The Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Nigeria has inaugurated a new executive committee for its Young Directors Forum (YDF), charging the leadership to cultivate a new breed of ethical and digitally relevant board leaders.
The President of CIoD Nigeria, Mr. Adetunji Oyebanji, represented by the 1st Vice President, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola, underscored the forum’s role as a critical leadership pipeline.
At the third YDF Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday in Lagos, the transition of power signaled a strategic shift toward institutionalizing governance competence among Nigeria’s emerging directors.
A pivotal moment during the electoral proceedings occurred when the Publisher and Executive Director of NewsDirect, Prince Mathew Ibiyemi, moved the formal motion to adopt the electoral results. This motion, which was subsequently seconded and ratified by the assembly, officially paved the way for the emergence of the new leadership team.
Taking the mantle of leadership, the new Chairperson of the CIoD Nigeria YDF, Ms. Omobola Adekola, unveiled an ambitious 2026 roadmap intentionally aligned with the Institute’s ICE strategic pillars—Implementation, Collaboration, and Engagement.
In her acceptance speech, Ms Omobola noted that her vision centers on transforming the forum into a premier incubator for board-ready leaders who can steer organizations through complex transformations and provide a steady hand during periods of market disruption.
The 2026 strategy focuses on several foundational priorities including membership growth through structured transition pathways and the expansion of the forum to ensure national inclusion across all state branches.
The YDF leadership also disclosed plans to deepen stakeholder engagement by intensifying capacity development programs.
By the conclusion of this tenure in 2027, the forum aims to be recognized as the definitive reference point for emerging directors in Nigeria, consistently producing leaders who are intellectually rigorous and professionally respected.
The outgoing Chairman, Mr. Eyo Eyo, reflected on a transformative tenure characterized by significant membership growth and strategic consolidation.
He noted that the forum has evolved into a vibrant community, having successfully aligned its activities with the broader institutional goals of the CIoD through partnerships and institutional alignment.
He emphasized that the quality of governance has become a defining differentiator of institutional success in Nigeria’s current economic climate.
The new leadership further called on all members to take active responsibility in this journey, asserting that the future of national governance will be defined by those who proactively prepare for the complexities of the modern boardroom.
With a focus on sustainable and value-driven governance, the CIoD Nigeria YDF is poised to position the Institute as a beacon of excellence on the African continent, ensuring that young directors embody the values of Integrity, Meritocracy, Professionalism, Accountability, Customer-centricity, and Teamwork.