By Rukayat Moisemhe
President, Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria (CIoD), Mr Adetunji Oyebanji, has urged the CIoD Young Directors Forum (YDF) new executives to deepen governance competence, foster peer learning and cross sector collaboration.
Oyebanji, represented by Mrs Amina Oyagbola, 1st vice president CIoD Nigeria, gave the advice on Tuesday in Lagos at the third YDF Annual General Meeting.
He said his advice was pertinent particularly as boards were navigating economic volatility, regulatory scrutiny, technological disruption, sustainability expectations and heightened stakeholder activism.
According to him, the quality of governance has become a defining differentiator of institutional success.
Oyebanji stated that the YDF was not an adjunct to the institute; but was a strategic investment in the future of directorship in the nation.
He said the forum served as a leadership pipeline to groom principled, competent, and forward-thinking directors.
“As members of the YDF, you are expected to embody the core values of our institute, encapsulated in the acronym IMPACT; Integrity, Meritocracy, Professionalism, Accountability, Customer-centricity, and Teamwork.
“These are not aspirational ideals; they are governance imperatives,” he said.
Oyebanji urged the incoming executives to also champion ethical leadership and responsible directorship and strengthen advocacy for sustainable and value-driven governance practices.
He charged them to embrace innovation, not only in business thinking but in member engagement, thought leadership, and digital relevance.
He said they must build a forum that was intellectually rigorous, professionally respected, and strategically aligned with the broader vision of the institute.
“Let your tenure be defined by discipline in execution, clarity of purpose, and measurable impact.
“The success of the Young Directors’ Forum is inseparable from the future strength of the institute and the future strength of the Institute is inseparable from the quality of governance in our nation.
“As we move forward, let us remain united in our shared vision to elevate the practice of directorship in Nigeria and to position the institute as a beacon of governance excellence on the continent,” Oyebanji said.
Ms Omobola Adekola, New Chairperson, CIoD Nigeria YDF, noted that the forum was established to nurture, prepare, and position the next generation of ethical, competent, and globally competitive directors.
Adekola noted that their responsibility was not simply to convene young professionals; but to shape governance-ready leaders who could steer organisations through complexity, volatility, disruption, and transformation.
She said the forum’s 2026 roadmap was intentionally aligned with the institute’s president’s ICE strategic pillars.
According to her, focus would be on three core priorities of membership growth and structured transition pathways, branch expansion and national inclusion and stakeholder engagement and capacity development.
“By the end of this tenure in 2027, I envision a young directors forum that consistently produces boardroom-ready leaders and a forum that becomes the reference point for emerging directors in Nigeria.
“While this vision cannot be achieved by an executive committee alone, I invite every member to lean in, step forward, and take responsibility as the future of
governance will be shaped by those who prepare for it,” she said.
Mr Eyo Eyo, outgoing Chairman, YDF, said his tenure marked a transformative chapter for the forum defined by seamless leadership transition, strategic consolidation, and significant growth.
He said activities through the year was anchored on four strategic pillars of membership value, strategic partnerships, institutional alignment, and national expansion.
Eyo said the forum’s achievements in 2025 was a testament to collective effort of the CloD President and members of governing council, the YDF advisory committee and executive and partners.
“The Young Directors’ Forum stands today as a more vibrant, structured, and impactful community.
“We have not only grown in numbers but have significantly elevated our value proposition and strategic relevance within the CloD ecosystem.
“As we look ahead, we are poised to build on this momentum, championing the development of a new generation of ethical, competent, and influential directors for Nigeria,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng).
Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa
