By Funmi Emmanuel, Abuja.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC, Mrs. Saratu Umar has reiterated her commitment to make the Commission world class investment promotion agency comparable to any in the world through sound corporate governance practices.
Umar, who received the council members of the Board of Institute of Directors, IoD during a courtesy call in her office in Abuja, noted that for an organisation to succeed and realise its set objectives, corporate governance must be evolved.
“I have made Corporate Governance as number one out of the 12 pillars of my vision to reposition the Commission and move it to greater heights. I hope to work with you in this regard”, she told the IoD council members.
She commended the Institute for its vision to host a conference on “Imperatives of Good Governance in Promoting Investment Opportunities” in Nigeria in October and promised the Commission’s willingness to participate in the conference.
The NIPC boss also expressed her commitment to excellence, professionalism, collaboration and team work as she promised to partner with the IoD in the identification of Directors that may be used by investors in the course of setting up their businesses in the country or for the purpose of Joint Venture Partnership, JVP.
She promised to make the Directors of the Commission to identify with the Institute and also make the Institute participate in the Commission activities, especially during Business and Investment Forums.
Earlier, President/Chairman of the IoD Council, Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi who led some members of the Council on the visit stressed the need for all stakeholders in the Nigerian economy to fully embrace corporate governance with particular focus on responsibility, integrity, accountability, transparency, self-regulation and effective internal control systems.
She said the IoD is the leading voice of corporate governance in Nigeria and therefore urged all organisations and stakeholders to take significant advantage of the corporate governance and leadership programmes offered by the Institute.
“Given the mandate of the Institute and the expectation of the Nigerian business community we are in the Commission to seek for partnership in training directors and senior management staff on development and corporate governance practice and to encourage the directors to join the Institute,” Fadayomi said.
