IODs Director’s Conference Focus On Sustainability, Corporate Governance As Requisites For Digital Transformation

At the upcoming 2022 Annual Directors Conference (ADM) of the Institute of Directors (IOD), Nigeria, sustainability and corporate governance are emphasized as requisite for assuring a digital transformation that leads to purposeful growth.

Speaking at the real-tual press conference held in Lagos, President and Chairman of the Governing Council (IOD), Dr Ije Jidenma, noted that the conference is in response to the current information and technology-driven world, further aided by the COVID 19 pandemic, demands that leaders possess not just the digital skills but vision to guide their organizations to purposely lead the complex and innovative transformation necessary to thrive in today’s world.

“Titled Corporate Governance & Digital Transformation: Leading Purposeful for Growth & Sustainability, the conference will focus on reskilling and retooling directors on how they can take advantage of digitalization to lead their organizations on the path of sustainable growth and profitability,” said Jidenma.

Contrary to the usual practice of touting sustainability for its name’s sake, Jidenma said it’s beyond a buzzword for IOD, rather a principle its encouraging amongst its members to embed in their institutions both private and public.

IOD has developed a sustainability report which aids in the assessment and enhancement entrenchment of sustainability which it further urges its members to deploy. In addition, its contracted sustainability experts such as keynote Speaker at the conference and Deputy Secretary General of the UN, Dr Amina Mohammed; Board Member, IFRS Foundation, Sustainability Standards Board, Dr Ndidi Nnoli Edozien; and Strategy & Sustainable, Lagos Business School, Pan-African University, Dr Adun Okupe to speak at the two-day event.

“IFRS is doing a lot of work in terms of sustainability. IOD is also looking at sustainability partnerships with other parties,” said the Chairman of the ADC Planning Committee, Alhaji Lamis Dikko.

Similarly, they noted the benefit of corporate governance in fostering good governance in the nation. “Ethical leadership is what we think when we talk about corporate governance. No one is an island to himself. Directors are part and parcel of Nigeria. They can apply the principles of ethical leadership which includes, transparency, equity, inclusiveness etc. for a better society.

Other issues to be addressed at the conference include poor industrial revolution, linear directors’ potentials, building a corporate governance that will serve the nation, enhancing sustainability in institutions among others.

Scheduled to hold at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, the conference split into four sessions, at two sessions per day, will be officially flagged off by President Muhammadu Buhari on the Thursday, November 24, and end post-Friday’s November 25 session with a Government Meets Sectors Dinner later in the evening.

Special guests at the conference include Nigeria’s Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan as Special Guest of Honour; Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika is the guest of honour; and Anambra State Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo as a guest speaker.