It was strictly a corporate affair last Wednesday evening when members of The Institute of Directors Nigeria (IoD) took time off their normal office schedule to gather at the Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, to induct new members into the prestigious body. Led by the President/Chairman of Council of the institute, Chief (Mrs) Eniola Fadayomi, members of the institute came all out to make a good lasting impression on their august guests, relatives and the inductees.
The event drew professionals, bankers, industrialists both from private and public sectors of the economy. some of those in attendance were: Olaide Adedipe; Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, KLNG, Princess Dolo Oyekan; Managing Director, Slopes International Ltd; Dr Garba Umar; Director Civil Litigation, F.T.C High Court, Abuja, Madugu Mohammed; F.T.C. High Court of Justice, Abuja, Bashar Attahire Alkali; Chief Executive Officer, Petralon Energy, Honourable Mrs Ahonsi Unuigbe; Mrs Helen Mark, Head of Service, Lagos State Public Service, Mrs Folashade Jaji and husband, Biodun Jaji.
Others included Human Resource Director, Nigeria Breweries, Victor Famuyibo; Executive Director, UBA Plc; Emeke E. Iweriebor; Group Company Secretary, UBA Plc, Bili Odum; Dangote Cement Plc, Brian Egan; Vista International Ltd, Ratan Varyani; MD/CEO, Bellforte Group, Wole Olomojobi; MD/CEO, Wood Group, David U.N. Kanu; MD/CEO, Allco Ins; Edwin Igbiti; Director General/CEO, Institute of Director Nigeria, Victor Banjo; Director Tulip Cocoa, Simon Hart; Managing Director/CEO, Tulip Cocoa; Simon Conway -Jarrett; Resgistrar/CEO, CIBN, Seye Awojobi; President/ Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers; Otunba (Mrs) Debola Osibogun; Managing Partner, Osibogun & Partners, Adekunle Osibogun; Group Head, Finance & Corporate Service, CIBN, Mr Segun Shonubi; CEO, Mus- Jin Nigeria Ltd/ Audit committee Member Sterling Bank Plc, Jinadu Mustapha Ishola; General Manager, Sterling Bank Plc, Mrs Mojisola Bakare-Asieru; and Chief Inspector, Sterling Bank Plc, Biodun Deroju, newly inducted members and visitors.
The guest speaker for the day’s event was Sir Remi Omotoso, the Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd, who spoke on the topic: ‘’Business Leaders and the Wind of Change in Nigeria’’. He chronicled corrupt practices and impunity that characterised the current administration and ways the incoming administration of President-elect General Mohammadu Buhari could tackle them. He charged all the business leaders in Nigeria to be ready for what he described as ‘imminent wind of change’.
“IoD Nigeria is a major force in driving this wind of change. It is the guiding beacon in corporate governance, teaching and development in Nigeria. Its members are among the best known practitioners. IoD has a duty to ensure that its members practise what the institute preaches. It must devise and enforce mechanism to sanction any erring members from established rules and standards. IoD must have zero-tolerance for any form of corrupt or fraudulent practices” he said.
Chief (Mrs), Eniola Fadayomi, President/ Chairman of Council, IoD Nigeria, in her welcome address, congratulated the new 140 members and two upgraded from associate members to full member status. New members took the oath of allegiance to adhere to the institute’s principle and regulations during their induction on Wednesday April 29, 2015 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
But it was not all a night of speeches, as newly inducted members of the institute that were born in the month of April jointly celebrated their birthday, by cutting a giant sized cake. And then guests were treated to a buffet to round off a well spent evening.