The Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, has called on members of the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD), Southwest Zone, to strengthen accountability, professionalism, and effective leadership in both the public and private sectors.
She made the call during the investiture and inauguration of the newly elected executives of the Institute’s Southwest Zone, led by its Chairman, Dr. Remilekun Rasaki Bakare.
Salako-Oyedele said the institute’s role extends beyond being a professional body, stressing the need to enhance engagement, visibility, mentorship, training, collaboration, and networking among business leaders, directors, and public servants.
According to her, the CIoD occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s development, particularly as Ogun State and other Southwest states continue to witness increased industrial and commercial activities.
“At a time when Ogun State and other Southwest states are witnessing increased industrial and commercial activities, the need for competent directors and strong business networks has become more urgent,” she said.
The Deputy Governor urged the new leadership to make the institute more visible, accessible, and impactful by strengthening engagement with businesses across the region. She expressed confidence in the leadership of Dr. Bakare, describing him as a seasoned professional with a firm grasp of good governance, enterprise, and institutional development.
Salako-Oyedele also highlighted Ogun State’s growing investment profile, noting that the current administration has continued to attract investments in logistics, agriculture, and technology. She reaffirmed the state’s commitment to partnering with professional bodies such as the CIoD to promote sound corporate governance and leadership.
Congratulating the newly inaugurated executives, she encouraged entrepreneurs, company directors, and public servants to embrace the institute’s mandate, describing it as a vital bridge between government and the private sector, as well as between policy formulation and enterprise.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, congratulated the new executives and urged them to introduce innovative and value-driven programmes that would positively impact the Southwest region, particularly Ogun State.
Delivering the keynote address on “Innovative Strategy for Improved Governance in Nigeria Since 2023,” Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Ogala, said several sectors of the country’s economy still require reforms. He, however, commended the Federal Government’s reforms, including fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate stabilisation, local government autonomy, the student loan scheme, improved diaspora remittances, strengthened institutional capacity, and the promotion of Public-Private Partnerships.
Earlier, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIoD Nigeria, Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji, described the investiture as a call to service rather than a ceremonial event. He urged the new executives to revitalise the institute across the Southwest, implement impactful programmes, strengthen members’ professional capacity, and position the institute as a trusted adviser to both public and private sector organisations.
In his acceptance speech, the new Southwest Zone Chairman, Dr. Remilekun Rasaki Bakare, pledged to lead with honesty, integrity, accountability, and professionalism. He noted that the Southwest occupies a unique position in Nigeria’s corporate governance landscape and stressed that collaboration between government and stakeholders remains essential to addressing governance challenges.
The ceremony featured the formal investiture and inauguration of the new executive committee, alongside a cultural performance by the Ogun State Cultural Troupe.
