Corporate Governance Summit to drive economic reforms, institutional excellence

Michael Olumide

Nigeria’s leading governance institutions have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening corporate governance as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth, announcing that the 3rd National Corporate Governance Summit (NCGS) 2026 will provide a strategic platform for advancing reforms capable of accelerating national development.

Speaking at a press conference held in Lagos, the Co-Chairmen of the National Organising Committee (NOC), Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), Dr. Rabiu Olowo, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MoFI), Dr. Armstrong Takang, said this year’s summit would focus on practical governance solutions that would strengthen institutions, deepen investor confidence and enhance collaboration between the public and private sectors.

The summit, scheduled to hold on July 21 and 22 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, is being organised in partnership with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MoFI), the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), and the IoD Centre for Corporate Governance (IoDCCG).

According to the organisers, the theme of this year’s summit, “Implementing good governance for economic acceleration: Consolidating public/private sector partnership,” reflects the growing recognition that sustainable economic development requires effective collaboration between government institutions and private sector organisations.

They noted that Nigeria is operating in an increasingly complex global environment shaped by economic uncertainty, technological disruption and geopolitical shifts, making strong governance systems more critical than ever.

The organisers explained that while the Federal Government continues to implement economic reforms, the success of those initiatives would largely depend on transparent institutions, accountable leadership and governance frameworks capable of inspiring confidence among citizens, investors and development partners.

They described the National Corporate Governance Summit as Nigeria’s foremost platform for dialogue on governance, leadership and institutional excellence, bringing together policymakers, regulators, corporate executives, governance professionals, development partners, investors and academics to develop practical solutions to governance challenges.

According to them, this year’s edition has been deliberately structured to move beyond identifying governance challenges to developing implementable recommendations capable of strengthening governance across both public and private institutions.

The summit will seek to consolidate strategic partnerships between government and private organisations in promoting corporate governance, create a platform for policy development and knowledge exchange, deepen governance implementation in state-owned enterprises, improve governance culture across public institutions and businesses, and strengthen governance in strategic sectors such as mining and financial services.

The organisers added that discussions would also focus on enhancing governance structures needed to support Nigeria’s transition towards a credit-driven economy while promoting financial inclusion.

They disclosed that the summit is expected to produce practical policy recommendations that will improve institutional performance, strengthen board oversight, reinforce governance awareness, promote sustainable economic growth and increase investor confidence in Nigeria’s business environment.

More than 500 participants are expected to attend both physically and virtually, including board chairmen, directors, chief executives, governance professionals, regulators, policymakers, development partners and captains of industry.

The two-day programme will feature high-level plenary sessions on deepening corporate governance in state-owned enterprises, strengthening board oversight for artificial intelligence adoption and digital transformation, integrating governance into financial inclusion strategies, improving governance in the mining sector to boost export potential, and establishing governance frameworks necessary for a robust credit-based economy.

The organisers also announced an impressive lineup of national leaders and industry experts expected at the summit.
Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima will attend as the Special Guest of Honour and declare the summit open, while Founder and Managing Partner of Trans-Sahara Investment Corporation, Mr. Kyari Abba Bukar, will chair the event.
The keynote address will be delivered by Mrs. Juliet Amammah, Chairperson of Nigerian Breweries Plc.

Other distinguished participants expected at the summit include the President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria, Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Henry Alake; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN); and Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Olaniyi Yusuf.

The organisers emphasised the indispensable role of the media in promoting transparency, accountability and good governance, describing journalists as watchdogs, civic educators and agenda setters whose contributions remain critical to strengthening democratic institutions.

They therefore called for continued collaboration with the media in promoting governance awareness and encouraging the adoption of best governance practices across Nigeria’s public and private sectors.

The National Organising Committee expressed confidence that the summit would contribute significantly to building stronger institutions, improving policy implementation and positioning good corporate governance as a key driver of Nigeria’s economic acceleration and long-term national competitiveness.