From Abraham Akpabio
LAGOS
The Akwa Ibom governor has congratulated Mrs. Uto Ukpanah, on her investiture as the 30th President and Chairman of the Governing Council of Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN).
Pastor Umo Eno gave the congratulatory message in his goodwill message delivered at the investiture ceremony of Mrs Ukpanah, held at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos last Wednesday.
Represented by the secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, the governor described Ukpanah as an illustrious daughter of Akwa Ibom who has brought honour and glory to the State, adding that Akwa Ibom was proud of her sterling accomplishments in her career.
“On behalf of the government and people of Akwa Ibom State, I join your family, professional colleagues and other well wishers to congratulate you on the occasion of your investiture as the 30th President and Chairman of the Governing Council of Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN).
“Your elevation to this position reflect the enduring Akwa Ibom identity that prioritises professional excellence, integrity, transparency and abiding faith in service delivery.
“As the 30th President and Chairman of the Governing Council of ICSAN, I have no doubt that you will deploy your firm organizational skills backed by extensive years of practice as an Attorney to advance the growth of this important and professional body.
“Be rest assured of our support from your own State, and prayers as you embark on this assignment.
Congratulations, once again”, Eno said.
Ukpanah, who serves as the Company Secretary at MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and the MTN Nigeria Foundation, succeeded Mrs. Funmi Ekundayo to become the second consecutive female to lead the Institute.
Reflecting on her two-year tenure, the outgoing President highlighted achievements across governance advocacy, regulatory partnerships, institutional visibility, and academic innovation.
Notable milestones included the commencement of ICSAN’s National Secretariat building project, linkage agreements with six universities, the launch of an MSc in Corporate Governance in partnership with NILDS and the University of Benin, and the publication of a governance textbook.
“We made deliberate and structured efforts to position ICSAN as a thought leader in governance advocacy,” Ekundayo said, adding that the Institute’s influence expanded through enhanced media visibility, public engagements, and strengthened relationships with regulatory bodies like CAC, SEC, and FRC.
Ukpanah pledged to build on the legacies of her predecessors under the theme, “Expanding the Scope of Developments, Building on Legacy of Visionary Leadership.”
She said the new administration would prioritise membership growth, digital transformation, northern expansion, youth inclusion, and the completion of the National Secretariat building.
“We will not only amplify existing initiatives but explore new terrains that challenge our comfort zones and awaken the latent potentials of our community,” she said.
Outlining her road-map, Ukpanah announced plans to launch a Young Professionals Forum targeting Gen Z, expand ICSAN’s digital platforms under “ICSAN Digital 2.0,” and deepen academic collaborations with universities and regulators.
She also reaffirmed her commitment to reposition the Institute through the proposed passage of the ICSAN Amendment Bill, which would rename it the Corporate Governance Institute of Nigeria (CGIN).
“As we move forward, we will sustain ICSAN’s voice in national discourse, strengthen our collaborations with regulators, and reinforce our role as a custodian of good governance principles,” she said.
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