The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria has received support from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Finance for its ongoing N3bn national secretariat building project.
The support was reaffirmed during a fundraising event for the project held in Abuja on Monday.
A representative of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Philip Ndanusa, reaffirmed the bank’s alignment with ICSAN’s values.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria is aware of the great efforts the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria is making, particularly in the areas of corporate governance and public administration,” he said.
He emphasised that the CBN, under Olayemi Cardoso’s leadership, mirrors the values ICSAN promotes.
“I would just like to remark briefly here that the activities of the Olayemi Cardoso-led management team of the CBN are not devoid of the values that ICSAN tends to promote.”
Ndanusa pointed to key reforms within the bank that reflect this governance focus, saying, “One of the instances of what the management of the CBN has done in the area of corporate governance is the restructuring of the bank itself to refocus it along its core mandates of price and financial system stability. The bank is doing that by really spinning off all other activities that are distracting the bank from really focusing on its core mandates. Not too long ago, the bank appointed 16 directors as a way of attesting to corporate governance values.
“Now, for this event, the governor has directed me to inform you that the Central Bank of Nigeria is in support of what the institute is doing.
“As the project goes on, I have discussed with the outgoing president that the CBN will certainly come back to the Institute in whatever way the bank wants to support this project.”
Representing Minister of Finance Wale Edwin is Aderonke Jayesimi, who echoed the sentiments of support and lauded the initiative as visionary.
“The vision behind the excellent building is not just admirable, but the building, when completed, will be a vision statement for total commitment to capacity building for corporate governance and professionalism.”
She then announced a donation on behalf of the minister.
“And so, therefore, in solidarity with this noble cause, I am pleased to inform you that the Honourable Minister has directed me to announce to you his personal and generous donation of an unspecified amount towards the ICSAN Building.”
Jayesimi added that future support is on the horizon.
“I am to also further inform this gathering that ICSAN requests for ministerial support for this laudable project will receive appropriate consideration in due course.”
Also representing the Minister of State for Finance, Ndidi Chinoso praised ICSAN’s influence across sectors.
“Over the years, ICSAN has remained a beacon of excellence in the promotion of corporate governance, sound administration, and professional integrity across Nigeria’s public and private sectors.“
Chinoso urged broad-based support for the project.
“Today’s event is not only a call to support the institute’s vision but also an opportunity to invest in the future of governance as well as capacity building.”
ICSAN President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Funmi Ekundayo, said, “This is the first time that our institute has come out to declare loud and clear, and on this scale, to well-meaning and public-spirited stakeholders, that we need assistance. The assistance we need is with respect to the ICSAN new national secretariat building project.”
She explained the institute’s financial limitations and the motivation for launching the project.
“However, we have not been able to match our impact and influence in Nigeria’s public and private sectors with corresponding financial strength, and this restraining economic factor has indeed curtailed our ability to put up a befitting structure as our national secretariat.”
Ekundayo revealed the Institute’s move to rebrand, “For those who may not know, our institute is on the journey of changing its name from the extant ICSAN to the Chartered Governance Institute of Nigeria. As a matter of fact, the CGIN Bill will soon be due for the second reading at the National Assembly.
“We are confident that with the calibre of people here today, who have been known in one way or the other for donating to a good cause, the dream of achieving a befitting new national secretariat for ICSAN is realisable.”
Ekundayo also highlighted recognition plans for donors: “It is instructive that names of major contributors will be proudly displayed in the ICSAN Hall of Fame, while some rooms and spaces within the facility will be named after major corporate or individual donors who meet pre-defined thresholds of donation.
“It will be not only the biggest legacy for my administration as I wind down; it will be the biggest legacy for the institute.”
