By Adebola Adegoke

 

 

 

Ethics and compliance experts have called on corporate organisations to build strong ethical systems and establish robust whistleblowing frameworks to ensure long-term profitability and sustainability.

 

 

 

They made the call on Tuesday during a webinar organised by Kaizen Academy, with the theme: “Overcoming Ethical Dilemmas in Corporate Decision Making”.

 

Kaizen Academy is a consulting firm that provides corporate strategy, compliance and governance advisory services.

 

Ms Gbemi Yusuff, Associate Vice President, Ethics and Compliance, NMC Healthcare, said that ethical responsibility should not rest solely with leadership but must permeate all levels of the organisation.

 

 

 

Yusuff noted that ethical leadership, institutional accountability, and a culture that encouraged reporting of wrongdoing were crucial for organisations to thrive in today’s competitive and regulated business environment.

 

 

 

“Companies often proclaim integrity and accountability in their public declarations, but it is the lived experience within the organisation that truly defines the culture.

 

 

 

“Corporate culture is the invisible hand that guides decisions when no one is watching.

 

 

 

“Everyone who has any level of responsibility is a leader in some way and must act in alignment with the organisation’s ethical values.

 

 

 

“In moments of ethical tension, it is culture that determines whether people act rightly even without direct supervision.”

 

 

 

She called for ethics to be integrated into long-term corporate strategy, with clear and measurable key performance indicators to reward integrity alongside results.

 

 

 

“Ethics is not a burden or an obstacle, it is the foundation for sustainable profitability and trust,” she said.

 

 

 

Mr Ayobami Adisa, Director, Data Governance and Compliance at IHS Towers, emphasised the critical role of whistleblowing in detecting corporate misconduct early and preserving business health.

 

 

 

Adisa urged organisations to create a safe environment for reporting misconduct that include timely investigations, communicating outcomes, and conducting post-investigation anti-retaliation check-ins with whistleblowers.

 

 

 

He stressed that companies must not only put in place whistleblowing and non-retaliation policies but also implement them rigorously.

 

 

 

“Whistleblowing is a tested feedback mechanism. If taken seriously, it helps organisations detect wrongdoings before they become disastrous.

 

 

 

“Having a whistleblowing policy is like cuffing yourself as an organisation. It means you’ve made yourself vulnerable and committed to protecting the whistleblower,” he added.

 

 

 

He said global best practices had shown that companies face severe penalties for ignoring whistleblower protection.

 

 

 

According to the expert, a growing number of organisations now incentivise whistleblowing by compensating employees who report financial misconduct or other violations that save the company from loss.

 

 

 

“Some even reward whistleblowers with a fraction of the funds recovered. It’s a trend we’re beginning to see, and it’s working,” he said.

 

 

 

Also, Mr Akinpelu Akinola, Group Head, Ethics and Governance at the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, noted that beyond policies, corporate governance play a vital role in preventing ethical failures.

 

 

 

According to him, building a transparent, accountable system not only upholds integrity but is also good for business.

 

 

 

He urged companies to anchor business decisions on their core values to avoid crossing unethical lines.

 

 

 

“Corporate governance is the framework of accountability. It is how organisations design systems to check power, ensure transparency, and allow ethical concerns to be addressed quickly and impartially.

 

 

 

“As a corporate leader, you must build transparent systems that compels every staff to do the right thing because ethical decisions drives profitable sustainability,” Akinola said. (NAN)

 

Edited by Folasade Adeniran