By Rukayat Moisemhe
The Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Nigeria has formalised a three-year strategic partnership with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC).
The partnership is to deepen trade, investment and corporate governance linkages between Nigeria and the wider Commonwealth community.
The President, CIoD Nigeria, Mr Adetunji Oyebanji, made this known on Monday in Lagos, via a communique detailing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing.
He was represented by Mrs Amina Oyagbola, 1st Vice President, CIoD Nigeria, at the signing ceremony.
Oyebanji noted that the agreement marked a significant milestone in positioning Nigerian directors within the global economic architecture of the Commonwealth.
He said the partnership institutionalised a bridge between Nigerian boardrooms and commonwealth markets, enabling local directors to play more influential roles in international commerce and governance.
He noted the CWEIC official mandate from the Commonwealth Heads of Government was to facilitate trade and investment across the Commonwealth network, under the symbolic leadership of King Charles III.
He added that the council’s ecosystem of about 140 strategic partners, spanning global institutions, sovereign governments and leading enterprises, made it one of the most credible multilateral business platforms globally.
“By aligning with an organisation that spans 35 countries and territories across the 56 Commonwealth member nations, CIoD Nigeria is expanding the strategic horizon for our members.
“We are ensuring that Nigerian directors are not just observers of global markets, but active architects within them,” he said.
Oyebanji added that through initiatives such as the Commonwealth business forum held alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the partnership would create structured pathways for Nigerian directors to engage at high-level policy dialogues and cross-border investment discussions.
He said the collaboration was designed to also strengthen trade, investment and corporate governance ties between Nigeria and other Commonwealth countries, especially in a period characterised by global volatility and geopolitical realignments.
The CIoD president described the “Commonwealth Advantage” — rooted in shared legal systems, language, regulatory familiarity and institutional traditions as a stable platform for commercial expansion.
He said the institute would leverage the partnership to promote high standards of corporate governance, ethical leadership and board effectiveness beyond Nigeria’s borders.
Oyebanji added that the agreement was not ceremonial but a structured commitment with clear accountability to deliver tangible value to CIoD members and the Nigerian economy.
He noted that the collaboration would give Nigerian directors access to a network of about 2.5 billion people across some of the fastest-growing economies globally, while strengthening Nigeria’s boardroom influence on the global stage.
CWEIC, Chief Executive Officer, Samantha Cohen, lauded the CIoD leadership for the partnership, which she says is a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s economic and governance landscape.
Cohen expressed readiness to translating the shared ambition into practical outcomes for Nigeria and the wider Commonwealth.(NAN)
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
