The Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria (CIoD) has called for stronger boardroom leadership and oversight as artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability concerns, shifting investment patterns and global economic changes reshape the business environment.

Adetunji Oyebanji, president of CIoD, made the call on Wednesday while briefing newsmen on the institute’s 2026 Annual Directors Conference, scheduled for November 10 and November 11 in Lagos.

Mr Oyebanji said the conference, with the theme: “Reimagining the Boardroom for Inclusive and Sustainable National Prosperity in the New Economy”, would provide a platform to examine the changing responsibilities confronting boards and directors.

He said the evolving business environment required boards to continually reassess how they provided leadership, oversight and strategic direction.

According to him, the conference would focus on issues including strategic competitiveness, entrepreneurial growth, access to capital, AI, board accountability, value creation, collaboration and inclusion.

He said the discussions would bring together directors, business leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to examine issues shaping boardrooms and the wider economy.

Waheed Olagunju, chairman, National Organising Committee, said the conference programme was designed to promote discussions, networking and professional engagement among leaders from different sectors.

Mr Olagunju said the first major session would examine “Strategic Competitiveness Amid Fragmentation and Volatility in a Shifting Global Order”, while another would focus on accelerating entrepreneurial growth through governance, capital access and market expansion.

He said a session on “Board Accountability in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” would examine the implications of AI for board oversight and corporate responsibility.

The conference would also feature discussions on boardrooms as engines of value creation, collaboration and inclusion for shared prosperity, as well as a fireside chat on elevating boardroom standards for exemplary corporate conduct.

Mr Olagunju said former minister of budget and national planning and chairman, Seplat Energy Plc, Udoma Udo Udoma, would deliver the keynote address, while President Bola Tinubu had been invited as special guest of honour.

He listed some of the speakers and discussants as Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, managing director, Fidelity Bank Plc; Nonye Ayeni, executive director/chief executive officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council; and Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, an international lawyer and development finance expert.

Others are Sunny Iroche, AI strategist; Rabi Isma, chairperson, ActionAid Nigeria and Nneka Okekearu, director, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University.

Mr Olagunju said the conference would also feature a Business Meets Government Dinner chaired by Umaru Kwairanga, chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group, on November 11.

He said the dinner would focus on “ESG, Sustainability and the Climate Agenda”, with the sub-theme: “Building a $1 Trillion Economy Through Sustainable Capital and Governance”.

According to him, the session is in support of the federal government’s vision of growing the Nigerian economy to one trillion dollars by 2030.

Taiwo Nolas-Alausa, director-general, CIoD, said the annual directors conference remained an important platform for examining issues affecting leadership, governance and decision-making in organisations.

Mr Nolas-Alausa said the new economy presented both opportunities and responsibilities, particularly as AI continued to change how organisations operated.

He added that entrepreneurs required access to capital and markets, while boards were increasingly expected to pay greater attention to sustainability, responsible business practices, competitiveness and accountability.

He said the institute was committed to facilitating informed conversations among those responsible for providing strategic direction and oversight in organisations.

(NAN)