focus on strategic goals, including, advancing corporate governance in both public and private sectors, strengthening ICSAN’s relationship with regulatory bodies such as CAC, SEC, and FRC, ensuring substantial progress in the construction of ICSAN’s new national secretariat, sustaining ICSAN’s position as the foremost advocate of Corporate Governance in Nigeria and formalising partnerships with top-tier universities for academic linkage programmes.

Beyond her professional resume, Ukpanah’s story is one of depth, dedication, and distinction,” the statement said.

Her focus is seen as a continuation of the “transformational approach” adopted by her predecessor, whose tenure ran under the theme, ’At the Speed of Thought: Innovating Impact and Thriving Through Emerging Trends’.

Born in the United States to a family of scholars, Ukpanah was raised by Professor Moses Akpanudo and Adiahaobong Jessie, both former academics at Vanderbilt and Lipscomb universities.

On their return to Nigeria, she attended Cornelia Connelly College in Uyo before earning her LLB from the University of Cross River State (now University of Uyo) in 1989. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990.

“Her professional journey includes stints at notable legal and financial institutions: Paul Usoro & Co., Ukiri & Co., United Bank for Africa, Mutual Trust Savings and Loans Limited, and M&E Finance Limited. At UBA, she played a critical role in monitoring Nigeria’s first Global Depository Receipts programme.