Public, private sectors must unite to drive corporate governance – Ashiru
…as Adesina urges African business leaders to play greater role in nation-building
Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, chairman of the National Organising Committee (NOC) of the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Nigeria, has called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to promote accountability, integrity, and good corporate governance as critical drivers of Nigeria’s sustainable growth.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Annual Directors Conference held in Abuja which began on Wednesday, Ashiru said the event was designed to strengthen the culture of ethical leadership and corporate responsibility across sectors.
According to him, “The annual conference challenges directors to uphold best practices in governance. To achieve this, both public and private sectors must work together to entrench accountability and integrity at all levels.”
He emphasised that integrity remains the foundation of leadership, describing it as “doing the right thing even when no one is watching.”
Ashiru noted that collaboration between sectors has become inevitable, citing examples of professionals transitioning from the private to public service. “People in the private sector are joining government — look at the Minister of Finance, for instance. I also served as a commissioner after my career in banking. We must all see ourselves as partners in progress,” he said.
He disclosed that subsequent editions of the conference would be hosted in different cities, including Lagos and Port Harcourt, to deepen stakeholder engagement and sustain advocacy for inclusive enterprise in Nigeria.
Delivering the keynote address titled “Nigeria and Africa’s Leadership Moment: From Boardroom to Nation Building — Powering Sustainable Transformation Through Enterprise,”
Kola Adesina urged African corporate leaders to extend their influence beyond boardrooms and become active participants in nation-building.
Adesina, who is chairman of Sahara Group, called for a shift in mindset where corporate governance principles such as accountability, innovation, and performance are integrated into public administration
“Corporate prosperity without national progress is hollow,” he said. “It is time the nation benefits from the wisdom that drives the boardroom.”
Using Singapore as an example, Adesina highlighted how disciplined, merit-based governance can transform national fortunes, urging Nigeria and other African nations to apply corporate discipline to public purpose.
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Commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing economic reforms, Adesina said tough but strategic decisions — such as exchange rate unification and subsidy removal — lay the foundation for long-term national prosperity.
“No nation can grow on populism; only on productivity,” he said, applauding the government’s efforts to liberalise markets and strengthen public-private partnerships.
Adesina identified three priorities for sustainable transformation; Fix the Rules, Wire Inclusion into Cashflows and Build Innovation Commons.
He also stressed the need for alignment between government policies and private-sector capabilities, describing such synergy as the missing link in Africa’s development.
“We who sit around boardroom tables hold the keys,” Adesina concluded. “If each of us uses our influence to reform the rules, build inclusion, and invest in innovation, Africa will no longer be a continent of dim lights but the brightest constellation on earth.”
