Directors and business leaders across all sectors of the Nigerian economy have been urged to embrace ethical corporate governance practices as a way of ensuring growth and productivity in the economy.
At the official launch of the 2026 Corporate Governance Outlook of the Chartered Institute of Directors (CioD), stakeholders were encouraged to move beyond insights and translate governance into practice, performance, and impact.
The 2026 Corporate Governance Outlook is a landmark initiative designed to shape governance practices, strengthen boardroom effectiveness, and drive sustainable leadership across Nigeria.
It delivers data-driven insights on critical areas including ESG and sustainability, board effectiveness, digital and cyber governance, ethics and culture, executive remuneration, and diversity and inclusion.
The report also identifies persistent gaps between formal compliance and actual governance practices, calling for stronger collaboration among boards, regulators, and institutions to enhance accountability, capability, and transparency.
Speakers at the launch emphasised that strong governance was directly linked to investor confidence, access to capital, organisational resilience, and long-term value creation.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group PLC, NGX Group, Umaru Kwairanga commended the CIoD for this feat, stating that initiatives such as this are not only timely but essential, particularly in an era defined by rapid economic shifts, technological disruption, and evolving stakeholder expectations.
Kwairanga admonished directors to uphold global best practices to ensure maximum productivity.
“Business environments are fluid and never static but directors should always hold firm to ethical principles and practices. In fast evolving business and work scenarios, good ethical values should be the compass to guide directors decisions” he said.
According to Kwairanga, the NGX Group firmly believes that strong corporate governance was the bedrock of resilient institutions and thriving markets.
“It fosters trust, enhances transparency, and ultimately drives sustainable value creation. As stewards of the capital market, we recognise that investor confidence is deeply anchored in the quality of governance across listed companies and the broader ecosystem,” he said.
He noted that the key responsibility of the NGX Group to its investors requires that they ensure that all listed companies maintain the highest standards of corporate governance at all times.
“We do this by embedding good corporate governance as a requirement to qualify for listing. We monitor corporate governance practices of listed entities actively and sanction those which fail to uphold best practices and reward those which excel.”
The NGX boss then commended the Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria for its sustained leadership in promoting sound corporate governance, ethical leadership, and boardroom excellence.
Speaking on the pivotal role of collaborative efforts, Kwairanga said regulators, operators, professional bodies, and corporate leaders must continue to work together to strengthen governance frameworks, deepen market integrity, and build institutions that can withstand shocks while delivering sustainable impact.
According to him, it is through such collaboration that the sectors are collectively advancing a more transparent, disciplined, and resilient market environment.
He further appealed to stakeholders to remain committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, fostering a culture of accountability, and ensuring that governance continues to serve as a cornerstone for national development.
Also, part of the launch was a panel discussion which explored practical governance challenges, including the need for inclusive frameworks for SMEs, improved regulatory awareness, and the evolving role of the company secretary as a key driver of governance effectiveness.