The outgoing President and Chairman of Governing Council of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Mrs. Funmi Ekundayo, has expressed appreciation to stakeholders and media partners for their steadfast support throughout her tenure. Speaking at a recent press engagement in Lagos, she reflected on her administration’s achievements and called for sustained collaboration to strengthen governance in both public and private sectors.
Mrs. Ekundayo, who is concluding her two-year tenure ahead of ICSAN’s upcoming Annual General Meeting, thanked members of the press and institutional partners for amplifying the institute’s voice and activities. “Thank you for projecting all our programs, all our activities, and for being a worthy collaborator as we continue to promote the efforts of good governance in Nigeria,” she said.
She announced that ICSAN’s 30th Presidential Investiture and the formal introduction of the incoming President and Vice President will take place on July 23, 2025, at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos. She also apologized for the absence of a virtual guest who had been expected to join the session but was unable to due to technical issues.
Reflecting on her time in office, Mrs. Ekundayo described her administration as one marked by passionate service, institutional consolidation, and purposeful continuity. She expressed satisfaction with the progress made in strengthening the institute’s structures, visibility, and relevance in Nigeria’s governance discourse.
She congratulated the incoming leadership—President-elect Mrs. Uto Ukpanah FCIS and Vice President-elect Mr. Francis Olawale FCIS, describing them as capable professionals who would build on the foundation already laid. “I extend my very sincere congratulations and unflinching support to them,” she said, urging stakeholders to continue upholding ICSAN’s values of ethics, professionalism, diligence, and public service.
Commenting on Nigeria’s current economic situation, Mrs. Ekundayo acknowledged the challenges of inflation, high living costs, unemployment, and infrastructure gaps. However, she noted that there is hope for economic resilience, particularly within sectors such as finance, telecommunications, and trade. She emphasized the importance of diversifying the economy beyond oil and expressed optimism that current policy reforms, if consistently implemented, would lead to long-term recovery.
She stressed that governance professionals have a vital role in helping Nigeria navigate these challenges. “ICSAN has played a key role in promoting transparency, accountability, and sound corporate governance, which are essential ingredients for economic development,” she stated.
Mrs. Ekundayo also spoke about the institute’s strategic engagements with government agencies and regulatory bodies, as well as its efforts to expand professional development and advocacy initiatives. She highlighted the ongoing development of a ₦3.5 billion ICSAN Secretariat as a flagship project that would serve as a hub for knowledge sharing, training, and stakeholder engagement in governance matters.
The outgoing president further emphasized ICSAN’s efforts in publishing thought leadership papers, sectoral guidelines, and policy briefs to support governance reform in both corporate and public institutions. According to her, ICSAN’s sectoral groupings have allowed for more targeted impact across industries, aligning governance with specific business realities.
She encouraged entrepreneurs and small business owners to adopt governance structures from the early stages of their ventures, stating that accountability, proper financial management, and internal controls are essential for sustainable growth and investor confidence. “Governance should be viewed not as a burden but as a strategic enabler of business success,” she remarked.
Mrs. Ekundayo reaffirmed ICSAN’s commitment to upholding high standards of professionalism and its positioning as a key driver of governance in Nigeria. She highlighted the institute’s global reach as a member of the Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA), its leadership role within the body, and recent international recognitions that have elevated Nigeria’s profile on the global governance stage.
While noting challenges such as the need to grow membership and complete infrastructure projects, she expressed confidence that the incoming leadership would sustain the momentum. “We have made great strides—in structure, visibility, and thought leadership. I believe the story of ICSAN will keep getting better,” she concluded.