The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) has declared that the proposed Chartered Governance Institute of Nigeria (CGIN) Bill will serve as a transformative tool to fundamentally reposition the institute and broaden the professional scope of its members.
A New Era of Governance Professionalism
This announcement was made by the President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mrs. Uto Ukpanah, FCIS, during the institute's end-of-the-year town hall meeting held in Lagos. Ukpanah assured members that the governing council is fully engaged with relevant authorities to ensure the vision encapsulated in the CGIN Bill becomes a reality.
She emphasized that once enacted, the legislation will expand the professional identity of ICSAN members to cover the full modern spectrum of governance, compliance, risk oversight, and public administration.
Reflecting on Progress and Future Direction
Addressing members at the gathering, which also featured key figures like Vice President Mr. Francis Olawale, FCIS and Registrar/CEO Mr. Babatunde Oladipo Okuneye, ACIS, Ukpanah framed the town hall as a moment for institutional introspection.
"It offers us an avenue to look back at the steps we have taken together, the strides, lessons, and to assess with candour the direction in which we are headed," she stated. Noting the rapid evolution of governance, particularly through technological shifts, she expressed confidence in ICSAN's capacity not just to adapt, but to lead these changes.
Key Milestones and Strategic Engagements
Ukpanah highlighted several significant achievements under her leadership:
National Secretariat Project: Construction is advancing steadily, with the slab for the first floor completed and reinforcement work ongoing for the second floor.
Academic Linkages: ICSAN's footprint in academia continues to widen through collaborations, nurturing the next generation of governance professionals.
Stakeholder Engagement: The institute has intensified its outreach, including a recent constructive visit to the Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu. Strategic partnerships with corporate organisations are also strengthening ICSAN's advocacy and influence in shaping national governance culture.
Concluding her address on 18 December 2025, Ukpanah rallied members with a forward-looking call: "Let us continue to build hand in hand, mind with mind, and vision with purpose. The future beckons, and together, we will meet it with courage, with clarity, and with excellence."
