On October 30, 2025, the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Lagos State Chapter, hosted its Annual Summit at The Jewel Aeida, Lekki Phase 1. With the theme “Governance Redefined in a Business Environment: A Continuum or New Paradigm,” the event brought together thought leaders across governance, cybersecurity, finance, law, and technology to explore the evolving landscape of corporate leadership in a digitally disrupted world.
The Summit aimed to:
- Elevate cybersecurity as a board-level governance priority.
- Promote proactive digital resilience and ethical accountability.
- Address emerging risks from AI and advanced technologies.
- Align Nigerian governance practices with global standards.
- Translate ethics into measurable governance frameworks.
Ms. Efosa Ewere, FCIS, Chairman of ICSAN Lagos Chapter, welcomed participants with a call to embrace governance as a strategic value driver. Mrs. Uto Ukpanah, FCIS, ICSAN President, emphasized the Summit’s role in advancing transparency and professional excellence. Representing the Summit Chairman, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Mrs. Mineks highlighted the urgency of adaptive governance in the face of digital transformation and shifting stakeholder expectations.
Keynote: Governance as Value Creation
Prof. Yinka Omorogbe delivered a powerful keynote, tracing governance’s evolution from compliance to strategic leadership. He stressed that modern governance is shaped by ethics, culture, and stakeholder trust—not just rules. He called for stronger enforcement, ethical leadership, and national renewal through transparent governance.
Plenary Session I: Bridging Compliance and Strategy
Moderated by Kunle Olusanya, the panel explored governance as a tool for sustainable value and competitiveness. Key takeaways included:
- The strategic role of Company Secretaries.
- Governance investment during economic downturns.
- Sector-specific frameworks like Nigeria’s electricity code.
- ESG, cybersecurity, and AI oversight as rising priorities.
Dr. Abubaka Rasaq of FRCN shared practical sustainability initiatives, including solar adoption, shared mobility, and employee wellbeing programs.
Plenary Session II: Adaptive Governance in the Age of Disruption
Led by Biverly Agbakoba-Onyejianya, this session tackled the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and corporate structures. Highlights included:
- Cybersecurity as a governance imperative.
- Board-level crisis readiness and digital trust capital.
- Ethical deployment of AI and data privacy safeguards.
- Inclusion of younger professionals on boards based on competence.
- Positioning Data Protection Officers at management level.
Speakers urged Nigerian institutions to build cyber-skill capacity and prepare for evolving AI regulations.
Engagement and Reflections
Participants actively engaged panelists with questions on sustainability, SME cybersecurity awareness, and board inclusion. The Summit concluded with a reaffirmation of governance as both legacy and innovation—anchored in ethics, transparency, and resilience.
The ICSAN Lagos Summit was more than a conference—it was a clarion call for governance professionals to lead with integrity, embrace innovation, and build resilient institutions for Nigeria’s future. As delegates departed, they carried with them renewed resolve to champion best practices and drive sustainable national development.