He stressed that to address the problems facing governance in Nigeria, a culture of integrity was needed.
Jonathan, speaking at the Institute’s 40th Anniversary Dinner held in Lagos on Wednesday night, noted that the organization has become a pacesetter in enshrining corporate governance culture.
His said, “Established forty years ago as a branch of IoD UK, your organization has, over the years transformed into an independent, strong, and reliable institution providing innovative solutions to different professionals in Nigeria.
As a body with membership drawn from the different cadre of our society, IoD has remained a key partner in progress and a stakeholder in our quest for good corporate culture and economic development.
“You must work hard to ensure that your advocacy for ethical governance is not mere rhetoric and slogan but is a manifest reality in the character of your members, who should, in turn, implement these ideas in the various places they find themselves. More than ever, our nation needs people of integrity to be at the helm of affairs to help address the challenge of trust existing between those in positions of leadership and the citizens.
“A culture of integrity is what is needed to address many of the challenges confronting governance in our country. When integrity is entrenched as a culture and a corporate lifestyle in many organizations, the problems associated with corruption, dishonesty, poor governance, and even election irregularities will be significantly addressed.”
In her welcome address, President/Chairman of Council, IoD, Dr. (Mrs.) Ije Jidenma, said that in the last four decades, IoD has been at the forefront of promoting good corporate governance in Nigeria.
“The Institute has played a vital role in shaping the business landscape of this country, setting the standard for ethical business practices and ensuring that companies operate in a responsible and sustainable manner. IoD has been instrumental to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy,” she stated.
