The Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI) is set to mark its 25th anniversary with an international conference focused on strengthening risk management and organisational resilience in Nigeria.
The two-day 25th Annual International Conference and Silver Jubilee Celebration is scheduled for 14 and 15 October at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to a statement by the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of CRMI, Mr Victor Olannye, the conference will bring together policymakers, regulators, corporate executives, risk management professionals, academics and development partners from Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, is expected to attend as Special Guest of Honour, while the Managing Director of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, Dr Armstrong Ume Takang, is expected to deliver the keynote address.
The conference will examine how organisations can strengthen their capacity to anticipate, manage and recover from disruptions while turning effective risk management into a competitive advantage.
President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CRMI, Kevin Ugwuoke, said the role of risk management had evolved significantly over the past 25 years.
“Twenty-five years ago, risk management in Nigeria was a back-office function that few boards discussed. Today it sits in the boardroom,” he said.
Ugwuoke said the focus should now shift from simply managing risks to building organisational resilience that could provide a competitive advantage.
The organisers said the conference was coming at a time when Nigerian businesses were facing multiple pressures, including economic reforms, technological changes, evolving regulations, climate-related challenges and increasing cyber threats.
Plenary sessions, panel discussions and technical workshops will examine how boards and management can anticipate disruptions, adapt strategies and recover from shocks while maintaining organisational competitiveness.
A major feature of the conference will be the maiden University Risk Management Challenge, which will bring together student teams from Nigerian universities to analyse and respond to real-world risk scenarios.
The teams will present their analyses and proposed solutions to a panel of experienced professionals, with winners expected to receive financial grants, academic recognition and professional development opportunities.
Ugwuoke said the initiative was designed to expose young people to the profession and develop the next generation of risk management practitioners.
“The profession’s next 25 years will be built by people who are undergraduates today,” he said.
The conference will conclude on 15 October with a 25th Anniversary Award and Dinner Night to recognise individuals and organisations that have contributed to the development of risk management practice in Nigeria.
Award categories include Institutional Leadership in Risk Advocacy, Human Capacity Development in Risk Management, Risk Regulation Excellence, Chief Risk Officer of the Year, Digital and Cyber Risk Management Excellence, Young Risk Professional of the Year, and Excellence in Security Risk Management and National Security.
CRMI said the awards were intended to recognise best practices and encourage stronger standards in corporate resilience, regulatory compliance and national security preparedness.
The conference is expected to attract participants from risk management institutions across Africa and representatives of international development organisations.
